Type 73 light machine gun (North Korea)

Type 73 light machine gun. Barrel is fitted with removable muzzle adapter for firing rifle grenades; alternate adapter with integral muzzle brake is stored below the gas tube
фото: Weapons Identification Lab, Israel Police

Type 73 light machine gun with a 30-round magazine

The Type 73 light machine gun (73형 기관총 in Korean nomenclature) was designed at the North Korean state arms factories during early 1970s and manufactured for use by North Korean armed forces. Apparently, this gun is still in use there, and it has been observed in use by various forces in Africa, Middle East, and, very recently, in Russia. The design of this weapon is based on the Soviet Kalashnikov PK machine gun, with certain indigenous features, including dual (magazine & belt) feed system, patterned after the Czechoslovak Vz.52 LMG.

The Type 73 light machine gun is gas operated weapon with rotary bolt locking, firing from open bolt in full automatic mode only. It features air-cooled, quick detachable barrel. Dual feed system allows to use either 30-round box magazines of indigenous design (inserted from the top) or non-disintegrating Kalashnikov PK-type steel belts. Magazines of these weapons are not compatible with any other guns, because rounds are pulled rearward by a claw extractor, same as from the PKM-type belt, before being lowered and then pushed forward into the barrel.

Type 73 light machine gun. Top view on the opened magazine housing, with round extractor claw partially visible inside

Type 73 machine gun is equipped with wooden shoulder stock, pistol grip with trigger, and folding bipod. Sights are offset to the left from the weapon axis due to top-mounted magazine. Another unusual feature of this weapon is that it has removable muzzle sleeves, which are available in two versions – with integral muzzle brake / compensator or with spigot-type rifle grenade launcher (a feature, unique to this machine gun). One sleeve is normally installed (screwed) over the muzzle part of the barrel, while another is clamped for storage below the gas tube that runs under the barrel.

Type 73 machine gun, basic specifications