Sudanese variant of the stamped receiver Type 56 with under folding bayonet and is manufactured by Military Industry Corporation. Iranian variant of the stamped receiver Type 56-1. Iranian variant of the stamped receiver Type 56. The Type 56-2 is a variant with a side folding stock, only available with a stamped receiver. The Type 56-1 is a variant with an underfolding stock, similar to the AKS-47 and AKMS.
Fixed stock is less in-line à la an AK-47, as compared to the AKM's straighter stock.Type 56s do not have the AKM's hammer release delay device, likely due to the Chinese preferring a slightly higher rate of fire for their Type 56s.Gas relief ports on the Type 56 are located on the gas tube à la an AK-47 and not forward of the gas block like an AKM.Almost all Type 56s lack the side mount plate as seen on AK-47s and AKMs.Sights only adjust to 800 metres (2,600 feet 870 yards) à la an AK-47, as opposed to 1,000 metres (3,300 feet 1,100 yards) on an AKM.Has a blued finish à la an AK-47, as compared to the black oxide or parkerized finish of the AKM.Military-issued versions lack threading on the muzzle as seen on the AK-47 and AKM, which disallows the fitting of muzzle compensators or blank-firing adapters commercial Type 56s may have threading on their muzzles.May have a folding spike bayonet à la an SKS nicknamed the "pig sticker", as opposed to the detachable bayonets of the Soviet AK-47s and AKMs three different variations of these "pig stickers" have been sighted on the Type 56, with the Type 56s being the only derivative of the Soviet AK-47s using spike bayonets.Type 56s have the double hook disconnector of an AK-47 compared to an AKM's.Type 56 barrels are similar to an AK-47's, but are heavier than an AKM's.Type 56s have 1.5mm stamped receivers à la an RPK's as compared to 1mm stamped receivers as seen on Soviet AK-47s.
As per above, the Type 56 has a fully-enclosed circular front iron sight, as opposed to the U-shaped front iron sight of normal Soviet AK-47s.Other than that, the Type 56 mixes and matches characteristics from the AK-47 and AKM and consolidates them into one weapon. The Type 56 can be visually distinguished from normal Soviet AK-47s by the fully enclosed front iron sight Soviet AK-47s have a U-shaped front sight. Originally a near-identical (or possibly exact) copy of the AK-47 with a milled receiver, later production models are fitted with stamped receivers à la AKMs.