MANUFACTURER – North Industries Corporation (NORINCO)
STATUS – In Production
SERVICE – Chinese military, commercial sales
This weapon was developed in the 1980s to be a more easily produced and economical submachine gun as compared to the Type 79. This suppressed version of the Type 85 was intended to be a replacement for the aging Type 64 weapons that were still in Chinese service. The basic design of the Type 85 is of a simple blowback weapon firing from open bolt. On the right side of the weapon, in front of and above the trigger, is the safety selector switch. The magazine is the same as used in the Type 64 submachinegun in order to feed the Type 64 7.62x25mm subsonic round. The weapon can also operate using the Type 51 7.62x25mm round with a significant increase in the sound of firing. Reportedly, the sound of the firing of the Type 85 with subsonic ammunition is a very quiet 80 decibels. The stock of the Type 85 folds forward, along the right side of the weapon where it can act as a forward handgrip and does not interfere with the weapons operation.