EPK (Pyrkal) Machine gun

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EPK Machine gun (1939)

The EPK Machine Gun was designed by EPK, a Greek defence company (in English, "Greek Powder and Cartridge Company", GPCC) later known as Pyrkal. Its creation is linked to a 1937 proposal by EPK to the Greek government to become a major producer of infantry weapons. The proposal was followed by the development of a modern machine gun of EPK-own design, as well as construction of a small number of prototypes in 1939. The whole project, including building of infrastructure for production of the gun was underway when war with Italy begun on October 28, 1940, and subsequent events prohibited its completion. Later publications suggested that this 7.92mm weapon exhibited characteristics closer to those of a submachine gun; others, though, including Pyrkal itself, have argued that the weapon featured pioneering elements of a whole class of assault rifle types that appeared later.

Specifications

• Caliber: 7.92 mm
• System of operation: Gas-operated
• Length: 900 mm
• Barrel length: 400 mm
• Effective range: 750 m
• Rate of fire: 720 round/min
• Weight (Unloaded): 4.15 kg

References

• Christos Sazanidis, "Ta opla ton Ellinon (Arms of the Greeks)", Maiandros, Thessaloniki (1995)
• W. Smith - J. Smith, "Small Arms of the World", 10th rev.ed., Stackpole, Harrisburg (1973)

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