First seen in 1964, the PK and now encountered around the world in its modernized version, the PKM (Pulemyot Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy or Machinegun Kalashnikov Modernized) this weapon system is arguably the best General Purpose Machinegun (GPMG) in use anywhere in the world today.
The PK series was initially designed to replace the RP-46 and SGM series. The Russians had come to fully understand (the hard way) the German concept of the “Universal” or General Purpose Machinegun. They began development of just such a concept for the Red Army in the early ‘50s. This initiative’s goal was to replace the separate battalion, company and tank machine guns that were in use at that time.
Curiously, despite the ongoing effort to convert the Red Army to its then new 7.62x39 caliber infantry rifle (to be immortalized as the AK-47), the GP machinegun initiative stipulated the use of the 7.62x54R or rimmed cartridge originally designed for extraction from the Mosin-Nagant rifle series.
By 1958 a GP design by Nikitin was ordered for adoption and 500 guns manufactured for troop trials. In a strange 
political upheaval often characteristic of the Soviet hierarchy at the time, this design was for some reason stalled by the General Artillery Dept. of the Soviet Army, and Mikhail Kalashnikov was ordered to develop his own GP design for submission – despite being in the middle of his AKM redesign and RPK development.
Kalashnikov accepted the challenge with his characteristic fervor and set his design team in motion. In 1961 the controversy ended with Kalashnikov’s PK design approved for adoption and production for general issue. Being a GPMG the various configurations of the gun needed to be identified, which resulted in the following type classifications:
PKM Variants and Nomenclature:
| PK - |
the earliest form, the PK is distinguished by its milled topcover, heavy fluted barrel, elongated flashhider, and an unhinged buttplate |
| PKS - |
the basic PK mounted on a tripod for the heavy machine gun fire support role. The folding lightweight tripod provided both a stable firing platform for ground targets as well as the ability to reconfigure into an anti-aircraft platform |
| PKT - |
the PK reconfigured for armored coaxial mount. This version deletes the sights, stock, tripod, and trigger mechanism and utilizes a longer / heavier barrel. A solenoid is used for remote firing |
| PKM - |
a product improved PK and the latest iteration of the weapon system. It features a lighter unfluted barrel, and a stamped feed cover with a hinged butt-plate. Where it was possible excess metal was removed to lighten the firearm |
| PKMS - |
the PKM mounted on a tripod |
| PKB - |
(or PKMB) the PKM with the buttstock and trigger mechanism removed and replaced by a butterfly trigger similar to the SGMB |
The PK was later modernized by replacing the milled topcover with a stamped version, reducing the length and width of the barrel, and eliminating metal wherever possible to lighten the weapon. The result was the PKM. The PKM is lighter than the M240 or M60E4 (18.5 lbs. vs. 32 lbs. and 23 lbs respectively). In fact the PKM actually provides the power of a .30 cal belt-fed weapon at almost 1 lb. less weight as the M249 5.56 SAW, which weighs in at 19.2 lbs! However weight is just one advantage of the PKM system.
The PKM weapon system is arguably easier to maintain than competing GPMGs. The PKM personifies the classic Russian (and of course Kalashnikov himself) love of simplistic weapons design that can take a beating and keep on ticking! It has the fewest number of moving parts for any GPMG. It features a chrome-lined barrel to ease cleaning and resist even the most corrosive ammunition. Its incredibly robust design comes from its very close relation to the reigning king of “works in all conditions” firearms, the AK-47 family. It shares the rotating bolt, piston and gas system of the AK. In fact many weapons commentaries have referred to it as “the AK turned upside-down.
The PKM is also incredibly versatile. It is extremely accurate for a GPMG. Videos and photos of Russian troops using the PKM from its tripod in a intermediate-range sniping role and donning day and night-vision scopes have surfaced from Afghanistan. Of course it also excels in providing enormous volumes of sustained and controlled fire, with a cyclic rate of 690 to 720 rds/min. This means the PKM is very controllable and can accurately engage targets in excess of 1,000 meters.
The PKM weapon system has a lot of useful accessories to aid in any role. 250 round belt cans can accommodate even the most demanding need for firepower. 100 round assault drums are useful for assaulting “on-the-move”. The tripod provides additional firing flexibility from any position. 25 round sectioned to full 250 round belts are available. Amazingly the oldest metal Maxim belt to the newest PKM sectioned belt will all run with no problems whatsoever.
The ultra-lightweight folding tripod provides an incredibly stable shooting platform for engaging ground targets, or for making it comfortable for a day at the range. With a quick reconfiguration, the tripod can accommodate the PKM in an anti-aircraft configuration. Its built-in bipod, useful for prone firing, also contains the PKMs cleaning kit. The PKM also has various pouches for the gun and tripod and the barrels themselves.
The PK and PKM can be encountered in almost any part of the world. U.S. forces have engaged enemy combatants armed with PKs and PKMs as early as the war in Vietnam to Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Due to the success of the design it has been not only exported all over the world, but also manufactured in numerous countries. Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the former Yugoslavia, and the People’s Republic of China and perhaps others have all manufactured the PK/PKM for their use. Just like the AK, the former Soviet Union used this weapons design to project its power and ideology all over the globe. In fact within Russian military circles Mikhail Kalashnikov is as celebrated for the design of the PK/PKM as he is for the AK-47 itself.
MarColMar Firearms LLC and our manufacturer Wise-Lite Arms have taken this magnificent firearm and created a rare and interesting semi-auto version that until now, has escaped the military firearms collector. Many of us can remember just a few short years ago it would have been impossible at almost ANY cost to obtain such a firearm from behind the iron curtain, let alone add one to your collection. With a limited amount of guns available to build, act now to add one to your collection before supply runs out!