Norinco M-59
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 93 mm
- Weight, empty
- 660 g
- Introduced
- Not recorded
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Norinco M-59 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9x18mm Makarov, manufactured by Norinco. This Chinese-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. The striker-fired action provides a consistent trigger pull for every shot, simplifying training and reducing the manual of arms - a design philosophy that has become the dominant paradigm in modern defensive handguns. The polymer frame construction reduces weight while providing a textured, ergonomic grip surface designed for secure handling in all conditions. Notable features include accessory rail, ambidextrous slide stop, textured grip, reversible magazine release, contributing to an ergonomic and functional design suited to its intended applications. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
Founded in 1980, Norinco has built a reputation in the firearms industry through consistent innovation and quality, earning the trust of shooters who demand reliability in their chosen defensive and sporting firearms.
Factory finish: stainless.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Norinco
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- China
- Status
- Discontinued
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 93 mm
- Overall length
- 161 mm
- Height
- 122 mm
- Width
- 30 mm
- Weight, empty
- 660 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Short recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Trigger pull
- 27.0 N
- Capacity
- 8
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Slide
- Stainless steel
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Finish
- Stainless
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 315 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 306 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Accessory rail
Ambidextrous slide stop
Textured grip
Reversible magazine release
Striker fired
Stainless steel slide
Polymer frame
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 1,909 pistols | 660 g | 794 g | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 1,911 pistols | 161 mm | 196 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 1,941 pistols | 93 mm | 102 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 1,962 pistols | 8 | 8 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Norinco M-59
How much does the Norinco M-59 weigh?
The Norinco M-59 weighs 660 g (1.46 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Norinco M-59?
The Norinco M-59 is chambered in 9x18mm Makarov.
How many rounds does the Norinco M-59 hold?
The Norinco M-59 holds 8 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Norinco M-59?
The Norinco M-59 is 161 mm (6.34 in) long overall, with a 93 mm (3.66 in) barrel.
Who makes the Norinco M-59?
The Norinco M-59 is made by Norinco (China).
How does the Norinco M-59 operate?
The Norinco M-59 uses a short recoil action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
70%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/norinco-m-59' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "norinco-m-59", "name": "Norinco M-59", "manufacturer": { "id": "norinco", "name": "Norinco", "countryCode": "CN", "foundedYear": 1980, "website": "https://en.norincogroup.com.cn", "logoUrl": null, "description": "China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco), a state-owned enterprise founded in 1980 and headquartered in Beijing. Among the world's largest defense contractors, producing firearms and military equipment.", "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "5286c8a850a565bc4d9bd2e7a8e4b18084a491b62d93d828ac7de90983853065" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "CN", "year_introduced": null, "barrel_length_mm": 93, "weight_empty_g": 660, "action_type": "short_recoil"}