It's not the most ergonomic ever, everytime I shoot mine the corner of the frame gives a solid knock to my thumb joint. That doesn't make it any less awesome as far as I'm concerned.
Norinco never made C96s, various Chinese arsenals in the 20s and 30s did. I would not fire one. The Astra clones, however, also made in that era, I wouldn't worry about. Astra / Llama at that time was the best of a vibrant Spanish arms industry.
They'd never make one now though. The insides of the thing are complicated like a Swiss watch and just as well made. It would cost thousands.
