East German Rg57 Cleaning kit for AK47, Reinigungsgerät 57, 7.62 x 39 MPi-KM rifle

Today we'll be taking a look at another German rifle cleaning kit. This time it is an East German version of the old Rg34 cleaning kit that dated to the WW2 years.

This cleaning kit was officially designated the Rg57, or Reinigungsgerät 57.  It first went into production in 1957 and was intended for the East German version of the AKM, or AK47, better known in East German Army terms as the the 7.62 x 39 MPi-KM.  

These Rg57 cleaning kits were manufactured into the 1970's, until the AK74 in the smaller, 5.45 x 39 caliber, was adopted by East Germany.  At that time the tin cleaning box was discontinued and the new AK74 tools and brushes were issued in a roll up pouch, without a tin box.

The pouch and kit we are looking at today are one of the late production Rg57 kits.  There were slight variations in markings on the tin can lid, and slight tool variations, but essentially they remained the same for the entire time span of their production.  Some of the early kits came with a "pleather" - fake leather, pouch that held the tin and its contents.  The later versions, like this one, came in a roll out, synthetic backed, cloth envelope with attached drop cloth.

The metal tins are stamped with either RG57 alone, RG57 with a single digit number, or just the single digit number.  Mine is marked "1".

The kits contain a bore brush, chamber brush, small gas port cleaning brush, "broom" brush, combo tool for firearm disassembly, weighted pull cord, and a very cool little metal oil can.    The oil can is made of stamped metal with a combination spout - cap.  No provision is made for cleaning fluid in these kits, only oil.  There is also a plastic tube that holds the bore and gas port brushes so they don't get crushed.  

These cleaning kits are quite small and compact compared to the West German Rg34 tins.  Here is a comparison of the two.  
Here is a link back to the West German Rg34 posting (the larger tin kit):  http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2015/07/west-german-rifle-cleaning-kits.html

Before we jump int the photo album, here is a great photo of some East German Army soldiers cleaning their rifles with these kits. You can see the kits on the table.

Now let's take a look at the album.