Can someone identify this rifle?

[Bernie Lomax]

Here it is:

http://www.freeperception.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/North-Korean-soldiers-in-005.jpg

Years ago, I remember seeing a picture in a magazine of some soldiers somewhere in the orient carrying these bizarre looking rifles with the magazine sticking out the top, and wondering what the hell they were. That's the only other time I've ever seen any of these.

So can anyone tell me what they are? And how the hell do they aim these things with the mag sticking right out of the top and obstructing the line of sight? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[SIGSHR]

North Korean soldiers with their Type 73 in 7.62x54R. A native design, only one example outside North Korea. Seems to have been based on the Soviet PK design.

 

[kajvid]

I don't remember seeing that in the new "Red Dawn"!

 

[Mike Irwin]

The sights are offset as on the Bren.

 

[Skans]

It's not a Bren. Looks like a PKS or PKM with a top feeder???

 

[Colt46]

Top loading/offset sighting was common w/ interwar design

The Norwegians had the Madsen M-22, the Czechs had the Zb-26 and the Indian army had their Vickers-Berthier.

 

[Destructo6]

As SIGSHR said, North Korean Type 73.

Apparently a modification of the PKM series, it takes a unique magazine or a metallic belt.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I didn't say it was a Bren.

I said the sights are offset as on a Bren, which also had a top mounted magazine.

 

[Mike Irwin]

" Top loading/offset sighting was common w/ interwar design"

Yep.

And the Japanese had their Type 99 LMG and the French had the FM 1924 M29.

All had top mounted magazines, and thus offset sights.