I handled and put a few rounds through one today, I'm very impressed, don't think Norinco, it is way above any labeled Norc products , btw it doesn't have Norinco on it. The owner stripped it down, gave us a real good look, again don't think cheap, China or Norinco, it appears very solid. The mag drop button is the only thing that I didn't like on the rifle, no doubt someone will offer up a cure. The grip is small and it would be nice if you could attach a vertical front grip imo.
This summarizes my opinion exactly.
I remember my fort Nork 1911, and it was functional bit very rough around the edges. In terms of build quality, the T97 is light years ahead and that's the part the excites me the most about these (and China in general).
The Chinese can build quality goods. The device I'm typing this on is one of the highest quality goods I've ever used and it is proudly made in China.
The other encouraging thing is if you look at the Deans List of most Canadian universities, what do you see? Lots of Chins, Chans, Lees, and Hongs. You don't see as many Campbells, Browns, Smiths, or. Joneses - this is especially true in fields of science, engineering, technology, and business.
Here's the deans list from the university of Calgary, Science department to prove my point:http://www.ucalgary.ca/science/deanslist,
I didn't make the Deans list in Software Engingeering, but I have lots of friends who did who we're foreign students from China - many of whom have since gone home. I'm also a Canadian born, military veteran, have worked with private defence companies specializing in military equipment, and with the way things are going here with laws, legislation, and regulation, I've considered (and am actively considering) looking for work in Asia because things are really going down hill here.
The thing is, the British in the 1700s would never have believed the backwater colonists would eventually be the world super power either. We all know (or should know) the history of what came next. That pattern is repeating itself right now, and you can try to deny it, but when the signs are all around you and you can't see it, well, there's just no helping you.
The T97 is the biggest confirming indicator of this trend for me, and naysay all you want, it doesn't mean it's any less true. That said, it also doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, either. Sure, the Chinese government is a an evil, Communist relic - but the PEOPLE are no different than the people here at the most basic level. They just work harder and have a different mindset, not having been coddled from the birth with entitlement, social programs, and a collective belief that the world owes them everything.
Also to whoever made a knock on Chinese food, keep on mind Chinese people are very capitalistic and Chinese restaurant owners change their menu to sell stuff that Canadians fork out money to to eat (as in, everything that is sweet, salty, fatty, and bad for you). If you go to any Chinese restaurant, they have 2 menus, one for the Canadians and one for the Chinese people. The food is not at all similar, and if you have a Chinese friend who knows what REAL Chinese food is, ask them to take you sometime - you'll be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Who knows, maybe the T97 is the same way and I eagerly look forward to the next iteration that the Chinese and Canadian entrepreneurs can bring to bear.
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