Norinco Type 54 Pistol

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I saw a Chinese clone of the Russian TT-33 in a gun store today. It was a Norinco Type 54 with black plastic wrap-around grips with a star and import marks and fancy script saying "7.62mm X 25mm Made in China Type 54..." as best as I can recall. I believe it also had "Norinco" and the importers name...from California I think. It was dated "1962" They wanted $250 for it. It looked mechanically sound in good condition. It look well used.

I almost bought it but wasn't certain it took TT-33 mags, was unsure of the quality(it looked okay) and remembered my first trip to the range with a surplus (like new) Polish TT-33 that fell apart as I was shooting it. (Some small pieces fell off...it quit working, I put it in the safe without troubleshooting it and gave it away later to a relative "as-is".)

It's not that I need another pistol that shoots the Tokarev round. I have two CZ-52's. It's just that my wife said I could buy another gun for our 32nd anniversary(next week). I kind of want this gun but don't need it. I could go back tomorrow and it'll probably still be there. I've got a 98K Mauser that's due in tomorrow or so from Aim Surplus, so I have some near term gratification coming my way. I'm just looking for one member out there to tell me to "pass" on this gun and look elsewhere. Thank you.

 

[Onmilo]

I sold quite a few of these pistols back when they were being imported and I had my own shop.
I shot one quite a bit to see just how durable the guns were and it suprised me as being fairly well made for a Chinese firearm along with also being accurate and reliable.
I don't have the same high regards for the 9mm caliber versions of this pistol, but the 7.62X25 guns are decent buys in my book.

Even if the side mounted thumb safety does fall off these guns, they will continue to work.

 

[SeanSw]

We recently had 54-1's in 9mm going for $125 locally with one magazine. The left a lot to be desired from looking at them, and the safety was obtrusive, but I found the rest of the gun to be satisfactory for the price. I was quite tempted to buy one and tuck it away.