Type 56 Carbine
China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) · Carbine · Discontinued · 1956
Also known as: Chinese SKS, Norinco SKS, Type 56 SKS
Overview
The Type 56 Carbine is a Chinese-made copy of the Soviet SKS semi-automatic carbine, produced in vast numbers by Norinco and Chinese state factories from 1956. Chambered in 7.62x39mm, it feeds from a fixed 10-round internal box magazine loaded by stripper clip, uses a gas-operated tilting-bolt action, and features a folding bayonet (blade-type on early guns, spike-type on later production) and a one-piece wooden stock. It served as a standard infantry arm of the People's Liberation Army before being supplanted by Type 56 assault rifles, and was widely exported and used throughout the Cold War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3850 g (135.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1025 mm (40.35") |
| Barrel Length | 521 mm (20.51") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 735 m/s (2411 fps) |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 36 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x39mm · primary — also known as 7.62x39mm Soviet, M43, 7.62mm Kalashnikov
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Folding Bayonet, Stripper Clip Loading, Hinged Magazine Floorplate, One Piece Wood Stock, Adjustable Iron Sights
Service history
Operators
- People's Liberation Army · adopted 1956
- Viet Cong / North Vietnamese Army
- Albanian Armed Forces
Conflicts
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Sino-Vietnamese War (1979)
Production
Estimated total produced: 18,000,000 · Production years: 1956-present
Roughly 18 million produced across Chinese state factories; commercial Norinco export production continued for the civilian market.
Origin
Country of origin: China
Designer: Norinco / Chinese state arsenals (after Sergei Simonov's SKS)
Notes
Not to be confused with the Norinco Type 56 assault rifle (an AK-47 derivative); the Type 56 Carbine is the SKS-pattern weapon. Approximately 18 million were produced. Many were exported and remain common on the civilian surplus market.
Background
The Chinese Type 56 Carbine became one of the most widely encountered SKS variants in the world, spread through Cold War arms shipments to allied movements across Asia and Africa, and later flooding Western surplus markets after the end of its military service.