Type 54 pistol

Lore & Background

The Type 54 originated as an improved version of the Type 51, a Chinese copy of the Soviet TT-33 adopted after World War II. Over 235,000 Type 51 pistols were produced between 1951 and 1954, initially using both Soviet and Chinese parts. In 1954, after approximately 250,000 pistols were manufactured, the designation changed to Type 54, and production shifted to exclusively indigenous components. The Type 54 magazine is interchangeable with the Russian TT-33.

The pistol is commonly chambered in 7.62×25mm, though variants have been made in 9×19mm Parabellum. It is colloquially known as the "Black Star" pistol due to the five-pointed star engraved on its all-black grip panel. The People's Liberation Army's state manufacturer Norinco still produces a commercial variant, the Tokarev Model 213, in both 7.62×25mm and 9×19mm. The Model 213 introduced a safety catch absent on Soviet TT-33s and features thin slide grip grooves.

Other variants include the Model 213A with a 14-round magazine, the Model 213B with a wrap-around grip, the unmarked M20 clandestine version, and the TU-90 (also NP-10 or Model 213-B) with forged steel construction and rubber grips. The NP-10 export model offers interchangeable barrels for 7.62×25mm, 9×19mm, and .38 Super. The NP-15 and NP-17 are export models with improved sights and, in the NP-17, a muzzle brake. Foreign copies include the Vietnamese K-54VN and K14-VN, the latter featuring a wider grip for a 14-round double-stack magazine.

Reader's Guide

The Type 54 pistol holds significance as a standard sidearm of the People's Liberation Army, alongside the Type 59, Type 64, and Type 77. Although supplemented by the QSZ-92 (Type 92), it remains in service with some Chinese armed forces, including the People's Armed Police. Its legacy extends to Vietnam, where it was used during the Vietnam War as the K-54, and where updated variants like the K14-VN continue to serve with the People's Army of Vietnam. The pistol's design has spawned numerous commercial and export variants, such as the Tokarev Model 213 series and the NP-10 with interchangeable barrels, reflecting its adaptability. The Type 54 has also been associated with criminal activities, notably smuggling into Japan for use by the Yakuza. Its operators include Bangladesh, China, Iraq (Type 51), Pakistan, Somaliland, and Vietnam, as well as non-state actors like the Inkatha Freedom Party and Russian separatist forces in Ukraine.

Did You Know?

• The Type 51 predecessor was produced in Shenyang's Factory 66 using both Soviet and Chinese parts.
• The Vietnamese K14-VN variant has a 14-round double-stack magazine and entered service on May 10, 2014.