Norinco
Type 56 7.62x39mm | AK 47 | Self-Loading Rifle

After the development of the AK (AK-47), the Soviet Union shared its small arms technology with many countries of similar ideologies. Almost every country in the Warsaw Pact licensed and produced AK-47s and in 1955, China joined the party and also made a deal with the Soviet Union to develop Kalashnikovs as well as the popular SKS rifle.

Production for both rifles started in 1956. The first AK models were clones of the AK-47 type 3 and designated as the Type 56.  The SKS clones were called the Type 56 Carbine.

The manufacturing of the Type-56 is believed to have started in the State Factory 66, with the very first rifles being produced using soviet tooling, and soviet parts. These rifles were made in small numbers for about a year or so, with mass production being in full swing by 1958. The Type-56 armed the People's Liberation Army, and replaced a wide range of old Soviet and Japanese rifles left over from WW2.

After the State Factory 66 started mass production, many other state-owned factories joined in, most prominently Factory 386, and Factory 416 where final assembly is thought to have been completed.  As many as nineteen factories contributed to making parts.  The numerical designations of Chinese state run factories were given to help mask their locations and purpose.  Factory designations ending in the number 6 produced products for small arms.  Triangle shaped designations were producing goods for the Chinese military while oval shaped designations were products intended for civilian use and commercial export.  So a triangle designation with the number 66 inside of it would be a Chinese Type-56 that was built for the Chinese military.  Factory /66\ was the most prominent producer of Chinese AK rifles.