[Shrike37]

It is like the AK47 to AKM transition, where the smooth top covered RPKs are older, and the ribbed top covered RPKs are newer?

 

[rayman1]

I think it might be the opposite. I do know Romanian RPK's would have a ribbed top cover.

 

[Hootbro]

True per blueprint built RPK's have the smooth cover. The Romanians only used ribbed covers as a stop gap measure when they built their RPK's and could in a sense be deem "correct from the factory" but not "correct to blueprint".

 

[trangerstx]

RPK's were never issued new with ribbed dust covers.

 

[rayman1]

Here's some uncaptioned photos showing some RPK's with ribbed top covers:

And here's an interesting thought - we know East German RPK's were likely Russian but their manual shows them with ribbed top covers.

 

[tombomb]

RPK's were never issued new with ribbed dust covers.

My RPK kit has a ribbed topcover...

 

[trangerstx]

Oh yeah! are they matched to the kit? :neutral:

 

[trangerstx]

Ill bet those rifles you posted Ray-Man are re-issued. NO RPK I have ever seen new has a ribbed dust cover. Been there, seen that, DONE that. :byefu:

 

[tombomb]

Go look at the pics section dude
middle finger

 

[Tapeo1]

I had an all matching Romanian RPK kit from SPG. These were the kits without barrels they had. Anyway, my kit had a ribbed dust cover and the serial number on it matched to the other parts.

 

[BigAL]

my 1988 kit is smooth

 

[bgoodman762]

the AES-10b that i have hase the smooth top cover

 

[56type]

Mine too. :grin:

 

[Shrike37]

My AES-10B with matching numbers is a ribbed top cover.

 

[Tomovich]

My 1977 all matching ROM RPK-47 kit has a smooth topcover but I can very easily imagine both getting used. Very easily.

ETA; Now RPK-74's........they were all smooth.

 

[hc4gunner]

Both top covers on my RPK-74's are smooth

one is 1985 and the other is a 1988

 

[rayman1]

The RPK-74's are going to have a smooth top cover. I think they were made late enough in the game were that's going to be a given.

But the RPK's could probably be found with a ribbed cover, especially in combat (swapping out, etc.). I agree with Tomovich - I can also see both being used quite easily on Russian RPK's. The Romanian RPK's seemed to be found with both styles as a standard.

 

[SteveM]

I think the Russian ones in fact started out ribbed. I have a 1964 dated RPK manual where all pictured are ribbed.

 

[rayman1]

I have to agree on that - I've seen photos of early Russian RPK's and I've observed ribbed top covers as well.