Type 54
China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) · Pistol · Discontinued · 1954
Also known as: Chinese Tokarev, Type 54-1, TT-33 (Chinese)
Overview
The Type 54 is a Chinese semi-automatic pistol, a license-built clone of the Soviet TT-33 Tokarev chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Produced by Norinco and its predecessor state factories from 1954, it used the Tokarev's single-action, locked-breech short-recoil action and a removable modular hammer/lockwork group. It served as the standard sidearm of the People's Liberation Army through much of the Cold War and was widely exported, with a later commercial Type 54-1 variant adding a manual thumb safety for civilian markets.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 850 g (30.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 197 mm (7.76") |
| Barrel Length | 114 mm (4.49") |
| Height | 130 mm (5.12") |
| Width | 35 mm (1.38") |
| Sight Radius | 156 mm (6.14") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Trigger Pull | 41 N (9.2 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 8 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 413 m/s (1355 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 476 J (351 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x25mm Tokarev · primary — also known as 7.62 Tokarev, 7.62x25mm, 7.63x25mm Mauser
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Modular Hammer Group, Removable Lockwork, Exposed Hammer
Variants
- Type 54-1 — Commercial Export
Service history
Operators
- People's Liberation Army · adopted 1954
- People's Armed Police
Conflicts
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Production years: 1954-present (commercial)
Long-running standard PLA sidearm; large numbers produced and widely exported, with commercial Type 54-1 still offered as surplus and new-production for export markets
Origin
Country of origin: China
Designer: Fedor Tokarev
Notes
Succeeded the mechanically identical Type 51; the two differ mainly in slide markings, with the Type 54 bearing Chinese characters indicating its designation. The commercial Type 54-1 added a frame-mounted thumb safety to meet import safety requirements.
Background
The Type 54 reached Western collectors in large numbers as military surplus, becoming one of the most common and affordable Tokarev-pattern pistols available. China's adoption followed the 1950 Sino-Soviet mutual aid treaty that licensed Chinese production of Soviet small-arms designs.