Xiangying rifle

The Xiangying rifle (Chinese: 向应式步枪, Pinyin: xiàng yìng shì bùqiāng) also known as the Xiangying Type rifle, was a Chinese semi automatic rifle developed near the end of World War II and producded by the Jin-Sui District Arsenal.

Xiangying rifle
The Xiangying rifle (bottom) on display
Type	Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin	Republic of China
Service history
Used by	China
Wars	Second Sino-Japanese war World War II Chinese Civil War
Production history
Designer	Wen Chengding
Designed	1944
Manufacturer	Jin-Sui District Arsenal No.2
Produced	1944-1949
No. built	7
Specifications
Length	45.3 inches (115 centimetres)
Cartridge	6.5x50mm Arisaka
Caliber	6.5mm
Action	Gas-operated, Wedge-lock
Feed system	5-round internal box magazine
Sights	Adjustable open sight

History

The Xiangying rifle was designed by Wen Chengding (Chinese: 温承鼎) in 1944. Wen was a member of the Eighth Route Army. The rifle was named after 120th Division's political officer Guan Xiangying, who had died of an illness in 1946. Between 4 and 7 rifles were manufactured. One surviving rifle is currently on display at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution.

Design

The Xiangying rifle was made from captured Type 38 rifle parts. For example, the barrel, the sling mount hardware and the bayonet mount. However, the receiver, the bolt and the stock are all originally made parts.Unlike the regular Type 38 rifle, the Xiangying rifle lacked the Arisaka's distinctive dust cover however, it still had a bayonet mount like the Type 38 rifle and was chambered in the same round (6.5×50mmSR Arisaka). The Xiangying rifle is modified with an external gas piston on the right side of the rifle. The gas piston, with the return spring nested outside of it, is connected to the base of the bolt handle. It also had a recoil compensator. Its bolt, operated by a long stroke gas system, can be described as a wedge lock, not dissimilar to earlier designs such as the General Liu rifle or the Mannlicher 1886-88 lines.