I am reading your thread about a Russian RPK clone with interest. I was in the same camp as you; wanting a Soviet RPK but not knowing where to start since no real Soviet RPK kits were around then. I wanted a 1960s or early 1970s look with classic laminated wood rather than the modern black plastic furniture.
Although I am sure there are other routes to go. Here are a couple things I tried:
ROMY RPK PARTS KIT
My first venture into a Russian clone was a Romanian RPK kit.
The basic Romy RPK parts kit is a pretty good choice to clone a Soviet RPK. However, some think it blasphemy to take an all matching parts kit and make it something else. Since the Romanians did not use the Cyrillic alphabet, like the Russians and Bulgarians, it is hard to get one with letters that look right. I have come to agree with leaving real kits alone and will not being cloning my matching 1967 Romy RPK.
AES-10B
My next venture into Soviet Clone Land was the AES-10B.
The AES10B rifle was first introduced in the $500 range. These sold out quickly. They have now nearly doubled in price for the basic rifle.
To make a decent clone using this rifle you need: Russian wood and grip, non-adjustable bipod, smooth top cover, leaf sight, etc. This route got a bit pricy after a while. Russian wood is expensive, maybe $250 to $300; grips $50; Smooth Top cover $50; leaf sight $75; bipod $150.00. Paint, if you send it out, is $150.00 minimum. Welding over and machining on a Molot Arsenal mark and correct year date is pricy, maybe $150.00 or more. Soon, if you did not buy one when they first came out, you are approaching $2000.00 in parts, labor and shipping. This price does not include a Molot mag or correct sling. In the end you lack correct Soviet selector marks and have all the importer marks on the receiver, unless you spend more money on welding over these marks and marking them correctly. While a great shooter, it missed the mark in my eye.
I have one of these but think it is better left alone as a shooter due to the high cost of converting it. The votes on this thread seem to support the idea of not making it a Russian.
VEPR CLONE
My third venture into an RPK Clone was the VEPR. I missed the boat on the squareback VEPR with bipod.
I subsequently found a guy who was selling off his VEPR parts. He wanted to keep the receiver for another project. I bought the front and rear trunnion, bolt and bolt carrier, op rod, grip screw and base, gas tube, leaf sight, selector, trigger guard, selector stop, FCG and top cover. These numbered parts were matching: front trunnion, bolt and bolt carrier and leaf sight. These were Molot parts for sure but were recent castings, likely made in 2013 based on the trunnion date. These cast parts did not seem to be correct for the 1972 or before build I wanted; I like the dimpled receiver with wood. Also, Molot made RPK barrel parts, the FSB, bipod, cleaning rod retainer, gas block and rear sight base are very hard to find on the loose.
WTS - Russian Molot RPK Kit 7.62x39mm
The VEPR is approaching the mark but with cast parts and the additional labor needed to mark it property you are reaching the $2500.00 mark with barrel, receiver, barrel parts and labor.
REAL DEAL MOLOT RPK – RPKS Kits
Recently, a number of RPKS kits have hit the market. These have been dated 1969r and 1970r and are in BFPU condition. I have seen four or five for sale in the folding stock version and one fixed stock. Like many of this Forum’s sages have written, although these kits are out there now, who knows how many came in or if more are coming? Supply lines for such things dry up quickly. Buy now if you can.
A real Russian RPK kit is the most cost effective way to go if you want authenticity. You only need a Romy barrel and a NDS receiver with dimples and you can finally have a real Russian RPK.
I recently traded into two Soviet RPKs a 1970r RPK and a 1969r RPKS.
In the end, I invested way more than was necessary to have what I really wanted. Had these real Soviet RPK kits been available, I would have saved lots of money by not going the route of the Romy Kit, AES-10B and VEPR parts.