The PM-63 RAK (often incorrectly referred to as Ręczny Automat Komandosów—"commandos' hand-held automatic"; the name itself means cancer or crayfish in Polish) is a Polish 9×18mm submachine gun, designed by Piotr Wilniewczyc in cooperation with Tadeusz Bednarski, Grzegorz Czubak and Marian Wakalski. The RAK combines the characteristics of a self-loading pistol and a fully automatic submachine gun.

The PM-63 is featured on the logo of the Afghanistan Liberation Organization.

History

Development of the RAK dates back to the late 1950s when the concept was first proposed at the Warsaw University of Technology in response to a requirement for a light hand-held defensive weapon for rear-echelon soldiers such as gun crews and vehicle drivers. After the death of the chief designer Piotr Wilniewczyc in 1960, the submachine gun’s development was eventually resumed and completed by the state-operated Łucznik Arms Factory in the city of Radom, where it was produced until 1977. After close examination, the PM-63 was accepted into service with the People's Army of Poland and police in 1965 as the 9 mm pistolet maszynowy wz. 1963 ("9 mm submachine gun model 1963").

Small numbers of the weapon were exported to several Arab countries, Vietnam and the former East Germany.

A slightly modified, unlicensed version of the PM-63 was produced by the People’s Republic of China as the Type 82, who sold the weapon to politically allied nations in Asia. This model was based on PM-63s that were captured from Vietnamese soldiers.

Design details

Operating mechanism

The RAK is a selective-fire straight blowback–operated machine pistol, fired from the open bolt position.

Feeding

The firearm feeds from two types of double-column box magazines: a short 15-round and long, 25-round magazine (the magazines are seated inside the hollow pistol grip).

  • Type 82: Chinese clone based on captured PM-63s. Known to be used by Public Security Police after the People's Armed Police did not consider using the Type 82.
  • : Unknown amount donated by Poland and used in 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. One captured by Russian forces.

See also

  • PM-84 Glauberyt

Notes

References

  • Modern Warfare, published by Mark Dartford, Marshall Cavendish (London) 1985