Type 58 assault rifle
Assault rifle made in North Korea derived from the Soviet AK-47 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Type 58 (Korean: 58식자동보총) is an assault rifle made in North Korea derived from the Soviet AK-47[4] designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. This was the first weapon made in North Korea alongside the PPSh-41, made under license as the Type 49.[5] It was made in Factory 61 and 65[5] in Chongjin.[3]
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2012) |
| Type 58 | |
|---|---|
The Type 58 | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | North Korea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1958–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov[a] |
| Manufacturer | Factory 61/65 |
| Produced | 1958–1968[3] |
| No. built | 800,000[4] |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 7.62×39mm |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | 600–650 rounds/min[3] |
| Feed system | 30-round detachable AK magazines |
| Sights | Iron sights |
| Type 58 assault rifle | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 58식자동보총 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 五八式自動步銃 |
| Revised Romanization | Opalsik jadongbochong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Op'alsik chadongboch'ong |
History
After the Korean War (1950–1953), North Korea was allied with the Soviet Union and continued to receive military support from them throughout the Cold War.[6] President Kim Il Sung ordered the fabrication of the Type 58. The assault rifle was first produced in 1958.[5] These were made initially with Soviet components until the North Koreans were able to make the parts on their own.[5]
Before production of the Type 58 ceased, it's reported that around 800,000 were made.[4] North Korea turned production towards the Type 68 in 1968 since it was too time-consuming to make the Type 58.[4]
The Type 58 was exported to Cuba and Vietnam in the 1960s before it showed up in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South America.[5]
The Type 68 was reported to be exported to the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front covertly in the 1980s.[3]
Design
Summarize
Perspective
Type 58
While the Type 58 is based on the AK-47 with the milled receiver,[5] the difference between the two assault rifles is that the former has identifying marks such as the five-point star in a circle and Type 58 in hangul.[5] The Type 58 has a firing rate at 600-650 RPM.[3]
The Type 58's quality of finish bluing depends, which usually ranges from average to poor.[3]
Initial production models were not made with bayonet lugs.[7] Later models were produced with said bayonet lugs.[7]
Type 68
The Type 68 was made with features from the Type 58 with features such as the solid catalpa wood stock, wood pistol grip, handguards and smooth sheet-steel top covers.[3] It has a swivel retaining bracket spot-welded on the left side of the receiver.[3] The pistol grip stud and lower stock tang are riveted in place.[3] The milled gas block is flat on both sides and, like the Type 58, has a sling swivel that extends outward from the left side.[3] The folding stock variant of the Type 68 has the Soviet underfolding design with stamped steel struts and buttplate.[3] The rear sights are graduated to a distance of 800 meters.[3] The trigger group is not based on the Soviet AKM. Instead, the trigger is a double-hook design based on milled receiver-based AKs.[5]
The rifle has a barrel length of 415 mm with a velocity of 715 m/s.[8] Its practical rate of fire is at 40-100 RPM.[8] While it has a sight range of 800 meters, its effective range is at 300 to 400 meters.[8]
While Type 68s used hangul markings in the fire selectors, exported versions uses non-hangul markings[3] with 1 for semi-auto and an infinity symbol for automatic fire.[5] The markings consist of a five-point star in a circle and Type 68 in hangul.[5]
Variants
Type 58-1
A variant of the Type 58 with a folding stock.[4]
Type 68
The Type 68 also known as Type 68 NK, is a North Korean version of the AKM, it was adopted in 1968 to replace the Type 58.[8] It has no rate reducer.[9] It has its own bayonet, which is based on the AK-47 bayonet, but it has a different pommel mount for it.[10] These bayonets were also issued in Cuba, which have green scabbards instead of tan scabbards, which is used in the Korean People's Army.[11]
Type 68-1
The Type 68-1 features an underfolding stock like the AKMS with holes in it to help reduce overall weight.[4][12]
Users
Cuba: Known to have the Type 58 in the 1960s.[5] It also received the Type 68.[4] Provided free of charge due to allegations that the Soviet Union did not want to honor Cuban orders for AK-47s.[13]
Ethiopia: North Korea provided assistance to set up Type 68 production lines in the 1980s.[14]
Grenada: Recovered by US troops after Operation Urgent Fury.[1]
Nicaragua: Sandinista Popular Army/Ejército Popular Sandinista. In addition to receiving Type 58s and Type 68s, they also received Type 68 magazine pouches and slings.[15]
North Korea[4]
Peru: Type 68 used by Peruvian National Police, most refurbished by Desarrollos Industriales Casanave.[16] Around 200 were modernized by DC as of 2012.[16]
Syria: Imported Type 58 and Type 68 rifles or components prior to the Syrian Civil War.[2] Produced under license in Syria.[17]
Vietnam: Reported to be used by the former North Vietnamese military in the 1960s.[5][4]
Non-State Actors
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front: Also received Type 68 slings and ammunition pouches, probably from Nicaragua.[3]
Islamic State: At least 18 Type 68 rifles were found in a weapons stash in northeast Syria in 2022.[2]
Gallery
Type 58 on top Type 68 on bottom
Type 68 in DPRK service
Type 68 in DPRK service
Type 68 in DPRK service
Type 68 in DPRK service
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Notes
References
Bibliography
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