Edwin H. Lowe Publishing is pleased to announce the publication of:
Chinese Military Manual Series No.1. Militia Marksmanship Training Manual (Rifle and Submachine Guns) - Type 53 Mosin Nagant, Chiang Kai-shek Mauser, Arisaka and M1903 Springfield Rifles; Type 50 (PPSh-41) and Type 54 (PPS-43) Submachine Guns.
Translated and New Text by Edwin H. Lowe (Edwin H. Lowe Publishing 2015).
Description
This book is an illustrated training manual first published in 1973 for the training of the Chinese Militia in World War II era weapons. These are the Type 53 Mosin Nagant, Zhongzheng (Chiang Kai-shek) Mauser, Type 38 Arisaka, Type 99 Arisaka and M1903 Springfield rifles; the Type 50 (PPSh-41) and Type 54 (PPS-43) submachine guns. The manual is presented as a complete and original translation.
Collectors and shooters of the rifles and submachine guns described in this book will find the manual useful. It contains the official Chinese military training instructions for the maintenance, marksmanship and field employment of these weapons, as well as data for the various weapons and ammunition types.
Of particular interest to collectors, this book features colour photographs, descriptions and translations of markings of representative Chinese Militia weapons, accessories, ammunition labels, field equipment and accoutrements described in the manual.
So what is this book?
As the official description says, it is a translation of the illustrated Chinese training manual for 'obsolete' WWII era weapons, still in Militia service in 1973, complete with the mandatory Quotation from Chairman Mao in the front of the book. By then, most WWII era weapons had been relegated to drill and instructional purposes, although the Type 53, Type 50 and Type 54 still had a strong presence in the Militia, owing to their use of standard calibre ammunition. This manual treats the Type 53 as the primary bolt action Militia rifle, but covers the Mauser, Arisaka and Springfields as well, in addition to the Type 50 & 54 SMGs. This was probably the last training manual for these weapons, because they were all withdrawn around 1981, and started appearing in Australia, NZ and Europe around 1983-84.
In addition to the official manual, I have included colour photos of collector's pieces such as marked stocks featuring political slogans or unit markings of the Militia, and translated them into English. I have shown and translated a range of collector's items such as ammo pouches for rifles and SMGs, slings, ammunition labels, aim correctors and so on. If I found something used by the Chinese Militia associated with these particular weapons, I translated it. Many of these photos have been contributed by fellow collectors. Some material is new to the English language collector's world, such as the Type 53/56/63 rifle aim corrector and I have sourced these from Chinese speaking collectors.
In pouring over the collector's items and hundreds of photos and readings for this book and other upcoming projects, I have addressed a number of the classic Chinese conundrums in my book. For example, why are the Type 53 slings thinner than the Soviet sling? Why is the majority of the Chinese 7.62x54mmR Type L light ball not labelled in the usual Soviet system? Why are these Chinese weapons so beat up and worn out? Also, I have taken the opportunity to address some of the great myths of these Chinese weapons, especially the Type 53 - particularly - the qiu (Catalpa) wood stock and the cleaning rod questions.
Finally, I have included period b&w photos and colour training & propaganda posters of the Militia with these weapons. The period photos are useful in showing us what is 'correct' in terms of slings and equipment in use. I have briefly touched on the role of Militia (the subject of my next book) and showed photos of the one Militia 'uniform' item.
This book is the perfect compliment to any of these collector's weapons which served with the Chinese Militia.
More Information
Edwin H. Lowe Publishing (click here)
