7.62 RK 54 TP
In the 90īs Finland bought a hundred thousand AKMīs from DDR-stocks. It seems
that some of the AKMīs bought from the DDR stocks also contained Polish-made AKMīs.
The difference lies mainly in the folding stock. The picture below shows an ordinary
AKM with underfolding stock, and the middle picture of the gallery below showing
a ItO 96 Buk M1 crew with the East german type of side-folding buttstock Because
"Kalashnikovs" already had been used in Finland under the designation RK54 these
"new" AKMīs got that designation too. Those designated TP are the folding stock
version. There is some without a folding stock as well but it is my understanding
that those are not so common. These weapons were bought so that every second line
and "home guard" finnish mobilized soldier would have a assault rifle in case of
war. Almost none of these cheap Kalashnikovs are used during peacetime training,
they are stored for wartime use. There are some rare exceptions though. The standard
issue RK 62/76īs doesnīt have a folding stock, so tank crews and mechanized infantry
in the active armoured brigade squads often use them, with a AKM you can also
fire from the firing ports of a BMP infantry fighting vehicle, even if this is
not a favoured doctrine in the finnish army due to low accuracy. However in this
role as active duty service rifles, it has been found out that they are just not
tough enough compared to the Finnish RK 62/76, they also rust easily.
Calibre: 7.62 x 39
Length, overal: 895 mm
Length, folded: 690 mm
Barrel length: 415 mm
Weight w/empty magazine: 3.5 kg
