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This is sort of delayed, but there is a major difference between what most people call an AK-47 and the true AK-47. The rifle most people call an AK-47 is actually an AKMS.
The true AK-47 had an open top reciever (one can see the full bolt) identical to the SKS and a gas chamber similar to the German STG-44.
The AKMS that most people are familiar with has a closed top reciever where you can only see the charging handle. THe gas chamber was modified to become a self cleaning piston.
The AK-74 was almost completely redesigned. Aside from being chambered for a smaller cartridge, the trigger group was redone to give better control, and the big modification, the gas chamber was redesigned from the standard gas blow-back to be a forward cycling piston to reduce muzzle jump.
[disclaimer] I may be wrong on a few minor details but that should cover the major design changes.[\disclaimer]
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