Initial Impressions

The reciever is solid. VERY solid. It arrived cable-tied to a cardboard backing and wrapped in Taiwanese newspapers, and I have to say even this probably is not necessary for a receiver this resilient. Owners of Inokatsu steel receivers will not be disappointed; in terms of build quality this receiver seems identical in every way.

Finish-wise the receiver is also identical to the outgoing Inokatsu AK receiver which had served loyally on my RPK from 2004, when I first replaced my almost new TM AK47 with the kit. This is a VERY good thing. My RPK has shared its ups and downs as any who will know me will attest (I've almost quit airsoft due to frustration at its 'quirks' on more than one occasion!), but one thing that has never taken so much as a scratch has been the receiver. It truly is built like a tank, and it's clear from the smooth, glossy finish that the same can be expect of this.

Of course the main attraction for anyone picky enough to buy a RPK receiver is the presence of the receiver reinforcements which were added to the (real steel) Molot RPK to help with the added stress / weight of the extended front barrel & bipod. The finish on the LCT receiver around the reinforcements seems as well done (if not identical) to Inokatsu's RPK receiver, which can only be a good thing.

One unfortunate thing I did notice while fondling the receiver was the trademarks. Like the Inokatsu receiver which is being replaced, the LCT receiver features an Izmash trade. Nothing some putty can't address, but a bit of a disappointment, if you are in the market to build one of the earlier RPK variants. Also, like the Inokatsu RPK receiver, this features the same dimples on the receiver. Again, something which can be addressed if they are excessively annoying, but they're still there!

Comparison to an old hand!

It was inevitable, given the constant comparisons to Inokatsu, that I didn't give at least a brief comparison of the two brands of receivers.

Can you tell them apart? It's not easy, is it! For ease of reference, I added a G&P trigger guard to the LCT to make it easily identifiable. Other than the presence of the RPK reinforcements and the slight variation in trades, there is not a lot in the receivers...

...Well, there is the odd thing. The markings, though still accurate on the LCT, are in slightly different locations. Also (and most significantly), the LCT receiver lacks an AK mount for the use of optics. I must confess to being momentarily disappointed when I realised this, but given that AK mounts were not standard issue on the original RPKs, this is acceptable. However, it's worth taking note of this, should you plan on wanting to fit an optic system at some point. Should you decide to do so, it is possible to buy an ak mount (usually for about £13) and, given the steel's thickness, use a hefty drill to drill and rivet a mount, but this is far from ideal as a solution for most of us.

Conclusion

To be honest, I am very impressed, as a habitual Inokatsu loyalist, by the quality of LCT's receiver. Their claims to be a manufacturer for Inokatsu appear to be substantiated: the quality is certainly there. At the time of writing the price is to be announced, but I'm fairly confident that it will easily undercut Inokatsu (assuming you could even source just a receiver from them!) for price, and just about any other manufacturer for quality. While not quite perfect, the receiver offers an excellent option for any RPK owner not happy with their current receiver to consider.