A question was asked about PKM machine gun pricing and I thought it was of value to share with forum members. The price of the basic machine gun is in the 1000s of dollars up about 4K depending what as included, however, some had a wild idea that you could get combat ready used PKMs for $300.00 to $600.00 and expect not find a piece of scrap. Our post follows:

PKM units costs vary with what is included with each gun such as spare barrels, tripod, Bipod etc. We have been dealing in Eastern Standard equipment since 1985 and have some experience

The cost of guns in the hundreds is either pure luck or most likely it will get you a piece of scrap that will fail at the moment of truth (anyone for used parachutes, climbing ropes or used or counterfeit aircraft parts ??). The price in the 1000s is more realistic on par with and MG-3 (roughly). The Unit cost for MAG-58/M-240 is up there about 10-12K plus which is overpriced, even accounting for labour, which is not a huge factor. Please keep in mind the largest cost comes with the finishing and qualification of smallarms and this is costly and time consuming in itself . This makes a PKM or MG-3 series gun as pretty good value and nothing to cry about. You cannot compare a civilian semi auto gun that has gone though none of the time consuming and expensive qualifications

To get an accurate idea you need a formal legitimate request with specific numbers and what is included with each gun. It is unfair to expect a supplier to provide an offer for war material for informational purposes only. Some military customers have done this heavily since 2001 without any intention of buying anything. Picture yourself going to work everyday and getting nothing in return for you efforts?. It is important to be respectful of other people's time, if you except others to be respectful of yours. That means a legitimate enquiry backed up by people who are qualified to actually buy. Please keep in mind that it is a formal request for war material, and not window shopping at a department store. Most suppliers want to be helpful, butt the way people are treated goes both ways. An e-mail coming out of the blue from an unknown entity asking for war material cannot always be taken seriously unless properly backed up with a proper introduction to show this is a legitimate request. Try sending an unidentified email to Boeing asking for their best offer and delivery for an F-18E and see how far you are going to get?. A formal offer that you can “take to the bank” from a legitimate supplier, and not some guy in his basement in his underwear behind a computer as one distributor said about the AEY scandal in 2008, takes a formal request for quotation. This is the way proper professional offers are presented in professional business.

I hope this helps and is written in a constructive light to the poster and others for better information and a little background

P.S. Smaller items such as PKM Links and Cans can be advertised for sale such the link below, however, offers for machine guns with the proper controls, guaranteed certifications, delivery, qualified parts that are not counterfeit require some effort. I don't doubt what was said in book mentioned, but someone got lucky buying confiscated equipment or goods that were given as aid. You are truly gambling to go into a life and death confrontation after picking up “bargains” and hoping like hell they actually work a the moment people start fighting, killing and dying. You and I get to go home at night. These people who put their lives on the line do not.. Please show the value of their lives and the risks that they take with some respect, just as if it were your spouse or son or daughter out their on the line. Its not about equipment, its about people and doing a professional job the right way

http://cainalongbranch.com/PKM_Links