The Russian RPK light machinegun must be one of the most sought after AEGs at the moment here in the UK. It's an AEG of legend, as so many people talk about them yet I've still to actually see one 'in the flesh'.

Above: The newly announce RMW conversion kit - this is the completed kit obviously!

This seems to be set to change as there are now several means to get your hands on this iconic Soviet LMG.

When I started out in airsoft - only a short 8 or 9 months ago - the only way to get yourself an RPK was by purchasing the very beautiful, but also very expensive, Guarder conversion kit for a TM AK 47. This was way beyond my means, at £609.99 from Wolf Armouries and probably explains why they guns are so rare on the field!

Left: The amazing Guarder all metal RPK kit. Still available from Wolf Armouries, but at £600+ it's a connoisseurs piece.

However, about 5 months ago a company called SRC brought out a 'budget' RPK  at the astonishingly low price of £259.99. This included a metal, electrically driven, drum mag and did well in the reviews I have read about it. Again, this is available here in the UK from Wolf Armouries.
 

Over the past couple of months news leaked out that Classic Army were to throw their hat in the ring with their Proline replica of the RPK. And this seemed to gain a lot of interest (as it seems, despite the positive reviews, quite a few people seemed to be warey of SRC which is a bit of a new name on the market here).

Above: The much heralded Classic Army SA RPK-7, no announcements of price or release in the UK yet

Finally, just this morning in fact, Russian Mania Workshop - the maker of fine conversion kits - has announced it's RPK kit at $490 USD. This seems very good value - if you don't mind buying the additional bits and doing the work of putting the thing together - as the metalwork and wood is stunning, and very much looks to be on a par with the legendary Guarder kit.

So there you have it, there seems to be something there for everyone - except the most  penny-pinching airsofter, as the likes of CYMA haven't taken up the challenge to produce a 'cheapsoft' RPK (yet). But there again, it's kinda nice that this particular gun is a bit of a rarity on the field.

Related links:

> Guarder all steel  RPK conversion kit at Wolf Armouries - £609.99 (UKARA required)
> Russian Mania Workshop (Hong Kong) RPK conversion kit - $ 490 USD
> SRC All metal RPK AEG at Wolf Armouries - £259.99 (UKARA required)