This Chinese Type 56 is a belt-fed light machine gun chambered in 7.62x39mm, the People's Republic of China production variant of the Soviet RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova). Serial number 932482. Manufactured at State Factory 36 (marked △36 on the receiver). Full-auto only. A fully equipped and representative example of Cold War-era squad automatic weaponry.
This machine gun is a distinguished part of the private collection of HRH Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, son of the last King of Italy, Umberto II. An authentic Certificate of Ownership accompanies this piece.
Historical Significance
The RPD was developed by Vasily Degtyaryov between 1943 and 1944 for the then-new Soviet 7.62x39mm M43 intermediate cartridge. Designed as a replacement for the older DP series of light machine guns, it entered large-scale Soviet production in 1953 and became the standard squad automatic weapon of the Red Army, serving alongside the AK-47 assault rifle and SKS carbine.
In 1956, the People's Republic of China adopted the RPD as the Type 56 squad machine gun (56式班用机枪), manufactured under licence at various state arsenals — this example bearing the markings of Factory 36 (△36). The Type 56 was adopted in the same year as the Type 56 assault rifle (AK variant) and Type 56 carbine (SKS variant), all sharing the 7.62x39mm caliber and forming a unified small arms system for the People's Liberation Army.
The Type 56 RPD saw extensive combat service during the Vietnam War, where it served as the primary squad light machine gun of both the Viet Cong and the People's Army of Vietnam. Captured examples are documented in military collections worldwide, including the Australian War Memorial. The design was eventually superseded in PLA service by the Type 81 LMG in the early 1980s.
This particular example is an early-pattern Type 56, identifiable by its U-shaped front sight (not the fully hooded type found on the later Type 56-1), the windage-adjustable rear sight with knob, and the fixed drum attachment bracket on the receiver. These features place it within the initial production series, closely following the original Soviet RPD design.
Technical Specifications
Condition
Good to very good overall condition for a military surplus light machine gun of this era. The metal finish shows the characteristic grey-blue parkerisation typical of Chinese Type 56 production, with honest wear from military service — slight thinning on high-contact surfaces (receiver edges, safety lever area, bolt carrier track). The wooden furniture (stock, pistol grip, and foregrip) is solid and intact, displaying a pronounced patina with service wear, minor dings, and handling marks consistent with field use. The wooden pistol grip shows wear on its vertical striations but remains firmly attached. The integral folding bipod is functional and complete. The 100-round drum magazine is present with its Chinese-pattern metallic belt segments. The tangent rear sight retains its orange-filled graduations. The canvas sling is original Chinese military issue in khaki, showing age-appropriate wear. The feed mechanism and bolt area appear complete and in serviceable condition. Serial numbers on the receiver and feed cover are matching. No visible modifications — the weapon appears to be in its original factory configuration.
What's Included
