Norinco Type 81

The Type 81 is a Chinese assault rifle developed by Norinco in the late 1970s. It was designed as a simplified, more reliable alternative to the Type 56 rifles in Chinese service. The Type 81 uses a short-stroke gas piston system with a rotating bolt and is chambered in 7.62x39mm. It features a distinctive ventilated handguard and a folding stock on the S variant. The rifle was the primary standard infantry weapon of the People's Liberation Army through the 1980s and 1990s. It is known for its rugged construction and reliability under adverse conditions.