Hanyang 88

The Type 88, sometimes known as "Hanyang 88", was a Chinese rifle that was issued to the regular Nationalist Revolutionary Army during Second Sino-Japanese War. The name derived from the Hanyang Arsenal factory that made this rifle. The rifle had a bayonet attachment under the rifle to use when the Japanese were using Banzai charge. Another standard rifle the NRA used was Chiang Kai-Shek rifle yet another copy of German made rifles from Hanyang Arsenal.

This firearm was supposed to be a copy of the German Gewehr 88, albeit inferior than the original counterpart. No matter how poorly made this rifle was, China was in need of a standardised weapon in a forced desperate struggle with Japan, as they still hadn't prepared themselves for a full-scale war with them. This rifle was used throughout the Second Sino-Japanese war until the early part of Chinese civil war when the Hanyang factory was closed down in 1947.

According to NRA veterans, the Type 88 rifle will literally break apart after one single shot. Also because this rifle is a bolt-action gun, most Chinese soldiers would suffer from the Japanese Banzai charge leaving the Chinese to fight hand to hand battles with bayonet against sword. Military website [http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/000578.html The Donovan] has this to say about the notoriety of the Type 88:

"This rifle was simply adored by the Chinese, and was produced by them as the Type 88 Hangyang rifle. The Chinese rifles are not considered safe to shoot by anyone.If you have one and want to shoot it, I recommend light handloads, and keep an eye on the receiver for cracks – but they probably ought to be treated as wall hangers."

See also

*National Revolutionary Army
*German-trained divisions in the National Revolutionary Army
*Sino-German cooperation
*Gewehr 88
*Chiang Kai-Shek rifle

External links

* [http://www.gew88.com Gewehr 88 Commission Rifles]
* [http://www.oldrifles.com/China.htm pictures of a Type 88]
* [http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/000578.html review of Gew 88 partial info on type 88]