Chinese Mosin Type 53 Rifle

Chinese Type 53 carbine rifle with folding bayonet. Rifle was imported by Navy Arms Co many years ago. These are used rifles and will show wear on the metal parts. Stocks and handguards will have signs of storage including scratches, dings and scrapes. Bores are dark. Picture is a representative sample of the rifle you will receive. 

The Type 53 is a Chinese copy of the Russian Mosin-Nagant M44 Carbine, a new production version of the 91/30 with a reduced barrel length and a side-mounted folding bayonet. It is functionally identical to the more ubiquitous 91/30, but due to a reduced barrel length of 8 inches, its accuracy is lacking in comparison to its older counterpart. It is also reportedly heavier than a standard 91/30, likely due to the heft of the bayonet always being attached to it.

History

In 1953, the Chinese sought military help from their newfound ally, the Soviet Union. As a result, the Soviet Union willingly sent advisers and tooling to the famous Arsenal /26\ (Most famous for manufacturing the Type 56 carbine SKS variant). After initial production began, the Chinese named it the Type 53, after the year it was made.

While there is much doubt of its use in the Korean War, as its production was very much towards the end of the war, it was indubitably used often in the Vietnam War. This was a result of what the Chinese government did following a few years of Type 56 Carbine production, being that in 1961, production may have ended, and since the Type 53 lost much of its military importance due to the evolving battlefield, it was exported to growing nations that requested help and were willing to buy arms. Many nations, such as Angola and Vietnam (explaining their commonality during the Communist Vietnamese-United States conflict) were receiving T53s en masse, and their presence significantly bolstered their minimal military ability as far as logistics were concerned.

While production seems to have ended in 1961, this is not confirmed, as, like the Type 56 Carbine, attempts to contact the Chinese government for this information have been met with silence. The known evidence is that the latest recorded T53 was dated 1961, and was a Vietnam War bringback from an American GI.

Chinese Type 53 Carbine Specs
Caliber: 7.62x54R
Barrel: 19.5 inches
OA Length: 40.25 inches
Weight: 9 pounds (empty)
Stock: Wood
Sights:Rear notch, front hooded post
Action: Bolt
Finish: Blued
Capacity: 5+1

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