Maker:	Z.M. Lucznik, Radom, Poland*
Caliber:	9 mm Makarov
Action type:	Blowback
Capacity:	15, 25
Length (stock folded):	333 mm (13.1")
Length (stock extended):	583 mm (23")
Height with 15 rds mag:	145 mm (5.71")
Height with 25 rds mag:	213 mm (8.39")
Barrel length:	150 mm (5.9")
Sight radius:	153 mm (6.02")
Weight:	1.6 kg (56.4 oz)
Muzzle velocity:	320 m/s (1050 ft/s)
Rate of fire:	650 rpm
* no longer manufactured

 
Pm-63 was designed under the lead of prof. Piotr Wilniewczyc, one of designers of the ViS 35 pistol, with the special forces in mind. When introduced, it was one of the lightest SMG's in the world. Production started in 1964 and one year later it entered service as "9 mm pm wz. 1963" (9 mm SMG model 1963) or Pm-63. The gun is also known as RAK (acronym for Special forces automatic handgun). Tens of thousands were made.

 
Pm-63 is blowback operated. It fires from open bolt and the slide must be racked back to cock it. It is equipped with a retractable sheet metal stock and a folding plastic forward pistol grip. Pm-63 is capable of both semi- and automatic fire but is not equipped with a selector. Semi-automatic fire is achieved by a short pull on the trigger and full-automatic fire requires the trigger to be pulled all the way back. Manual safety is located on the left side in the upper rear part of the pistol grip. The 15 or 25 shot double-column magazines are inserted in the pistol grip and the magazine release is located, as in others Eastern block weapons of that era, at the bottom of the grip. The elongated, forward part of the slide works as a muzzle-flip reducer and can also be used to cock the slide one-handed (by pressing it against a solid object). Rear part of the frame houses a cyclic rate reducer which reduces the rate of fire to 650 rpm making the Pm-63 very controllable despite it's small size and light weight. Sights can be set on 75 or 150 meters. Since their are mounted directly on the slide which is in constant motion during firing only the first shot can be well directed. But when fired in short bursts this gun can be quite accurate, especially at short ranges. Pm-63 is made entirely from steel to a suprisingly high standard making it quite expensive to manufacture. Standard equipment consist of a carrying belt, a canvas holster, magazine pouch, cleaning gear and four magazines (one 15 rounds and three 25 rounds). The smaller magazine is usually carried on the weapon, with three spares in the magazine pouch. A shoulder holster for undercover work is also available.

 
In 1971 a 9 mm Parabellum variant was developed but was never manufactured in significant quantities. An unlicensed copy of Pm-63 is currently being made by NORINCO of China.

 
Pm-63 was used by Polish special forces, police and by military personnel requiring compact, yet powerful self-defense weapon (drivers, tank and armoured vehicles crews etc.). Today the Pm-63 is still used by the police and military but special forces had replaced it by MP5's, UZI's and PM-84P's.

 
Pm-63s were used by Iranian terrorists during the siege of Iran's London embassy in 1980. It can also be seen in a hands of a terrorist in the movie "Delta Force".

Pm-63's from the information series (then called just "RAK") had a Polish Eagle stamped on the receiver. Since it was very unpopular by the communist officials the symbol was removed.