Type 54 pistol

The Type 54 (simplified Chinese: 54式手枪; traditional Chinese: 54式手槍)^[1] and its variants are Chinese copies of the Soviet Tokarev TT-33 pistol.

Type 54
The export version of Type 54-1.
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	1954–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Sino-Indian War Vietnam War Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Rhodesian Bush War Sino-Vietnamese War Sri Lankan Civil War Somali Civil War Kargil war
Production history
Designer	Norinco
Designed	1954
Manufacturer	Norinco
Produced	1954–present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	890 g (31 oz)
Length	195 mm (7.7 in)
Barrel length	116 mm (4.6 in)
Height	134 mm (5.3 in)
Cartridge	7.62×25mm .38 Super 9×19mm Parabellum
Action	Short recoil actuated, locked breech, single action, semi-auto
Muzzle velocity	420 m/s (1,378 ft/s)
Effective firing range	50 m
Feed system	7 and 8 -round detachable box magazine, 14-round box magazine (213A/B)
Sights	Front blade, rear notch 156 mm (6.1 in) sight radius

History

China adopted the Type 51, local TT-33 copy, as their standard pistol after WWII.

The Type 51 was virtually identical to the TT-33, except for the Chinese markings on the left rear of the frame or on the top of the slide.^[2] According to Thompson, the barrels aren't chrome-lined.

Over 235,000 Type 51 pistols were produced between 1951 and 1954.^[3]

The Type 51 was first adopted in 1951 and produced in Shenyang's Factory 66 using both Soviet and Chinese-made parts.

In 1954, after approximately 250,000 pistols were manufactured, the designation was changed to Type 54 and the pistol used exclusively indigenous components.

Newer variants like the WQ213B54, 213-A and NT04, with double stacked magazines, have been developed.

Design

Main article: TT pistol

The Type 54 is the improved version of the Type 51 (Chinese TT-33 copy) produced after the Korean War.

The Type 54 magazine is interchangeable with that of the Russian TT-33. The pistol is commonly available in 7.62×25mm caliber, although some variants have been made in 9×19mm Parabellum.

Type 54 pistols are also known colloquially as "Black Star" pistols (Traditional Chinese:黑星手槍, Simplified Chinese: 黑星手枪)^[4] due to the five-pointed star engraved on its all-black grip panel.

Variants

Norinco, the People's Liberation Army's state weapons manufacturer in China, still manufactures a commercial variant of the Tokarev pistol chambered in the more common 9×19mm Parabellum round, known as the Tokarev Model 213, as well as in the original 7.62×25mm caliber.

Tokarev Model 213

The Tokarev Model 213 features a safety catch, which was absent on Soviet-produced TT-33 handguns. Furthermore, the Model 213 features the thin slide grip grooves, as opposed to the original Russian wide-types.

The 9×19mm model is featured with a magazine well block mounted in the rear of the magazine well to accept 9×19mm-type magazines without frame modification.

Model 213A

Model 213 variant with a 14-round box magazine.^[5]

Model 213B

Model 213 variant with a wrap-around grip to improve ergonomics.^[5]

M20

The M20 was a clandestine version of the Type 54 made without factory markings to conceal the weapon's origins^[6].

TU-90

Also known as the NP-10 or Model 213-B.

Improved Model 213 variant similar to the Hungarian-designed and manufactured, Egyptian contracted Tokagypt 58 of the 1950s.

Construction is primarily of forged and machined steel, with a matte blued finish. The grips are of wrap-around rubber ribbed on the side to improve ergonomics^[5].

NP-10

Export model with interchangeable barrels. It can fire 7.62×25mm, 9×19mm, and .38 Super cartridges.^[5]

NP-15

Export 9×19mm model with three white dot sights and a black rubber grip.^[5]

NP-17

Export target-shooting 9×19mm pistol with a 116 mm (4.6 in) barrel and muzzle brake.^[5]

Foreign production

Vietnamese Tokarev pistols on display.

K-54VN

Vietnamese Type 54 copy made by Z111 Factory. Replace and refurbishs the aging K-54 pistols in service.

K14-VN

Updated Vietnamese K54 variant. Made by Factory Z111.

Equipped with a wider grip to incorporate a 14-round double stack magazine. based on the Tokarev Model 213.

Research and development started in 2001. The K14-VN began to see service with PAVN forces on May 10, 2014^[7].

Adoption

China

The Type 54 was used as one of the standard sidearms used by the People’s Liberation Army, alongside the Type 59, Type 64 and Type 77.

Though the QSZ-92 (Type 92) has supplemented the Type 54 in the Army, the weapon is still in service in some of the Chinese armed forces (such as the People's Armed Police and some People's Liberation Army troops) today.

Vietnam

The Vietnamese used the Type 54 during the Vietnam War^[3], as the K-54^[8] (Vietnamese: Súng ngắn K-54, lit. 'Type 54 handgun') with K meaning "type" (Vietnamese: Kiểu). The industry name for the regular K54 and the K14-VN is known as SN7M and the SN7TD.

Export

The Norinco model in current production is not available for sale in the United States due to import prohibitions on Chinese firearms, although older handguns of the Model 213 type imported in the 1980s and 1990s are common.

Criminal activities

Type 54 pistols were smuggled into Japan in a significant quantity, often for use by the Yakuza.

Operators

A map with Type 54 operators in blue.

• China^[9]
• Pakistan^[10][11]
• Iraq − Type 51 pistols used^[12]
• Somaliland^[13]
•  Vietnam − Used by the PAVN and Viet Cong^[14]

Non-State Actors

• Inkatha Freedom Party^[15]