T97 $30 Flat Top Rail
Looks like a FAMAS, sort of:
- Very Sturdy (Really depends on your workmanship/skills. There are critical parts in the front and rear pins that makes it tight)
- Co-witnesses with red dot
- Reversible to "Carry handle" configuration if you have a spare plastic carry handle piece.
- Unfortunately, you have to be quite a handy person with the right tools
I wanted my T97 to be able to accept a red-dot sight with co-witness height. Initially, I purchased the short rail which mounted on the top of the carry handle, it took about 5 seconds to decide that it wasn't a user friendly height. After which I looked towards the FTU. While it seemed like it would be a huge enhancement, I didn't like the idea that the amount of investment means I could probably buy a (another) Tavor.
Looking at the T97 itself, both the front and rear sight posts are very sturdy, it also has many flat surfaces. It is perfect for a DIY project. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment and I had to do this with hand file, sand paper and a hand drill. I also had to do my "milling" using a hand drill. I'm sure if you are better equipped, you'll do a way better job than I did.
*Brief Instructions* 10/10/2015
1.), cut down the front section of the rear sight post, touch it up with paint/finish of your choice. You also need to cut down the plastic carry handle. How-ever far you want this to be cut is up to you, I chose to stop at this point.
Front of carry handle:
2.), source a rail that is at least 12" long. I had an AI AX Chassis rail that I didn't need anymore, so I used it as the first prototype. While it seemed to work quite well, it had some considerable flex in it if you really press down on it, since it has a centre ridge and many holes.
Later, I sourced another rail which did not have any holes, or ridges, and did the following mods to it. (Nevermind the front and rear holes, they came that way.)
Front:
That slot is a milled to be 5/32" diameter. However deep depends on the location of the holes drilled on your front sight post.
Top
Bottom
Rear:
Note the bottom of the rear-most part is removed. However, do not remove too much material, as it will affect how well it locks up with the rear post.
3.), drill your front sight post and pin the front of rail to it. I used 5/32" drill bit:
4.), drill the rear post and pin the rear of rail to it, I used 1/8" drill bit:
Make sure your roll pin doesn't protrude. Close up the plastic piece!
Finished! (Obviously there's many more steps in between involving careful planning, measuring and executing. However, every gun from norinco is probably different, therefore I purposely omitted dimensions.)
The result:
Yes it is still a carry handle:
Best part is, if you can source an extra carry handle, you can reverse it:
*Initial Post 10/8/2015*
Looks like a FAMAS, sort of:
- Very Sturdy (Really depends on your workmanship/skills. There are critical parts in the front and rear pins that makes it tight)
- Co-witnesses with red dot
- Reversible to "Carry handle" configuration if you have a spare plastic carry handle piece.
- Unfortunately, you have to be quite a handy person with the right tools
I wanted my T97 to be able to accept a red-dot sight with co-witness height. Initially, I purchased the short rail which mounted on the top of the carry handle, it took about 5 seconds to decide that it wasn't a user friendly height. After which I looked towards the FTU. While it seemed like it would be a huge enhancement, I didn't like the idea that the amount of investment means I could probably buy a (another) Tavor.
Looking at the T97 itself, both the front and rear sight posts are very sturdy, it also has many flat surfaces. It is perfect for a DIY project. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment and I had to do this with hand file, sand paper and a hand drill. I also had to do my "milling" using a hand drill. I'm sure if you are better equipped, you'll do a way better job than I did.*Brief Instructions* 10/10/2015
1.), cut down the front section of the rear sight post, touch it up with paint/finish of your choice. You also need to cut down the plastic carry handle. How-ever far you want this to be cut is up to you, I chose to stop at this point.
Front of carry handle:
2.), source a rail that is at least 12" long. I had an AI AX Chassis rail that I didn't need anymore, so I used it as the first prototype. While it seemed to work quite well, it had some considerable flex in it if you really press down on it, since it has a centre ridge and many holes.
Later, I sourced another rail which did not have any holes, or ridges, and did the following mods to it. (Nevermind the front and rear holes, they came that way.)
Front:
That slot is a milled to be 5/32" diameter. However deep depends on the location of the holes drilled on your front sight post.
Top
Bottom
Rear:
Note the bottom of the rear-most part is removed. However, do not remove too much material, as it will affect how well it locks up with the rear post.
3.), drill your front sight post and pin the front of rail to it. I used 5/32" drill bit:
4.), drill the rear post and pin the rear of rail to it, I used 1/8" drill bit:
Make sure your roll pin doesn't protrude. Close up the plastic piece!
Finished!
(Obviously there's many more steps in between involving careful planning, measuring and executing. However, every gun from norinco is probably different, therefore I purposely omitted dimensions.)The result:
Yes it is still a carry handle:
Best part is, if you can source an extra carry handle, you can reverse it:
*Initial Post 10/8/2015*
Rock solid, co-witness height.
If there's enough interests, I will post instructions for those who wants to pursue the project.
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