Type 64 submachine gun is one of the first domestically designed Chinese submachine guns. It was designed as a special purpose weapon for clandestine operations, and therefore is fitted with integral silencer (sound moderator) of significant size. Standard ammunition for the Type 64 SMG is 7.62mm, which is based on 7.62x25mm Type 51 (same as Soviet 7.62x25mm TT) but is loaded with a heavy, pointed bullet with subsonic velocity. Standard 7.62×25 TT ammunition also can be fired from Type 64 SMG but it will cause excessive wear to gun and its silencer. One interesting property of the Type 64 submachine gun is its extremely high cyclic rate of fire, about two times higher than the commonly accepted norm (about 400 to 600 rounds per minute). Because of such high rate of fire, this weapon was probably hard to control in full automatic mode.

Type 64 submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon that fires from open bolt. The receiver is machined from steel block, with stamped top cover; and the silencer is also made of steel. The front part of the barrel is ported to allow some gases to escape from barrel into the silencer. Fire mode selector / safety lever is patterned after the Type 56 (AK) assault rifle and allows for single shots and full automatic fire. Curved box magazine holds 30 rounds of ammunition. Shoulder stock folds down and forward when not needed. Sights are of traditional, open type; rear sight is a two-position flip-up part, with settings for 100 and 200 meters range. (Internet)