Mao's 2nd Five Year Plan, aka the Great Leap Forward, isn't what caused the interruption in Chinese manufacturing. The causes were many. And they have been well documented in the intervening seven decades.

One of the largest causes was the Sino-Soviet split, which resulted in the abrupt withdrawal of Soviet technical advisors from China in August of 1960. The split also resulted in a massive reduction in Soviet material aid -- especially replacement machine parts, steel, and fuel needed for production.

There was also an epidemic level of over-reporting of crop yields coupled with severe, multi-year drought. What resulted was a protracted three year famine and the starvation deaths of 20 million to 60 million Chinese (depending on the source) as the "excess" crop yields were sent to the USSR to repay huge trade debts.

I agree that there was undoubtedly a significant interruption (imho, a total halt) in Type56 sks production. The collected serial number data indicate that the interruption would have occured in the year-and-a-half stretch between summer 1960 and 1962.

Data indicate around 250,000 letter rifles (1959-61), and approximately 20,000 6th year/6mil/1961 serials. Thats 270,000 carbines over the three year period 1959-1961 -- or 90,000 rifles a year for three years. This is well below the 225k production average seen from 1956-1958. The serial info also tell us that it was slow in the 7th and 8th years of production with totals just over 100k in both 1962 and 1963.

Not trying to dump on your thread, sksguide, but there are significant errors, misinformation, and unsubstantiated claims printed in Lyman's book-- espcially in the Soviet and Chiese chapters. I still don't recommend it.

 

The withdrawal of soviet techical help did not cause the failure of the great leap forward. It It was already a failure before any soviet assitance ended. Millions had already died. Your isolated misinterprtaion of history is not supported by any historians or scholars. It is simply wrong for you to proclaim that the withdrawal of soviet assitance in 1960 was one of the largest causes of the failure of the great leap forward. Likewise, As far as your personal opinion of George Lymans well reseached book " the collectors guide to the SKS" i suggest folks buy the book and form their own opinion. ( its only $50). everyone I know who has bought it has nothing but praise for it.

 

Many errors and omissions in Lyman's work. But I got a copy, to go with the other erroneous references, just because it's another SKS publication, even if screwed up, has good pictures and the short info on the experimental 16.5" detachable mag rifles was very interesting. He should have done a better job considering his pedigree. I think most of Lyman's bad was gone over right here a couple years ago when his "Definitive" collector guide was first published. PAX