Type 58 assault rifle

The Type 58 (Korean: 58식자동보총) is an assault rifle made in North Korea derived from the Soviet AK-47^[3] designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. This was the first weapon made in North Korea alongside the PPSh-41, made under license as the Type 49.^[4] It was made in Factory 61 and 65^[4] in Chongjin.^[2]

Type 58
The Type 58
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	North Korea
Service history
In service	1958–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Vietnam War Salvadoran Civil War Nicaraguan Revolution United States invasion of Grenada[1]
Production history
Designer	Mikhail Kalashnikov[a]
Manufacturer	Factory 61/65
Produced	1958–1968[2]
No. built	800,000[3]
Specifications
Cartridge	7.62×39mm
Action	Gas-operated
Rate of fire	600–650 rounds/min[2]
Feed system	30-round detachable AK magazines
Sights	Iron sights

Type 58 assault rifle
Chosŏn'gŭl	58식자동보총
Hancha	五八式自動步銃
Revised Romanization	Opalsik jadongbochong
McCune–Reischauer	Op'alsik chadongboch'ong

History

After the Korean War (1950–1953), North Korea was allied with the Soviet Union and continued to receive military support from them throughout the Cold War.^[5] President Kim Il Sung ordered the fabrication of the Type 58. The assault rifle was first produced in 1958.^[4] These were made initially with Soviet components until the North Koreans were able to make the parts on their own.^[4]

Before production of the Type 58 ceased, it's reported that around 800,000 were made.^[3] North Korea turned production towards the Type 68 in 1968 since it was too time-consuming to make the Type 58.^[3]

The Type 58 was exported to Cuba and Vietnam in the 1960s before it showed up in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South America.^[4] The Maltese government signed two secret arms deals with North Korea in March and July 1982, which included the provision of Type 58 rifles.^[6]

Design

While the Type 58 is based on the AK-47 with the milled receiver,^[4] the difference between the two assault rifles is that the former has identifying marks such as the five-point star in a circle and Type 58 in Hangul.^[4] The Type 58 has a firing rate at 600-650 RPM.^[2]

The Type 58's quality of bluing varies, usually ranging from average to poor.^[2] The Type 58 can use 20-round magazines aside from 30-round magazines with the capability to fire rifle grenades, based on the PGN-60 and the KGN.^[7]

Initial production models were not made with bayonet lugs.^[8] Later models were produced with said bayonet lugs.^[8] The Type 58 has a knife bayonet used.^[9]

Variants

Type 58-1

A variant of the Type 58 with a folding stock.^[3]

Users

• Cuba: Known to have the Type 58 in the 1960s.^[4] Provided free of charge due to allegations that the Soviet Union did not want to honor Cuban orders for AK-47s.^[7]
• Grenada: Recovered by US troops after Operation Urgent Fury.^[1]
• North Korea^[3]
• Malta: Received Type 58 rifles in 1982.^[6]
• Nicaragua: Sandinista Popular Army/Ejército Popular Sandinista. In addition to receiving Type 58s, they also received Type 68 magazine pouches and slings.^[10]
• Vietnam: Reported to be used by the former North Vietnamese military in the 1960s.^[4][3]

Non-State Actors

• Hamas^[11]

Notes

1. Being the inventor/designer of the AK-47, which the Type 58 is based on.