China NORINCO
QSZ-92
A polymer-framed service pistol developed to replace the Type 54 (Tokarev copy) as the standard sidearm of the People's Liberation Army, produced in both 9×19mm export and 5.8×21mm domestic-cartridge variants. It is issued alongside police and paramilitary forces across China.
In service since 1998 · 5 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
50
m range
350
m/s
15
rds
💲 ≈ $400, Approximate export unit price estimate
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Established · 5 operators
In service since 1998. Status: active · ~500,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 50 m |
|---|---|
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 350 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 5.8×21 mm DAP92 |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 5.8 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 15 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.19 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 1 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 111 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $400 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 500,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 5 |
Specifications compiled from public NORINCO and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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How many crew does the NORINCO QSZ-92 require? +
The NORINCO QSZ-92 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the NORINCO QSZ-92? +
The NORINCO QSZ-92's primary weapon is the 5.8×21 mm DAP92.
What is the NORINCO QSZ-92 used for? +
The NORINCO QSZ-92 is a pistol & sidearm typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the NORINCO QSZ-92? +
The NORINCO QSZ-92 is operated by 5 countries.
How much does the NORINCO QSZ-92 cost? +
The NORINCO QSZ-92 has an approximate unit cost of 400 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
