The Type 56 is a Chinese 7.62x39mm automatic rifle, a licensed derivative of the Soviet-designed AK-47 (specifically the Type 3 variant). The Type 56 rifle was adopted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and is designated as the “Type 1956 Submachine Gun” because the Type 56 took on the role of SMG rather than the colloquial “infantry service rifle” in the PLA in the rifle’s early years of service. Production started in 1956 at State Factory 66 but was eventually handed over to Norinco and Polytech, who continue to manufacture the rifle to this day primarily for export. In the mid-1980s, Sri Lanka began to replace its British L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and German HK G3s with the Type 56-2 which is currently the side-folding stock variant issued as the standard primary firearm.
Real Sword is known for producing high-quality replicas of Chinese rifles the real-steel way with Real Sword offering different variants of the Type 56 like the Type 56-1 and Type 56-2. Externally, the body of the Real Sword Type 56 series is all built mostly with proper steel parts that are manufactured and processed the same way as a real Type 56 from Norinco. The 260.3mm stamped steel receiver has the same size and proportion as the real gun with all rivets and welding points made with the same method as seen in the real-steel Type 56. The one-piece outer barrel, gas block, gas tube, and gas sling swivel are also made of steel and are processed the same way as previously mentioned. The Real Sword Type 56 series also has the same real-steel black oxide finish with the receiver built to be as durable and robust as the real deal. For the Real Sword Type 56-1 the gun also comes with an underfolder steel bayonet mount that has been fitted with a high-quality plastic dummy bayonet spike which is a cool little feature and if the end user so wishes, an optional Real Sword aluminum bayonet spike is available for purchase to add the much more of an authentic feel when displaying the gun in a gun display wall. Real Sword’s Type 56 AEG Airsoft rifle series also features proper wooden furniture for the Type 56 and 56-1s and glass-filled polymer furniture for the Type 56-2 that are actually sourced from the same real-steel Norinco factory that makes the Type 56 rifle with the wooden accessories made of machine-pressed wood, giving their guns a sense of authenticity. The handguard and pistol grip assembly feel incredibly solid with that “true wood” or “Bakelite-like” feel.
Real Sword had to develop a new AK-style gearbox specifically for their AEG lineup as the standard V3 AK gearboxes are too thick and cannot fit properly due to the receiver frame being built to real-steel sizes and standards. The new 7mm bearing metal gearbox (RS T2) which is installed in all Real Sword Type 56 variants is outfitted with a reinforced stainless steel gear set, reinforced air seal nozzle, and reinforced quick torsion release piston/spring assembly and is built to handle strong spring tension up to M170-rated piston springs. The Real Sword Type 56s also comes with a 500-round high-capacity BB magazine and is made to the same standard as the Airsoft gun itself. The magazine shell, front and rear locking tab, and base plate are made of the same factory-processed stamped steel, making Real Sword magazines the most realistic AK-style Airsoft magazines, at least in terms of construction.
Overall, the Real Sword Type 56 AEG Airsoft rifle series truly surpasses expectations in its construction quality, but how does the gun feel to run it and shoot? Well, for the traditional standard Type 56 AEG rifle, the spike bayonet is a nice cosmetic feature and gives credence to the Type 56’s unique but familiar appearance. It is only a soft plastic so it can be deployed at a game without fear of injury, providing an intimidating bit of beef to the front of the rifle, and it can be deployed simply by unlocking and giving the weapon a quick flip, snapping the solid metal lug into place. The controls of the gun are easy to actuate and the selector lever moves firmly into place and stays put with a pronounced click. The dummy bolt can be slid back to reveal the hop-up adjustment lever and under the top cover is a space for a mini-Tamiya plug stick battery that runs all the way through the foregrip/gas tube. For the Type 56-1, the steel under folding stock feels incredibly solid. It deploys smoothly and clicks positively into place when fully deployed, giving the rifle that much more authenticity when handling the Airsoft rifle.
The gun performs consistently with very little deviation in the power output. The hop-up performs well and shots are consistently accurate thanks to the solid build and good-fitting parts used for the hop-up assembly. For those who are looking for a different type of AK and especially one that is steeped in history, look no further than the Real Sword Type 56 AEG Airsoft rifle series!
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Magazine Compatibility:
- Real Sword Type 56 Series AEG Airsoft Magazine
Includes:
- x1 Real Sword Type 56-2 Airsoft AEG Rifle (Full Steel Tactical Handguard Version)
- x1 Manual
- x1 RS Type 56 AEG Magazine
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