Type 77 pistol (People Republic of China)

Type 77 pistol, right side

Type 77 pistol, left side

Type: Single Action 
Caliber: 7.65x17 Type 64 ball 
Weight unloaded: 500 g 
Length: 148 mm 
Barrel length: n/a 
Capacity: 7 rounds

The Type 77 pistol is a fairy simple pocket-sized pistol, which fires a marginally effective, low powered 7.65mm Type 64 cartridge, originally developed for the Type 64 silenced pistol. Type 77 pistol is intended as a self-defense weapon for officers of Chinese army (PLA) and police. It has been developed in the late 1970s and was officially adopted circa 1981. Military issue Type 77 pistol shall not be confused with much bigger and much more powerful 9mm NORINCO Type 77B pistol, available commercially and made in China only for export purposes.

Type 77 pistol is a blowback weapon, with striker-fired single action firing mechanism. The only unusual feature is a so-called Chylevsky device, made in the form of a separate front (vertical) part of the trigger guard. This device (originally developed by the Swiss designer Chylevsky in the first decade of the XX century) is used to load and cock the weapon by using only one hand. To do so, shooter must pull the front part of the trigger guard by its index finger. As it is connected to the slide, this pull will retract the slide back, and upon the release of the finger, the slide and front part of the trigger guard will return forward, chambering the cartridge and making the gun ready to fire single action. To avoid damage to the index finger, moving part of the trigger guard is automatically locked forward when trigger is pressed. If the gun is to be carried "cocked and locked", it also features a traditional manual safety on the frame, above the left grip panel. Single stack magazine holds 7 rounds of ammunition. magazine release button is located at the bottom of the trigger guard, on the left side of the frame. Bottom of the grip is provided with lanyard ring.