The Chinese assault rifle that was so poorly made it was replaced by its predecessor.

Wars & Conflicts · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Designed to modernize the People's Liberation Army, the Type 63 was intended to combine the SKS's handling with the AK-47's firepower. Instead, a lack of quality control and nearly 700 unauthorized design changes turned the weapon into a catastrophic failure, forcing the military to revert to older, more reliable carbines.

Development of the Type 63 began in 1959, driven by a desire to replace the SKS-based Type 56 carbine with a weapon capable of select-fire performance. A diverse team of engineers, students, and military staff initially looked to the SKS for design cues but eventually adopted the AK-47’s internal structure for its proven mechanics and ease of mass production. By 1963, prototypes were ready, and the rifle received official approval from Mao Zedong. However, when serial production finally commenced in 1969, the project collapsed under the weight of administrative negligence.

The primary issue was a complete lack of oversight. Factory managers ignored established quality control regulations, leading to nearly 700 unilateral design changes. Staff replaced the original milled steel receivers with stamped, riveted versions and swapped threaded barrels for pressed, pinned ones to save costs. These modifications were disastrous; the barrels deformed under stress, the rivets failed, and the painted finish offered no protection against corrosion. By the mid-1970s, infantry troops reported that the rifles were inaccurate, prone to mechanical failure, and unable to hold zero. In 1978, the PLA formally withdrew the weapon from service, re-issuing the older Type 56 carbines to affected units.

Despite its failure as a standard service rifle, the Type 63 saw a brief, limited resurgence in 1979 during the Sino-Vietnamese War. Upgraded models with improved bolts and firing pins were issued to address a shortage of automatic weapons, though they were retired again once the conflict concluded. While the Type 63 itself was a disappointment, its legacy persisted; its unique gas regulator design was later incorporated into the more successful Type 81 assault rifle. The weapon also found a second life abroad, exported as military aid to nations including Albania, North Vietnam, and Cambodia, and utilized by groups like the Kosovo Liberation Army.

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