Chinese T53 Trainer

This unique T53 is a training rifle as indicated by Chinese characters on the barrel which translate to "Rifle for Training" and the black paint on the stock. It is owned by Darrel Storm who was kind enough to furnish these pictures and allow them to be used here. Black paint on the stock is a common indicator of training arms among communist countries and was used by Romania and the Soviet Union also. This rifle has a hole drilled through the top of the barrel into the chamber and was obviously never meant to be fired. While it falls in the same production date range as standard T53s, the serial number is not in the same range. Most likely this is only one of a special run of training rifles made by the Chinese. A very few others have been reported in the United States and came in mixed with typical T53 imports. The training rifle barrel markings are shown on the left with typical 1955 T53 barrel markings on the right for comparison.

The firing pin has been clipped to prevent accidentally discharging a live round. The stock is worn and seems to have been used for it's intended purpose although the bore is in new condition, as are the exterior metal surfaces.

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