The Type 54 (Traditional Chinese:54式手槍, Simplified Chinese: 54式手枪), Type 51, M20, TU-90 and Model 213 pistols are Chinese copies of the Soviet type Tokarev T-33. This type of pistol is commonly available in 7.62x25 mm caliber, although some variants have been made in 9mm Luger. The Model 213 features a safety catch, which was absent on Soviet-produced TT-33 handguns. Furthermore, the Model 213 features the thin slide grip grooves, as opposed to the original Russian wide-types. The 9mm model is featured with a magazine well block mounted in the rear of the magazine well to accept 9mm type magazines without frame modification.
Popularity
Type 51 and Type 54 pistols are also known colloquially as "Black Star" pistols (Traditional Chinese:黑星手槍, Simplified Chinese: 黑星手枪). PLA-surplus "Black Stars" have been a popular weapon on the Chinese black market.
References
- http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/default.asp
- http://www.nisat.org/weapons%20pages%20linked/china/norinco_type_54_pistol.htm
