Do you have your Type 81?

Do you have your Type 81 rifle?

  • Yes, fixed stock from TI, its a keeper.

    Votes: 72 40.7%
  • Yes, folding stock from TI, its a keeper.

    Votes: 61 34.5%
  • Yes, fixed stock from TI, its defective.

    Votes: 12 6.8%
  • Yes, folding stock from TI, its defective.

    Votes: 26 14.7%
  • Yes, fixed stock from Tenda, its a keeper.

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Yes, folding stock from Tenda, its a keeper.

    Votes: 2 1.1%
  • Yes, fixed stock from Tenda, its defective.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Yes, folding stock from Tenda, its defective.

    Votes: 3 1.7%

  • Total voters
    177
Just showed up, looks good but short a few mags! BHO works on both mags but they are a little loose no biggie, they look good. I'll install my cheese grater and post a pic later today. Don't know what sight I will use yet but I can put something on for pics sake, still waiting for other parts to show, a Russian sling and a AK grip.
 
Just showed up, looks good but short a few mags! BHO works on both mags but they are a little loose no biggie, they look good. I'll install my cheese grater and post a pic later today. Don't know what sight I will use yet but I can put something on for pics sake, still waiting for other parts to show, a Russian sling and a AK grip.

Please post cheese grater pic and let us know how hard it was to install
 
Well, folder finally got delivered! :) Fit and finish is actually nicer than expected and looks pretty badass too. As for the "bent" issue, I can't really tell - it might have a very slight barrel curvature to the right, but it might be just me trying to see something that isn't there. The front sight hood is a tiny bit twisted by a degree or so in relation to the barrel, but it should have no bearing on the point of aim. That probably means it's good enough to do what it needs to do, shoot 7.62's at medium to short distances, lol.

Overall, it's a nice piece of kit and it's definitely "different" from all the other com-block AK lookalikes we have on the market today. It feels solid, kind of gritty and the wood is a nice darker stain (than what was presented in the advertisement pics). If the Vz-58's are $1400 these days and essentially do the same thing (plus have the milled receiver), I can justify the $1k price tag on this stamped receiver rifle. For some reason, the T81 feels like it could take more abuse than a Vz-58 too, although this is just first impressions after now having handled both. All in all, nothing out there compares to the T81's feel and look, in my opinion. Definitely worth the wait, stress and hassle we've all endured. :)

**If TI (or whoever) could get them in cheaper next time it would certainly be a bonus, but this is 2017 and not the 1980's anymore.... we have to compose with the retarded "OMG, think of the children!" laws and inflation of the 21st century, I suppose.


Thank you TI for bringing this in and thank you RCMP gun lab for not declaring it a "variant by inspiration" or some BS like that... ;)
 
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YAY - I FINALLY got my Type 81.

I had to go to the depot thanks to the numbnuts letter carrier in my neighbourhood, but at least the ordeal is over.

Receiver is straight, so I'm keeping it.

There are some minor foibles. The sights are on straight, but like some posters, the gas block is off a couple degrees clockwise relative to the front sight (if sighting down the rifle). I've checked that the gas port is drilled to align to the gas block and nothing binds, so it's just a minor cosmetic issue. Honestly, most people would not notice it on the rifle unless I pointed it out and it won't affect function.

My folding stock is straight to the receiver and barrel, but like many shown here, it is twisted slightly clockwise at the buttplate. I suspect this is just due to it being made of stamped metal, or maybe they are all like that? Not enough of an issue to warrant a return.

I did a full detail strip, and everything is fine. Both mags work and BHO works. No undue sharp edges - certainly nothing I haven't also seen on most AKMs. I am miffed I only got TWO mags though - I was led (on the phone with TI) to believe that they would send 3 with these late orders, not 2. It's also clear the rifle came from China with FOUR mags. I can see where the other two were robbed from the box to give an earlier customer more mags. That's disappointing.

I do not think there was ever foam packing, the packaging looks factory.

Even my wood seems acceptable. It could have been fitted a bit better where the forestock meets the sheet metal receiver, but it's not excessive and is functional. I also would have preferred if the receiver marking were blued over.

Now that I've seen the grenade launcher sleeve, I'm struck why they didn't make it 3/4 inches shorter so the barrel would be flush. Maybe it's because it imparts some flash hiding properties? Dunno. I've have preferred it shorter, but no biggie. Might have shaved a few ounces off the muzzle end.

To be frank, now that I have the rifle, I don't know why some guys (most of whom don't own one) are slagging the rifle. If it's not bent, it's a really handy little package and lighter than an SKS. I didn't even find the safety hard to work with my index finger when holding the rifle left handed (I'm a lefty).

I haven't shot it yet, but in every other way, I'm happy with the gun. Not much more to say. Even the machined components are well machined - moreso than I expected.

I voted non-defective.
 
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Congrats Claven! I like mine so much I'm contemplating getting rid of my CZ to get a folder. In all honesty my first 2 CZ's were crap!(except my 3rd a Czh 2003 kickin myself for selling it! ) 4th shot great and love it! However it's no more accurate then my fixed stock 81 and the 81 shoulders much nicer then the 858's. Maybe it's the longer reciever, 81 has less muzzle rise and seems softer in recoil. I know I'll be slammed for this remark but I believe the 81 would be a superior rifle to the 858 if it had a milled receiver. Function aside it looks proper real wood opposed to impregnated chip. Fore end and barrel has the appearance of having some meat and longevity to it opposed to the long ugly protrusion barrel of the NR 858's
 
YAY - I FINALLY got my Type 81.

I had to go to the depot thanks to the numbnuts letter carrier in my neighbourhood, but at least the ordeal is over.

Receiver is straight, so I'm keeping it.

There are some minor foibles. The sights are on straight, but like some posters, the gas block is off a couple degrees clockwise relative to the front sight (if sighting down the rifle). I've checked that the gas port is drilled to align to the gas block and nothing binds, so it's just a minor cosmetic issue. Honestly, most people would not notice it on the rifle unless I pointed it out and it won't affect function.

My folding stock is straight to the receiver and barrel, but like many shown here, it is twisted slightly clockwise at the buttplate. I suspect this is just due to it being made of stamped metal, or maybe they are all like that? Not enough of an issue to warrant a return.

I did a full detail strip, and everything is fine. Both mags work and BHO works. No undue sharp edges - certainly nothing I haven't also seen on most AKMs. I am miffed I only got TWO mags though - I was led (on the phone with TI) to believe that they would send 3 with these late orders, not 2. It's also clear the rifle came from China with FOUR mags. I can see where the other two were robbed from the box to give an earlier customer more mags. That's disappointing.

I do not think there was ever foam packing, the packaging looks factory.

Even my wood seems acceptable. It could have been fitted a bit better where the forestock meets the sheet metal receiver, but it's not excessive and is functional. I also would have preferred if the receiver marking were blued over.

Now that I've seen the grenade launcher sleeve, I'm struck why they didn't make it 3/4 inches shorter so the barrel would be flush. Maybe it's because it imparts some flash hiding properties? Dunno. I've have preferred it shorter, but no biggie. Might have shaved a few ounces off the muzzle end.

To be frank, now that I have the rifle, I don't know why some guys (most of whom don't own one) are slagging the rifle. If it's not bent, it's a really handy little package and lighter than an SKS. I didn't even find the safety hard to work with my index finger when holding the rifle left handed (I'm a lefty).

I haven't shot it yet, but in every other way, I'm happy with the gun. Not much more to say. Even the machined components are well machined - moreso than I expected.

I voted non-defective.

THE CURSE HAS BEEN LIFTED! REJOICE!!!

:dancingbanana: :dancingbanana: :dancingbanana:
 


Cheese grater installed. Not hard at all to install, looks OK, feels like it's on there solid. I'm still waiting on parts to complete, AK pistol grip, Russian sling and need to figure out what optic to put on it.

Tomorrow I'll dig out a red dot, forward grip and some rail covers and take another pic.
 


Cheese grater installed. Not hard at all to install, looks OK, feels like it's on there solid. I'm still waiting on parts to complete, AK pistol grip, Russian sling and need to figure out what optic to put on it.

Tomorrow I'll dig out a red dot, forward grip and some rail covers and take another pic.

How is the gas setting held in place on the cheese grater without the spring steel tab from the original handguard? I'm curious about that.
 
I have done a second round of inspections of the rifles in my possession and have confirmed them as "keepers"

I will be posting my latest findings, observations and thoughts later today in the other thread I started.
 
Got mine a few weeks ago. It's been the star of a video on YouTube as well as on Instagram (mine and the guy who did the video).
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It seems very solid with no wiggle or play at all. It's not really that bad and I think it will make a good mount for a red dot or something. I have not yet decided on what to mount on there
 
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