Original Item: Only One Available. Constructed from a legally demilitarized (de-milled) parts set, this is a wonderful and rare Soviet Cold War RPD 44 Display Light Machine Gun. It is built using original parts on an original BATF compliant non-firing display receiver, making this a 100% legal display machine gun. This receiver was created by using portions of the original flame torch cut severed receiver, which was correctly angle cut removing at least 1/4" inch of material with each cut. Two of those sections were combined with new made solid steel portions to hold the display receiver together. It has properly had 33% of the total length entirely replaced with solid steel bar stock. Meaning a 1/3 length section of the display receiver is new made solid steel, making this legal to own without a license of any kind.

The bottom plate and top cover are original parts as are all other parts on this gun with the exception of the steel added to the receiver. While the RPD began production in 1944 this example is almost most likely made completely using post WWII Soviet Parts. It is marked with ARROW in an OVAL on the top cover, which indicates that its made in the Kovrov Arsenal in Russia. The marking is somewhat faint, as are the rest of the markings on the top cover, which look to be written using an engraving pen. They can be read as:

(ARROW)
№ ЛБ - 599
1951г.

Included with the display gun are an original Belt drum which locks onto a bracket below the feed tray, as well as an ammo belt with 10 inert dummy rounds in it. There is also a lovely original Soviet WWII style all leather sling, with the usual straps at the end for attachment to the swivels. This example looks to have seen a good amount of service, and the laminated for stock definitely shows some separation and damage. The solid wood rear stock also shows a bit of wear, and this looks like an example that saw long use during the cold war, possibly shipped to one of many satellite stage.

Offered in very good condition complete with Soviet markings. Ready to display!

The RPD (Russian: ручной пулемёт Дегтярёва Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova, English: Degtyaryov hand-held machine gun) is a 7.62mm light machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by Vasily Degtyaryov for the 7.62×39mm M43 intermediate cartridge. It was created as a replacement for the DP machine gun chambered for the 7.62×54mmR round. It is a precursor of most squad automatic weapons. It was succeeded in Soviet service by the RPK.

Work on the weapon commenced in 1943. Three prominent Soviet engineers were asked to submit their own designs: Vasily Degtyaryov, Sergei Simonov and Alexei Sudayev. Among the completed prototypes prepared for evaluation, the Degtyaryov design proved superior and was accepted into service with the Soviet armed forces as the 7.62 mm Ручной Пулемёт Дегтярёва, PПД (RPD, Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova or "Degtyaryov light machine gun") model 1944. Although the RPD was ready for mass production during the final stages of World War II, large scale delivery of the weapon did not begin until 1953. During the Vietnam War, the RPD served the Viet Cong as their standard light machine gun.

After the introduction of the Kalashnikov-pattern support weapons, such as the RPK and PK machine guns in the 1960s, the RPD was withdrawn from most first-tier units of the former Warsaw Pact. However, the RPD remains in active service in many African and Asian nations. Apart from the former Soviet Union, the weapon was manufactured in China (as the Type 56 LMG), Egypt, North Korea (Type 62) and, since 1956, Poland.