These rifles are built on new US made receivers using Romanian PM md. 63 military surplus parts kits, and are chambered in 7.62x39mm. The kits range in manufacture date from the 1960s to the 1980s. This is the non matching kit grade fitted with new US made barrels: the main components including the trunnion, bolt, and carrier carry matching numbers, while smaller parts such as the safety and dust cover are not matched, and the original barrels have been replaced. The US barrels are chrome lined and are new, unfired other than test firing. Each rifle ships with a surplus Romanian AK bayonet, a 30 round Romanian steel magazine, an oiler, a cleaning kit, and a magazine and cleaning kit pouch. Some rifles in this group still carry hand written Arabic rack or unit number paper, left in place as found; this is not present on every rifle. The parts kits are reported to have come from Lebanese stockpile, and were used in the Lebanese civil war.
The PM md. 63 was produced at the Cugir Arms Factory in Alba County from 1963, with some later production at Uzina Mecanica Sadu, and is chambered in 7.62x39mm. It is the fixed stock member of the family; the md. 65 instead used a folding stock resembling a Soviet AKMS with an older AKS pattern stock. During the mid 1960s a laminated wooden foregrip was added to the design to help Romanian riflemen control vertical muzzle climb, the feature collectors commonly call the dong. The rifles fed from 30 round detachable magazines and were issued with an early pattern AKM bayonet, also manufactured under Soviet license. Romanian rifles of this family were widely exported and have been documented in conflicts including the Iran-Iraq War, the Angolan Civil War, and the Gulf War.
Because the receivers are new US manufacture rather than Romanian, these are US built rifles assembled from surplus components and are not original Romanian military rifles.
Specifications
- Model: Romanian PM md. 63, built on new US receiver
- Country of origin: Receiver United States, parts kit Romania
- Action: Semi-automatic, gas operated
- Caliber: 7.62x39mm
- Stock: Fixed
- Kit manufacture date: 1960s to 1980s, varies by rifle
- Grade: Non matching kit, new US barrel
- Barrel: New US manufacture, chrome lined
- Bore: New, unfired other than test firing
- Kit numbers: Trunnion, bolt, and carrier matching; safety, dust cover, and other small parts not matched
- Markings: Some rifles retain hand written Arabic rack or unit number paper
- Included with each rifle: Surplus Romanian AK bayonet, 30 round Romanian steel magazine, oiler, cleaning kit, magazine and cleaning kit pouch
- Kit origin: Reported Lebanese stockpile, not independently documented
Condition disclosure: these rifles are built from military surplus parts kits and will show signs of service wear. Expect dings, handling marks, finish wear, and evidence of arsenal or depot repair. They are not in flawless cosmetic condition and are not sold as such.
