The Romanian RPK is an extended length squad automatic weapon based on the Kalashnikov series of rifles. The RPK is a bolstered version of AKM, designed to serve as a squad automatic weapon, and has most of the same features as a standard AKM. Like the AKM, the Romanian RPK started seeing production in the early 1960’s. The RPK features a 1.5mm stamped sheet metal receiver, and a bulged trunnion, designed for sustained fire and durability. The RPK has a 590mm (23.2 inches) barrel, a unique club-foot style stock, which allows the gunner to use the stock as a brace for sustained fire.

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The Romanian RPK can be identified via the markings on the left side of the rifle, on the front barrel trunnion. The Romanian RPK will either include a factory marking, or a standard set of serial numbers with no factory marking. The Romanian factory marking is a triangle with an arrow connected on the bottom of the triangle. The Trunnion also features an alphabetic pre-fix, followed by a serial number, and then a date of manufacture. The serial numbers can also be found on the bolt, bolt carrier, dust cover, recoil spring, gas tube, and sometimes on the rear sight leaf, and safety selector lever. Romanian RPKs will have a blued metal finish on the early manufactured guns, and occasionally a black parkerized finish on late guns. The rear sight leaf will also feature serial numbers, and a adjustable sight for windage.

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The Romanian RPK can also be identified via some unique design features, such as a club-foot style wood stock, which is in-line with the rest of the rifle, a non-ribbed sheet metal dust cover, a narrow orange or red bakelite pistol grip, a folding bipod, and a pair of laminated wood handguards. The Romanian RPK has a thick profile barrel which allows sustained fire, and also has an extra barrel block to help retain the cleaning rod, which is located in between the gas block and the front sight block.

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The Romanian RPK operates with a manual of arms that is comparable to a standard Kalashnikov Assault rifle firearm, and often features either 40rd or 75rd box / drum magazines.