Type 54 pistol
| Industry | Firearms manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1952 |
| Headquarters | China |
| Products | Firearms, including Type 54 pistol and Tokarev Model 213 |
Description
The Type 54 represents an enhanced iteration of the Type 51, itself a Chinese reproduction of the Soviet TT-33 pistol, developed in the aftermath of the Korean War. Initially adopted in 1951, the Type 51 was manufactured at Shenyang's Factory 66 utilizing a combination of Soviet and Chinese components. By 1954, after approximately 250,000 units had been produced, the manufacturing process transitioned entirely to domestically produced parts, prompting a redesignation to Type 54. The pistol’s magazine remains compatible with the Russian TT-33 model.
Chambered mainly for the 7.62×25mm cartridge, certain variants have been produced in 9×19mm Parabellum. While the Type 54 has largely been superseded by the QSZ-92 (Type 92) within the Chinese military, it continues to be utilized by organizations such as the People's Armed Police and select People's Liberation Army units.
During the Vietnam War, this pistol saw widespread deployment and was locally referred to as súng ngắn K-54, directly translating its Chinese designation. Additionally, significant quantities were illicitly transported into Japan, where they found use among groups like the Yakuza.
Often nicknamed "Black Star" pistols (黑星手枪), these firearms are distinguished by a five-pointed star emblem engraved on their black grip panels.
Variants
Norinco, China's state-owned armaments manufacturer associated with the People's Liberation Army, continues to produce a commercial version of the Tokarev pistol chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, designated as the Tokarev Model 213, alongside models chambered in the original 7.62×25mm round. This variant incorporates a safety mechanism absent from Soviet TT-33s and features narrower slide grip serrations compared to its Russian predecessor. The 9×19mm version includes a magazine well block that permits use of standard 9×19mm magazines without altering the frame.
Currently, Norinco’s production is not authorized for import into the United States due to restrictions on Chinese firearms; however, older Model 213 pistols imported during the 1980s and 1990s remain prevalent.
The M20 is an unmarked Type 54 variant produced without factory identifiers to obscure its origin and was widely supplied to North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam conflict (also known as K54). A modernized iteration, the K14-VN, produced by Factory Z111, features a 13-round double-stack magazine and an expanded grip design inspired by the Tokarev Model 213. Development commenced in 2001, with official induction into service on May 10, 2014.
The TU-90—also referred to as NP-10 or Model 213-B—is an upgraded Model 213 resembling the Hungarian Tokagypt 58 from the 1950s. It is constructed from forged and machined steel with a matte blued finish and equipped with wrap-around rubber grips featuring ribbing.
Additional newer models such as the WQ213B54, 213-A, and NT04, which incorporate double-stack magazines, have also been introduced.
Industry codes for the standard K54 and K14-VN models are SN7M and SN7TD respectively.
Operators
Non-State Actors
References
- Articles with short description
- 7.62×25mm Tokarev semi-automatic pistols
- 9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols
- .38 Super semi-automatic pistols
- Cold War era Chinese weaponry
- China–Soviet Union relations
- Semi-automatic pistols manufactured in the People's Republic of China
- Short recoil operated firearms
- TT design series
- Firearms and ammunition introduced in 1954
- Norinco