My Bias: Personally, I lean towards the assembly of these Star 1 SKSs in NV from Chinese parts, perhaps starting with barreled receivers, maybe Vietnamese made stocks and handguards. I find the nationalistic pride hypothesis for indigenous assembly and serialization of these SKSs appealing, but unsubstantiated, and the lack of any other indications of NV manufacture of small arms casts doubt on manufacture of the SKSs in NV from steel billet and bar stock.
Facts: From observations of the known examples of Star 1 SKSs in the US (41 photo-verified examples and 22 additional serial numbers identified elsewhere, but without photo verification in our hands).
--They have a serial number that has 6 digits. The last 4 digits of the SN ascend sequentially, and without apparent interruption, to 5805.
--The first two places are 62, 63, 64 and 65, also ascending sequentially, but clearly they do not turn over at the 9999th unit produced, since that number was never reached for any of the series/years.
--The progression of the pattern is consistent with a year designation and with the numbers observed. The years 1962-65 are of the correct era for the Vietnam War and escalating American involvement.
Hypothesis: The first two digits of the SN represent the year of manufacture/assembly.
The hypothesis is consistent with the observed facts and therefore plausible, but not proven, by the observations.
Fact: Approximate production figures by year/series, splitting the difference between the high/low number at the year/series break, is: 62, 155 units; 63, 954 units; 64, 2316 units; 65, 2380 units.
Assumptions: 62-65 represent years and 62 was merely a partial year of production/assembly.
--Then (simple algebraic fact): these figures would represent an average production rate of just 2.6 units per day for ‘63 and about 6.4 units per day for ‘64 and ‘65
Deductions and opinions:
--A rate of production or assembly of 6.4 units per day appears consistent with a small shop rather than a large factory.
--If these SKSs were assembled from a barreled-receiver, the average rate of assembly could have been achieved by perhaps one, or very easily by a few, individuals.
--The small size of such an operation means it could have been easily moved or distributed and set up in a small structure or cave that would be difficult to target by aerial bombardment, or even hit at random in the relatively large area (~500 square miles) of the Hanoi to Haiphong industrial corridor (germane to discussion below).
--If these “Star 1” SKSs were actually manufactured (milled, etc.) obviously it would take more workers, and a fixed (or more difficult to move) location, but still at the small shop scale, or a side production line in a larger factory. However, the evidence suggests the parts were of Chinese origin and not milled in NV.
--In my opinion, the very low rate of production argue that the economies of scale simply wouldn’t justify NV manufacture from steel stock, unless manufacture of other high quality small arms was a part of the small factory. The apparent lack of observation of other indigenously manufactured small arms of high quality in the 60-65 time frame argues against Vietnamese manufacture of the SKS from steel stock.
Facts:
--Operation Rolling Thunder commenced on March 2, 1965
--The USAF and USN employed conventional unguided munitions and the pilots and their aircraft were subject to sophisticated (sponsor supplied) anti-aircraft capabilities (including radar installations and SAMs) prior to and during their bombing runs further complicating precision targeting.
--Arms and ammunition continued to flow into and through Vietnam from north to south, prior to, during, and after Rolling Thunder officially concluded in 1968.
--Rolling Thunder (and any subsequent aerial bombardment operations) did not destroy all transportation and/or manufacture/assembly of warfighting materials in North Vietnam.
Conclusion: Rolling Thunder could have destroyed the small SKS shop or shops, if there were any. It does not follow that Rolling Thunder did destroy the shop.
--In my opinion, the case for Rolling Thunder being the reason that Star 1 SKS assembly ceased in Vietnam is weak.
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