Field-Stripping an AK-47 Rifle (and Variants)

Remove the magazine by grasping it in your hand with your fingers wrapped around the front of the magazine. Depress the magazine release lever (just behind the magazine on the front of the trigger guard) with your thumb, and rotate the magazine forward.
Then rotate the safety/selector lever downward and pull rearward on the bolt handle to open the action and ensure that the chamber is empty. Allow the bolt to return to its forward position.