VPO RPK-74.

The RPK-74 was introduced in 1974 together with the AK-74 assault rifle and chambered for the new 5.45×39mm intermediate cartridge. It was derived from the AK-74 rifle, with modifications that mirror those made to the AKM to create the RPK. The RPK-74 also uses a longer and heavier chrome-plated barrel, which has a new gas block with a gas channel at a 90° angle to the bore axis, and a ring for the cleaning rod. It is also equipped with a folding bipod and a different front sight tower. The muzzle is threaded for a flash suppressor or blank-firing device. Just like the AK-74 assault rifle, the RPK-74 has a notch on the left side of the bolt carrier assembly to reduce the weight, while a rectangular nib on the bolt carrier bottom prevents the recoiling bolt from engaging upper cartridges in the magazine. The bolt is smaller and does not have a ring-shaped bolthead recess, the firing pin protrudes over the breeching face. The bolt assembly is fitted with an open extractor. The gas cylinder with a handguard on its rear end has a spring washer, which braces the gas cylinder and the gas chamber. The rear stock trunnion was strengthened and the magazine well was reinforced with steel inserts. The RPK-74 feeds from a 45-round steel or polymer box magazine, interchangeable with magazines from the AK-74, and is designed to be charged from stripper clips. The original wooden stock and Fore-end were gradually replaced with plastic (glass-nylon composite) ones. Standard equipment includes: eight magazines, six stripper clips (15 rounds per clip), a speedloader guide, cleaning rod, cleaning kit, sling, oil bottle and two magazine pouches. Some variants do not come with the cleaning kit option. The RPK-74 and its versions are in service with Russia, former Soviet republics, and a number of foreign countries. East Germany, Poland, Yugoslavia, Libya, and Finland used to manufacture replica of the Soviet RPK and RPK-74 light machine guns and their versions, or develop their own models of Kalashnikov light machine guns.