RARE Finnish Valmet M78 .308 Win 24” Heavy Barrel Rifle AK47 RPK
SOLD FOR: $4,646.00
LSB#: LSB250825JP061
Make: Valmet Inc
Model: M78 (Slant Cut Receiver)
Serial Number: 395550
Year of Manufacture: 1976-1986
Caliber: .308 Winchester / 7.62 NATO
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Gas Operated, Rotating Bolt
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “395550”, “VALMET / Made in Finland”. The right side of the receiver is marked “Valmet, Inc / Elmsford / New York”.
Barrel Length: 22 1/2” Heavy Barrel. 24” with flash hider / bayonet lug.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a L-type dual post with flip up night sight luminescent dot.The rear sight is a sliding u-notch sight marked out 1-5. The rear sight is mounted to the piston tube. The top of the dust cover is mounted with a Nichols 3-9×40 riflescope with Duplex Crosshair Reticle. The sight picture is clear. The scope rates in Excellent condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The buttstock is a classic M78 clubfoot wood stock with sling well and bar on the left side, and Valmet serrated polymer buttpate. The handguard is ventilated wood. The pistol grip is checkered polymer. There is a sling loop below the left side of the gas block. The bottom of the flash hider has a bayonet lug. The barrel is mounted with a Finnish M78 Bipod with clip retainer under the gas block. The stocks rate in overall Excellent condition. The checkering is crisp. There are only a few compressions on the buttstock.
Type of Finish: Black
Finish Originality: Original
Magazine Quantity & Condition: One 20rd .308 Valmet magazine in Excellent condition.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong throughout. There are a few minor handling and storage marks. There is little to no operational wear. The screw heads are sharp and serviceable and the pins are unmarred. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a total of one magazine and its attached scope as mentioned above.
Our Assessment: Among collectors of Kalashnikov-pattern rifles, the Finnish Valmet M78 occupies a rare and elevated tier—an RPK-pattern heavy-barrel rifle built not in the Soviet bloc but in Finland, where Kalashnikov engineering was reinterpreted through tighter machining tolerances, premium materials, and distinctly Finnish ergonomics. The M78 is the precision-minded sibling of the RPK family, recognizable by its clubfoot stock, massive heavy barrel, and the characteristic Valmet slant-cut receiver. Chambered in .308 Winchester rather than the Soviet 7.62x39mm, it delivers NATO-grade performance in a platform globally respected for durability and reliability. The result is an AK-derivative that behaves more like a designated marksman rifle than a squad automatic weapon, and very few made it into the United States before importation ceased.
The .308/7.62 NATO chambering transforms the already-robust RPK architecture into a heavy-hitting, long-range performer, making the bright 9/10 bore and crisp mechanics of this example especially desirable. The factory clubfoot stock, Finnish M78 bipod, ventilated wood handguard, dual-post front sight with night capability, and the rugged sliding rear sight all contribute to the rifle’s unmistakable battlefield aesthetic. Coupled with its excellent finish, sharp markings, and clean operational surfaces, this M78 stands as a rare opportunity to own one of the most refined and sought-after Western-caliber AK variants ever produced. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
