For gear lovers only - RPD drum carriers

[Guardian 5]

Genossen - Here are two RPD drum carriers. The one on the left has a plastic snap opener and came complete with a RPD drum still wrapped in wax paper. The drum held two 50 round belts. It's marked " _ /71 MdI". It also has a small accessory pocket.

The second sample has a CHICOM toggle type fastener and is marked "N.V.A.". There is also a "26" stamped on the back of the flap. There is no accessory pocket.

The RPD (Ruchnoi Pulemet Degtyarev) entered Soviet service in 1953. According to Kopenhagen, it served the DDR from 1957 to 1964 when it was replaced by the RPK. In DDR service, the RPD was known as the "Leichtes Maschinengewehr Degtjarow RPD"; lMG - D.

TJ

[Guardian 5]

Here's the MdI stamp.

[Guardian 5]

Here's a view with the drum in it's wax paper wrap.

[Guardian 5]

Here's the NVA stamp.

[Guardian 5]

Here's my favorite RPD "action picture", taken from Kopenhagen's, Die Mot-Schuetzen der NVA

TJ

[Ralph P]

Hey TJ - I see you went down to your private bunker and pulled out some interesting items.

I hope I am not asking an off the wall question. The pouch marked N.V.A., is that pouch Vietnamese or East German?

[Viktor]

Genossen, Both of these examples of lMG D Drum Carrying Complexes are held at this Rezidency...


I have yet to find the Oil Bottle /Cleaning Kit...