Knives that can fire several shots are quite specific weapons. Very rarely, designers manage to maintain a balance between a comfortable knife and a more or less effective device for firing a shot. Despite all the controversy, and sometimes well-grounded arguments about the absence of the need for such devices in service, shooting knives continue to be developed and produced, including in China. In this article, we will try to get acquainted with the Chinese shooting scout knife, namely the QSB-91.
General characteristics of the knife QSB-91
Chinese scout shooting knife developed in 1991. This is not difficult to guess from its designation. In the same year, it was adopted by the special forces of the People's Liberation Army of China, where it is still used.
Looking at the QSB-91 knife, one cannot get rid of the thought that there is something familiar and familiar in it: just look at the weapon's blade and scabbard. But the handle of the shooting knife is very different from domestic developments, since it contains a mechanism that allows you to fire four shots without reloading. What is noteworthy, this knife has four full-fledged rifled barrels, this provides a more complete disclosure of the potential of the ammunition used and relative accuracy when firing. True, neither the ammunition itself, nor the design of the pistol provide noiselessness when firing.
First you need to get acquainted with the cartridge that is used in the weapon. The QSB-91 scout shooting knife uses Chinese-designed cartridges, namely 7, 62x17. This ammunition was developed in 1964 for use in a pistol with an integrated PBS Type 64. In the future, this ammunition was used in other models of pistols, characterized by small dimensions. It is often believed that this cartridge is similar to 7, 65x17, known as.32 ACP, but if you put two ammunition side by side, the differences will be visible even to the naked eye. The sleeve of the Chinese cartridge is slightly shorter, and the groove is much wider and has a different profile. In addition, the sleeve does not have a protruding rim, while the.32 ACP has it, although it is small, but it is present. In terms of their combat characteristics, the cartridges are basically similar, that is, very weak by modern standards.
The real bullet diameter of the cartridge 7, 62x17 is 7, 79 millimeters. The bullet is shell, has a mass of 4.8 grams. From a weapon with a barrel of 70-80 millimeters, a bullet flies out at a speed of 240 meters per second, that is, its kinetic energy at the muzzle is about 135-140 joules. If we soberly assess the capabilities of this ammunition, then it is effective at a distance of no more than 10 meters, while the stopping effect is minimal, which makes it not the best choice for military weapons, even if such a specific one as a shooting knife. Perhaps the only hit that is guaranteed to incapacitate the enemy is in the head. But not everyone succeeds with a pistol, not to mention such an "ergonomically correct" device for shooting as a knife. However, if you set a goal, then with proper preparation and lengthy training, you can achieve quite good results, especially since the cartridge for China is massive.
QSB-91 shooting knife design
The QSB-91 shooting knife is very similar in design to some multi-barrel derringers. In the handle of the knife there are four barrels located with the muzzle towards the blade. On the handle there is a screw cap, in which the firing mechanism is located, and when unscrewed, the weapon is reloaded.
The firing mechanism is a striker, which, when cocked, turns 90 degrees, alternately standing in front of the capsule of each of the cartridges. Cocking occurs when you press the trigger, which is located in place of the guard. The trigger is connected to the drummer using a long rod passing through the center of the handle.
The barrels of the weapon are located in pairs, two on each side of the blade. To be able to aim, there are details on the handle that represent a primitive rear sight and front sight. They are located slightly away from the plane of the blade, therefore, when firing, the knife will have to be held at an angle, respectively, and the trigger will also be tilted, which, in general, is not the biggest problem for a structure that is poorly adapted for convenient firing.
Positive and negative qualities of the QSB-91 pistol
Among the main advantages of the Chinese QSB-91 scout shooting knife is the ability to fire four shots in a row without reloading. Barrels with a length of 86 millimeters are also an obvious plus. It is impossible to ignore the fact that the knife itself has not lost its versatility, although for many it now seems insufficient by modern standards.
Weapons have a lot more negative points. First of all, it is necessary to note the not very well chosen cartridge for the scout's shooting knife. Whoever said anything, but one shot, which is guaranteed to neutralize the enemy, is much better than four, which cannot always show an acceptable result in terms of hitting efficiency. But even the cartridge is not the main drawback, but the barrels of the weapon, which remain open, even when the knife is sheathed. Taking into account that a knife is still a working tool, it cannot be ruled out that the trunks may be clogged with earth or debris, which, in the event of a shot, will at least greatly surprise the shooter.
It is not entirely clear why it was impossible to change the design of the scabbard, especially if the knife is in them, then it will still not be possible to fire a shot. Rather, a shot can be fired, but the bullet will hit the edge of the scabbard. In the end, you could just come up with a plug for the barrels, put on a blade, or install rubber membranes at the muzzle, similar to those in the old PBS.
Conclusion
Like any shooting knife, the Chinese shooting scout knife is a specific weapon that has both a number of advantages over other similar designs and a number of disadvantages. It is impossible to evaluate such a weapon one-sidedly, since its effectiveness will depend on the specific situation and skills of the shooter. Nevertheless, the QSB-91 knife was adopted by one of the largest armies in the world almost a quarter of a century ago. This means that this weapon copes with the assigned tasks, otherwise it would be replaced with something else, more perfect.
