Need help with a Norinco 9mm Model ID

timberlake50 · September 22, 2011, 04:32 PM

New to the forum, I have recently became owner of a Chinese 9mm, on the left side of the slide, it shows "MADE IN CHINA" above that statement is the s/n. Nothing else on the slide. On the left side of the frame, only the s/n, and a 66 in a triangle. I am under the impression that the 66 in the triangle, denotes Norinco. On the right side of the trigger guard, at the wide part of the guard, it has a "C". On the left side of the trigger guard in the same location, it has "X". There are no other markings anywhere else on the gun. The mag well, does have the shim inside to make it a 9mm. The mag has the last four numbers of the s/n on the bottom. It does have the safety, and looks like a type 54. S/N 423XXX Any information anyone can give me, would be great. Date of mfg, model,etc.

kozak6 · September 22, 2011, 07:22 PM

It's hard without a picture, but it is a Tokarev copy, then?

If it is a Type 54, the date of manufacture should be in the serial number. The first two numbers should denote how many years it had been since 1954. So, that might mean 1996.

Google suggests that the 66 stamp might be the Mukden Arsenal, but I'm not sure if that's correct.

The lack of markings makes it tricky as to the exact model, as the Chinese made a few different Tokarev clones. I'll do some more searching later.

C5rider · September 22, 2011, 08:48 PM

sounds to me like it might be a Norinco 213. I've got one and love it. Does it look anything like this? There are different models, depending on where they were manufactured (Yugoslavia, Russia, China, etc). One feature that stands out among them is the safety that was added to import them.

My gun has a date right where the safety is, dated 1958. Does yours have one as well? What type of grips does yours have? I like the heavier grips that are on my gun rather than the much thinner ones that many other Norinco guns have.

If yours doesn't have the safety and B-West Tuscon AZ stamped on the slide, it MIGHT have come in as a capture gun or whatever they called it at the time. I've heard of some coming back home after our guys "relieved their previous owner from needing it". Would be interested to hear if anyone has more input about this. Also, pics would be great.

timberlake50 · September 24, 2011, 12:11 PM

My gun looks just like the one you posted, except, it does not have the mag. ext. It does have the safety, no numbers near that area, at the end of the s/n on the frame, is where the 66 in a triangle is located. All parts including the mag. have the same s/n. No import marks, etc.

C5rider · September 24, 2011, 02:06 PM

Sounds to me like this one might have come back to the US in a duffle bag instead of an importer. I've heard of that happening but havent seen any guns like that yet. I'm not sure, but I believe they have a little more collector value than the imported ones, but, that's all relative as these guns are somewhat bargain priced at a couple hundred dollars. I'd say shoot it when you can. The barrels are typically chromed and should last for a while. I've heard folks say that "the ones built in country X are better and these are junk" but, I just had mine out today. I guess I like junk and it likes me.

The fact that yours does have the safety but not the import stamp makes me wonder if it might have come from our friends up north and not our enemies in the east. I know they could still buy them long after our "gubment" decided that we didn't want them. I don't know much about the guns sourced up there so maybe someone with more knowledge might be able to chime in. In any event, enjoy the gun.

Webleymkv · September 24, 2011, 04:34 PM

I agree with others here that your gun is most likely a Norinco 213. This model is basically the Chinese Type 54 (which itself is a copy of the Soviet TT-33 Tokarev) with a 9mm barrel, different magazine, magwell spacer, and manual safety added (necessary for importation). The reason these guns were made in 9mm rather than 7.62x25 as the Type 54's were is because, at the time they were imported, 7.62x25 ammo was relatively uncommon and expensive while 9mm was cheap and abundant in the U.S. As a point of interest, about the only things required to convert the gun to 7.62x25 is a barrel and magazine as well as removing the magwell spacer.

timberlake50 · September 25, 2011, 10:31 AM

I just found the same gun on different forum, it has the same markings, close to the same s/n, in same cal.. It was determined there that it was a 213, as you have said. Their findings were, that it was pre-Norinco. The Chinese only put the "Made in China" and the s/n on the slide, and the markings I have listed on the frame. ATF told them, that they needed to put a model number/name, and Manufacturer. This is felt to be one of the first import shipments brought into the US. Futher investigation, found a visable under a loop, importer name on the back strap of the grip, Interstate Arms, Billerica, Ma. This seems to answer most of the questions, thanks for your support.

September 22, 2011, 04:32 PM	#1
timberlake50 Junior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Posts: 3	Need help with a Norinco 9mm Model ID New to the forum, I have recently became owner of a Chinese 9mm, on the left side of the slide, it shows "MADE IN CHINA" above that statement is the s/n. Nothing else on the slide. On the left side of the frame, only the s/n, and a 66 in a triangle. I am under the impression that the 66 in the triangle, denotes Norinco. On the right side of the trigger guard, at the wide part of the guard, it has a "C". On the left side of the trigger guard in the same location, it has "X". There are no other markings anywhere else on the gun. The mag well, does have the shim inside to make it a 9mm. The mag has the last four numbers of the s/n on the bottom. It does have the safety, and looks like a type 54. S/N 423XXX Any information anyone can give me, would be great. Date of mfg, model,etc. Last edited by timberlake50; September 22, 2011 at 05:03 PM.

September 22, 2011, 07:22 PM	#2
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	It's hard without a picture, but it is a Tokarev copy, then? If it is a Type 54, the date of manufacture should be in the serial number. The first two numbers should denote how many years it had been since 1954. So, that might mean 1996. Google suggests that the 66 stamp might be the Mukden Arsenal, but I'm not sure if that's correct. The lack of markings makes it tricky as to the exact model, as the Chinese made a few different Tokarev clones. I'll do some more searching later.

September 24, 2011, 12:11 PM	#4
timberlake50 Junior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Posts: 3	My gun looks just like the one you posted, except, it does not have the mag. ext. It does have the safety, no numbers near that area, at the end of the s/n on the frame, is where the 66 in a triangle is located. All parts including the mag. have the same s/n. No import marks, etc.

September 24, 2011, 02:06 PM	#5
C5rider Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2011 Posts: 108	Sounds to me like this one might have come back to the US in a duffle bag instead of an importer. I've heard of that happening but havent seen any guns like that yet. I'm not sure, but I believe they have a little more collector value than the imported ones, but, that's all relative as these guns are somewhat bargain priced at a couple hundred dollars. I'd say shoot it when you can. The barrels are typically chromed and should last for a while. I've heard folks say that "the ones built in country X are better and these are junk" but, I just had mine out today. I guess I like junk and it likes me. The fact that yours does have the safety but not the import stamp makes me wonder if it might have come from our friends up north and not our enemies in the east. I know they could still buy them long after our "gubment" decided that we didn't want them. I don't know much about the guns sourced up there so maybe someone with more knowledge might be able to chime in. In any event, enjoy the gun.

September 24, 2011, 04:34 PM	#6
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,610	I agree with others here that your gun is most likely a Norinco 213. This model is basically the Chinese Type 54 (which itself is a copy of the Soviet TT-33 Tokarev) with a 9mm barrel, different magazine, magwell spacer, and manual safety added (necessary for importation). The reason these guns were made in 9mm rather than 7.62x25 as the Type 54's were is because, at the time they were imported, 7.62x25 ammo was relatively uncommon and expensive while 9mm was cheap and abundant in the U.S. As a point of interest, about the only things required to convert the gun to 7.62x25 is a barrel and magazine as well as removing the magwell spacer.

September 25, 2011, 10:31 AM	#7
timberlake50 Junior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Posts: 3	I just found the same gun on different forum, it has the same markings, close to the same s/n, in same cal.. It was determined there that it was a 213, as you have said. Their findings were, that it was pre-Norinco. The Chinese only put the "Made in China" and the s/n on the slide, and the markings I have listed on the frame. ATF told them, that they needed to put a model number/name, and Manufacturer. This is felt to be one of the first import shipments brought into the US. Futher investigation, found a visable under a loop, importer name on the back strap of the grip, Interstate Arms, Billerica, Ma. This seems to answer most of the questions, thanks for your support.