Chinese Army Type 56 "Chicom" Chest Rig
A must have for every gun owner!
Whether you knew the Chicom by name, or can recall it accurately, we practically can guarantee you’ve seen one of these before. Worn by everyone from the PLA (People’s “Liberation” Army) in their earlier years of expanding China’s borders (and probably still now away from the prying eyes of journalists)), Afghanka clad Spetsnaz in the 80s, Pakistani tribals from the moment they got their hands on them till likely the end of time, and hopefully you as soon as you get your grubby mitts on one of these bad boys! A lesser known fact however, is the etymology of the word “Chicom.” It is the short form of “Chinese-Communist” and can refer to in a less-than-flattering sense, a member, proponent, or citizen of the People’s Republic of China.
These rigs, intended for both AKM’s or Type 56’s were pioneered by the Communist Chinese military in the 1950’s and first saw action in the Vietnam War, in which it was donned by the PLA and the Viet Cong in their struggle to overcome Western backed forces. Later on, It was later copied by United States special forces. Chicom is additionally used to refer to general gear created by the People's Republic of China. The Chicom rig was one of the early examples of the evolution of belt held magazines to a chest-based carrying system, allowing for faster reloads and smoother fire drills. This simple yet effective innovation went onto being copied by the Soviets, but also more obscure nations such as Rhodesia in the Bush War.
Features
Adjustable shoulder and waist straps so you can be that one size fits all for our short kings and large bois!
This Chinese Type 56 variant is perfect for Canadian’s Type 81 magazine needs (And you lucky buggers in the US with real AKs)
Three AK magazine cells that hold one magazine each
Three grenade pouches (they fit our Soviet Bandages perfectly)
One oil can pouch
Rustic wooden button flaps to secure magazines while avoiding the painful screech of velcro being pulled apart
Classic OD PLA colour scheme
Schematics
Measurements: One size fits all
Dimensions are
Length 23 inches
Height 9 inches
Thickness 2 inches
Condition: Very good, used.
Colour variations may go between browns and greens
Manufacturing;
Heavy Duty Canvas
Cotton Straps
Wooden fasteners
Field Notes/Misty Supply Musings/Potential Uses/Trivia
Consider applying wax or waterproof sprays to improve the lifespan and effectiveness of your rig!
A great customizable piece of kit for everyone! Write on it, dye it to match your surroundings, sew on patches or other pouches and kit, the possibilities are truly endless!
Baofeng radios fit nicely in the magazine pouches, as do 750ml waterbottles.
NOTE: The distributor of this product has comically stamped “Made in Russion Russion Army '' on the side of the rig that faces the chest. This was to “make it sell better”. It is as hilarious as it is wrong. Thankfully, when in use, you will never see it.
