9mm police

New Chinese police revolver. Note the manual safety lever located above the cylinder release latch.

Ammunition of a new revolver: left, with standard bullet, right - with black rubber "less lethal" bullet

Type	Double Action revolver
Caliber(s)	9mm (see text)
Weight unloaded	650 g
Length	186 mm
Barrel length	n/a
Magazine capacity	6 rounds

This new revolver has appeared in 2006 as a future armament for various elements of Chinese Police which previously were unarmed - such as traffic police, local municipal police etc. Since proposed users are mostly unfamiliar with modern small arms, it is reasonable to issue a weapon which is most simple in use - that is, the double action revolver. The ammunition, which is apparently based on old and rather anemic .38 S&W (9x20R) round, retains enough muzzle energy to pose a threat to any unprotected low-grade criminal at short ranges; and even if this gun will fail into wrong hands, any police body armor will be able to stop the bullet. The muzzle velocity for standard round is given as 220 m/s (720 fps). No bullet weights are given, but we can expect this round to be ballistically similar to .38 S&W, thus having muzzle energy about 220 Joules (160 Ft-Lbs). Other than standard round with jacketed of JHP bullet, a "less-lethal" rounds with rubber bullets are provided for crowd control.
It must be noted that no official designation of this gun is known so far.

Mechanically, this new revolver is a rather conventional design, with double-action trigger and swing-out cylinder. The firing pin is mounted in the frame, and a coil mainspring is located in the grip frame. Barrel is enclosed into separate jacket, styled after American Dan Wesson revolvers. The most unusual thing about this revolver is an additional manual safety lever, which is located on the left side of the frame, above the cylinder latch. Apparently, this safety blocks the firing pin. The sights are of open type, with rear sight blade being adjustable for windage.

Read more »

QSZ-92 pistol

 

QSZ-92 pistol in 9x19mm, with laser pointer mounted on the rail under the barrel.

QSZ-92 pistol in 5.8mm.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Calibers: 5.8mm Chinese or 9x19mm Para
Weight unloaded: 760 g
Length: 190 mm
Barrel length: not known
Capacity: 15 rounds

The QSZ-92 pistol is a most recent development of the Chinese state arms factories, and, apparently, it is now adopted by the PLA (Chinese people's Liberation Army) forces. QSZ-92 pistol is available in two versions, with the only difference being caliber: one is chambered for most common 9x19mm Luger / Parabellum ammunition (QSZ-92-9), and another is chambered for proprietary 5.8mm ammunition with bottle-necked case and pointed bullets (QSZ-92-5.8). The development of the QSZ-92 pistol apparently began circa 1994, and it is in limited service with PLA since the late 1990s.

The QSZ-92 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses a rotating barrel to lock and unlock the slide on recoil. Frame of the QSZ-92 pistol is made from polymer. Trigger mechanism is Double Action, with external hammer and ambidextrous safety / decocker lever, mounted on both sides of the frame. Dual stack magazine holds 15 rounds of ammunition in either caliber. Front part of the frame under the barrel is shaped as an accessory rail to accept laser sights or flashlights. Fixed sights have luminous inserts for low light conditions.

Read more »

Type 80 machine / automatic pistol

 

Type 80 pistol with 20-round magazine and holster / shoulder stock attached.

Cross-section diagram of the Type 80 pistol.

Characteristics

Type: Single Action
Caliber: 7.62x25mm
Weight unloaded: 1160 g
Length: 300 mm
Barrel length: 140 mm
Capacity: 10 or 20 rounds

Type 80 automatic (or machine) pistol has been developed in late 1970s as a personal defense weapon for vehicle crews and other military personnel, which is not issued with an assault rifle but may require a weapon with more firepower, than a typical pistol can provide. Type 80 pistol was apparently inspired by the classic German Mauser C96 pistol, in its late production "Schnellfeuer" (fast-firing or automatic) versions, and its design is heavily based on the old "broomhandle". However, there's plenty of differences both in internal design and in external appearance.

Type 80 automatic pistol is a short recoil operated, locked breech, selective fired weapon. The bolt of rectangular cross-section is located within a barrel extension, and is locked by a large tilting locking piece, which is mounted under the bolt in the extension. The single action firing mechanism has an external hammer, the single safety switch / fire mode selector is located at the left side of the frame, above the grip. The grip panel is reshaped and apparently of better design than of old Mauser. The magazine is also different - it is detachable, and sloped forward to provide more reliable feeding. The sights are fixed, and the rear of the grip frame is slotted to accept a separate telescoped shoulder stock, made of steel, or a special holster / shoulder stock. The stock is necessary to fire the pistol in full automatic mode or in single shots at extended ranges. Use of a relatively long barrel and a detachable shoulder stock, in combination of a relatively powerful 7.62x25mm cartridge, extends the effective range of pistol (in aimed semi-automatic fire) to 100 meters and maybe even further; the full auto capability is more of an emergency value, as the light and slim barrel will heat up quickly.

Read more »

NORINCO Model 77B pistol

NORINCO Model 77B pistol, left side view.

NORINCO Model 77B pistol, right side view.

NORINCO Model 77B pistol, showing its single hand slide cycling capability (using front of the trigger guard).

Characteristics

Type: Single Action
Caliber:9x19 mm Parabellum
Weight unloaded: 1000 g
Length: 190 mm
Barrel length: 127 mm
Capacity: 9 rounds

The Model 77B (M 77B) pistol is made by Chinese state arms factories and is exported by the NORINCO (China North Industries Corp). The M 77B pistol is apparently based on the Type 77 pistol, used by PLA and Chinese Police. However, the M 77B is bigger and heavier than Type 77 pistol. M 77B fires a much more powerful 9mm Para ammunition instead of 7.62x17mm Type 64 ammunition, used in Type 77 pistol. To safely handle powerful 9mm cartridges, M 77B pistol uses a gas retarded (delayed) blowback action with fixed barrel. Overall gas system is similar to one found in H&K P7 PSP pistol, with the gas cylinder, located under the barrel, and the gas piston, connected to the slide. The M 77B pistols are apparently not in use with any Chinese force, police or military, and intended for export. The M 77B is somewhat too bulky and heavy for a nine rounds magazine capacity, and fit and finish can be described as marginal at the best. The almost unique finger-cocking system (which in fact is forgotten elsewhere in the world for almost 90 years) is hardly useful, as it requires a lot of force and a very long index finger to operate it rapidly. NORINCO also offers two modified versions of the M 77B, designated as NP 20 and NP 24. The former is quite similar to M 77B except for it does not have a finger cocking, and the trigger guard is solid; the latter pistol also features a 15 rounds high capacity double stack magazines.

As said above, the M 77B is a retarded blowback operated pistol with fixed barrel. The opening of the slide is retarded by the pressure of the gas, bleed from the barrel into the cylinder below it. The striker-fired mechanism is single action, with frame mounted safety on the left side of pistol. Frame and slide are made from carbon steel, grip panels are polymer. Front sight is fixed, the rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. The finger cocking mechanism consists of the front part of the trigger guard, which is mounted on the slider. To cock the pistol (cycle the slide) single-handed one must pull the front of the trigger guard by the index finger and then release it. For me it was way too much effort to bother with.

Read more »

Type 77 pistol

 

Type 77 pistol, right side

 

 

Type 77 pistol, left side

Type: Single Action
Caliber: 7.65x17 Type 64 ball
Weight unloaded: 500 g
Length: 148 mm
Barrel length: n/a
Capacity: 7 rounds

The Type 77 pistol is a fairy simple pocket-sized pistol, which fires a marginally effective, low powered 7.65mm Type 64 cartridge, originally developed for the Type 64 silenced pistol. Type 77 pistol is intended as a self-defense weapon for officers of Chinese army (PLA) and police. It has been developed in the late 1970s and was officially adopted circa 1981. Military issue Type 77 pistol shall not be confused with much bigger and much more powerful 9mm NORINCO Type 77B pistol, available commercially and made in China only for export purposes.

Type 77 pistol is a blowback weapon, with striker-fired single action firing mechanism. The only unusual feature is a so-called Chylevsky device, made in the form of a separate front (vertical) part of the trigger guard. This device (originally developed by the Swiss designer Chylevsky in the first decade of the XX century) is used to load and cock the weapon by using only one hand. To do so, shooter must pull the front part of the trigger guard by its index finger. As it is connected to the slide, this pull will retract the slide back, and upon the release of the finger, the slide and front part of the trigger guard will return forward, chambering the cartridge and making the gun ready to fire single action. To avoid damage to the index finger, moving part of the trigger guard is automatically locked forward when trigger is pressed. If the gun is to be carried "cocked and locked", it also features a traditional manual safety on the frame, above the left grip panel. Single stack magazine holds 7 rounds of ammunition. magazine release button is located at the bottom of the trigger guard, on the left side of the frame. Bottom of the grip is provided with lanyard ring.

Read more »

Type 67 silenced pistol

 

Type 67 silenced pistol

 

Type 67 silenced pistol, bolt is locked open, the return spring guide rod is exposed above the barrel level.

Type: Single Action
Caliber: 7.65x17 Type 64 ball
Weight unloaded: 1050 g
Length: 226 mm
Barrel length: 95 mm
Capacity: 9 rounds

The Type 67 silenced pistol is a further development of a Type 64 pistol. It provides the users with the same combat characteristics, but at the about 2/3 of the weight of the earlier pistol. Apparently, the Type 67 pistol replaced the Type 64 pistol in Chinese service.

Type 67 pistol is a blowback operated, integrally silenced pistol, with the slide lock mechanism, inherited from the Type 64 pistol. It also fires the same Type 64 7.65mm ball cartridge.

Read more »

Type 64 silenced pistol

Type 64 silenced pistol; top, ready to fire; bottom, with the slide locked open after the last shot from magazine has been fired.

Characteristics

Type: Single Action
Caliber: 7.65x17 Type 64 ball
Weight unloaded: 1800 g 
Length: 222 mm
Barrel length: 95 mm
Capacity: 9 rounds

The Type 64 silenced pistol has been adopted by the Chinese military in the mid-1960s as a special purpose silenced weapon, intended for both military and political clandestine operations. Unlike most other silenced pistols, the Type 64 is an integrally silenced weapon, and not an adaptation of any existing "non-silenced" design. Pistol fires proprietary 7.65mm Type 64 ammunition, especially developed along with this pistol. Type 64 7.65mm cartridge is based n the old 7.65x17SR Browning / .32ACP round, but is of true rimless design (7.65mm Browning/.32ACP is of semi-rimmed design), and is not interchangeable with western ammunition. Type 64 ammunition is of relatively low power, which contributes to the low sound of fire and low effective range of pistol - probably no more than 10-20 meters. When fired from the Type 64 pistol, the Type 64 ball cartridge propels the 4.8 gram (74 grains) bullet to the muzzle velocity of 240 meters per second (790 fps). Type 64 pistol is generally replaced in service by the Type 67 silenced pistol, which is slightly more compact and a good deal lighter.

Type 64 silenced pistol is a blowback operated, integrally silenced pistol. Integral silencer consists of a large thin steel case, which contains steel mesh and several baffles, which are used to slow down and cool expanding muzzle blast. To further decrease the sound signature of firing pistol, the blowback mechanism can be blocked using the cross-bolt button, mounted in the slide. When lock mechanism is engaged, Type 64 pistol turns from a semiautomatic into a manually operated magazine fed weapon, thus avoiding the sound of the recoiling slide. Because of a silencer, recoil spring is located at the rear of the slide, above the barrel, along with guide rod. The Type 64 pistol has a fixed sights. Trigger is of single action variety, with external hammer, and a manual safety, located on the frame above the left grip. Cartridges are fed from single stack, detachable magazine which holds nine rounds.

Read more »