Type 81 - Pictures, Q&A, etc. PICS ADDED! :)

Looking at the wear on that PLA rifle, I'm thinking a battleworn Cerakote finish would be an interesting finish for these. I'd be interested to know what PLA regulars think of the gun - since some folks are in contact. Might have to get a CJ650 to strap the gun to.

OR...

You could just use the gun the way it was intended until it looks like that, or if you are a snowflake, you could just sprinkle talc on a glove and rub the rifle vigorously for 15 minutes and it will look "battleworn" - which is mall ninja for "not a safe queen" ;)

None of those options will cot you a $400 paint job to make you look like you use your gear.
 
From what's been posted already, these are made by EMEI, a private shop, not a GOV factory. Same shop that made the T97, and use to make air rifles. I think they made the EM/NS series of target .22 rifles as well.
http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2620

I haven't seen TI say these were EMEI - only someone on this thread (fenceline, I think?), and I have no idea where he discerned that tidbit? I suspect it's just a guess.

TI says they were provided by Polytech - which is the PLA's export front. For those keeping score, Norinco is the PRC's export front. China is a communist country and due to their complex political landscape, the PLA competes with the central committee for export business. Norinco is the larger concern and their foreign export revenue goes to government priorities, while Polytech profits go to the PLA's coffers directly.

Both export companies have access to the state-owned manufacturing factories. Virtualy all large business in China are state owned, but since reforms in the late 1980's, many small and medium enterprises in China can be privately held. Of Poly and Norinco, Norinco definitely does have some of its own factories, in addition to generic state concerns. I don't know of Polytech does, but Poly often uses Jianshe (Factory 26) for small arms.

TI says the T81 was tagged onto a PLA order for T81 rifles - if that is true, it's very very unlikely that Poly gave the order to EMEI, as the state-held tooling for the T81 is at Jianshe.
 
I haven't seen TI say these were EMEI - only someone on this thread (fenceline, I think?), and I have no idea where he discerned that tidbit? I suspect it's just a guess.

TI says they were provided by Polytech - which is the PLA's export front. For those keeping score, Norinco is the PRC's export front. China is a communist country and due to their complex political landscape, the PLA competes with the central committee for export business. Norinco is the larger concern and their foreign export revenue goes to government priorities, while Polytech profits go to the PLA's coffers directly.

Both export companies have access to the state-owned manufacturing factories. Virtualy all large business in China are state owned, but since reforms in the late 1980's, many small and medium enterprises in China can be privately held. Of Poly and Norinco, Norinco definitely does have some of its own factories, in addition to generic state concerns. I don't know of Polytech does, but Poly often uses Jianshe (Factory 26) for small arms.

TI says the T81 was tagged onto a PLA order for T81 rifles - if that is true, it's very very unlikely that Poly gave the order to EMEI, as the state-held tooling for the T81 is at Jianshe.

Somewhere along the line TI said they were made at the same factory as the T97's. When they did the factory tour and inspection they checked for "over drilled" gas holes that went into the opposite side of the bore like the T97's had. Check their posts...there are not many of them.
 
I looked and didn't seen any claims it was emei or that it was the type 97 factory.

I can understand why they checked the gas holes, ppl were complaining about that potential.
 
I looked and didn't seen any claims it was emei or that it was the type 97 factory.

I can understand why they checked the gas holes, ppl were complaining about that potential.

Ask them...EMEI produce better rifles then the state factories as far as fit/finish go, so it's not a knock if they make them.
 
Last edited:
OR...

You could just use the gun the way it was intended until it looks like that, or if you are a snowflake, you could just sprinkle talc on a glove and rub the rifle vigorously for 15 minutes and it will look "battleworn" - which is mall ninja for "not a safe queen" ;)

None of those options will cot you a $400 paint job to make you look like you use your gear.

5 rounds at a time it'll take a while for this city boy to develop the appropriate "patina" - it took about 30K rounds before my M&P looked comfy. Then again, I could take it to Surrey for a few days.
 
5 rounds at a time it'll take a while for this city boy to develop the appropriate "patina" - it took about 30K rounds before my M&P looked comfy. Then again, I could take it to Surrey for a few days.

External wear doesn't come from firing, it comes from carrying. The t81 is non-restricted, so just carry it around a lot.
 
Hmmm good point. Perhaps I'll skip sanding and use a stripper instead. What do you suggest?

Skip the wood strippers.
Its’ likely the top finish is shellac. If so, you can remove it easily with denatured alcohol.
A dark leather stain to match the Bakelite trim and follow with ting oil would look pretty sharp on this rifle.
 
Skip the wood strippers.
Its’ likely the top finish is shellac. If so, you can remove it easily with denatured alcohol.
A dark leather stain to match the Bakelite trim and follow with ting oil would look pretty sharp on this rifle.

Even Better! Wood refinishing is something I don't have alot of experience with I've only done 1 stock so anytime someone more experienced chimes in I'm all for it. I'll definitely try denatured alcohol before worrying about a stripper then. Thanks!
 
That might cause an issue down at the mall, but I'm sure climbing walls and fences while evading the ERT would speed up the process.

iu
 
Back
Top Bottom