Hanyang 88
The Type 88, sometimes known as "Hanyang 88" or Hanyang Type 88 (Chinese: 漢陽八八式步槍) and Hanyang Zao (Which means Made in Hanyang), is a Chinese-made bolt-action rifle, based on the German Gewehr 88. It was adopted by the Qing Dynasty towards the end of the 19th century and was used by multiple factions and formations like those in the Republic of China, until the end of the Chinese Civil War.
| Hanyang 88 | |
|---|---|
A Hanyang 88 rifle display in the Wuchang Uprising Memorial | |
| Type | Bolt-action rifle |
| Place of origin | Qing Dynasty |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1895–1980s |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Boxer Rebellion Xinhai Revolution Northern Expedition Long March Central Plains War Chinese Civil War Second Sino-Japanese War World War II First Indochina War Korean War Soviet-Afghan War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Hanyang Arsenal |
| Produced | 1895–1944 |
| No. built | 1,083,480 |
| Variants | Rifle Carbine |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.06 kg (9.0 lb) |
| Length | 1,250 mm (49 in) |
| Barrel length | 740 mm (29 in) |
| Cartridge | M/88 |
| Action | Bolt-action |
| Rate of fire | ~15 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 620 m/s (2066 fps) |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (550 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 2,000 m (2,200 yd) |
| Feed system | 5 round en-bloc clip, external box magazine, clip fed |
| Sights | rear sight with a range of 160m, front blade sight |
The name of the rifle is derived from Hanyang Arsenal, the main factory that produced this rifle.
The rifle was due to be replaced as the standard Chinese rifle by the Chiang Kai-shek rifle. However, manufacture of the new rifle never managed to match demand, and the Type 88 continued to be manufactured and to equip the National Revolutionary Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.