The Type 88 is a assault rifle made and manufactured in North Korea, being a rough-clone of the AK-74, it features slight modifications to suit local gunsmiths and production values.
History[]
Seeking a replacement to the already in-service at the time assault rifle, the Type 68 assault rifle, a newer rifle was needed to meet newer requirements for a service rifle. Much like taking after the replacement of the AKM assault rifle by the Soviet Union at the time, the North Korean army sought after a rifle in which would be based upon the newer AK-74 series of assault rifles. Entering service around 1988, the finalization of the weapon would take influence from not only the AK-74, but firearms such as the Chinese Type 81 assault rifle, which is seen in the crude-copy of it's folding stock which itself is present in models that feature it, dubbed the Type 88-1. Due to a lack of private armament companies within North Korea, many pieces of the firearm are produced locally by gunsmiths, such as the wooden furniture. Later models would receive polymer handguards as a way to modernize the ageing rifle, much alike the AK-74M. More recently, certain amounts of Type 88 rifles have been exported to a limited amount of African countries. As being the most common and popular weapon among North Korean armed forces, certain variations are still maintained, such as the Type 88-2, which features a unique metal, top-folding stock, commonly with a helical magazine, similar to that from the PP-19 Bizon.
Design Details[]
The Type 88 assault rifle features the same Kalashnikov-design, adjoined by the familiar gas operation and rotating bolt design. The weapon also shares the same 5.45×39mm round, which are fed from locally-produced steel magazines, instead of a more common polymer or Bakelite choice for the sort of magazine. The select-fire capabilities of the firearm also serve as the primary safety for the weapon, much alike other Kalashnikov rifles. Iron sights are simple, and also derived as copies from Kalashnikov-typed rifles. Original Type 88 models were fitted with all wooden-furniture, including the stock and handguard. These parts would also be one of the many to be dependent on local production. Some time shortly after, models would start to receive side-folding stocks, influenced by the Type 81 assault rifle as well. Another variation of the Type 88 is seen in models featuring steel, top-folding stocks. Known as the Type 88-2, this is the most recent design for the weapon, and is slowly phasing out older service weapons. Although the Type 88-2 is typically fed through newer-polymer magazines, which resemble those from the AK-74M, some are fitted with a unique-helical magazine, which holds 75-rounds.
Ammunition[]
Originally, the firearm was fitted with locally-made steel magazines, those of which were copies of typical Soviet 5.45×39mm magazines. Later, models would be interchanged for polymer magazines, which resemble more recent magazines from the AK-74M. The unique helical magazine is fitted for 75-rounds, seen fitted in the Type 88-2 model.
Variants[]
North Korean[]
Type 88-1[]
Standard production model, fitted with simple side-folding stocks.
Type 88-2[]
Production model that features a steel, top-folding stock. Also one of the more recent derivatives of the original Type 88, often fitted with recent furniture and upgrades such as a 75-round helical magazine.
OICW Variant[]
Images which depict North Korean soldiers armed with those that look like a clone of the Daewoo K11 are shown. The firearm would later be revealed in 2017, and it is based upon a heavily-modified Type 88-2 rifle. Currently, it is in service with North Korean armed forces.
Gallery[]
