Daewoo K1

The Daewoo K1 is an Asian pride. The Daewoo K1/K1A Carbine is officially the first up to date small firearm that was developed by the Republic of Korea. The Daewoo K1 needs to be shoulder-fired. It is a gas-operated with selective-fire carbine. The Daewoo K1 is compatible with a 20 or 30 round M16 magazine. It has 1-in-12 rifling twist for 5.56 x 45 mm .223 Remington. The Daewoo K1 was designed to use the direct impingement gas system.. This is because the Daewoo K1 was designed with the intent of replacing the M3 Grease Gun used by the in military of South Korea.

When discussing the Daewoo K1, very often you will here of the Daewoo K1A. The latter is an upgraded version of the Daewoo K1. Incidentally all of the Daewoo K1 that has been in use by the military of South Korea has been modified to Daewoo K1A.

The Daewoo K1 carbine is often considered to be the carbine version of Daewoo K2 assault rifle. However this school of thought should not be considered. Instead the Daewoo K1 carbine should be perceived as a separate rifle altogether. This is because the development of Daewoo K1 concluded earlier than the completion of Daewoo K2. The Daewoo K1 uses the direct impingement gas system, wherein the K2 uses an AK-47 style, gas piston system. The K1 has 1-in-12 rifling twist for .223 Remington. The Daewoo K2 has 1-in-7.3 rifling twist for 5.56 x 45 mm NATO (FN SS109).

The Daewoo K1 and K2 are major infantry weapons of the South Korean Army. When they were introduced, the M16A1 rifles were discontinued for use in the army. When considering the technical aspects, the Daewoo K2 is a select-fire, gas driven, rotating bolt firearm. Its bolt/bolt carrier assembly is quite identical to that of the M16. A major difference between them is that instead of the gas expansion chamber of the M16, the Daewoo K2 bolt carrier has a cut slot. The Daewoo K2 slot is inserted with the rear part of the gas rod and the gas piston attached to the front section of the gas rod. The Daewoo K2 does not have a recoil buffer that is so common in more or less any M16/AR15 type weapon. Its receiver has a folding design, i.e., upper and the lower receiver are connected via 2 steel pins similar to the M16 or FN FNC receivers.

The Daewoo K2 charging handle is fixed on the right side of the bolt carrier. Its polymer buttstock is folded, i.e., to the right side of the weapon. The gas system has 4 positions switch. One position is for rifle grenades firing wherein the gas port is closed completely. The other 3 positions are for operations in normal, adverse and extreme heat conditions.

The Daewoo K1 is a cut back, shortened version of the K2. It also has a telescopic stock and shorter barrel. The civilian, semi-auto version of the K2 is available in two calibers. i.e., the 5.56x45mm (.223) and 77.62x39mm, and is known as the DR-200 or DR-300, respectively

Other facts that you ought to know about the Daewoo K1 Carbine are it weighs 2.87kg without magazine and has a barrel length of 833mm with the stock extended; the barrel length is 263 mm and has an effective range of 250m with the rate of fire of 700-900 rounds per minute.