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Italian 0,303

Inviato: 30/09/2007, 0:26
da enfield56
Quite an interesting field of discussion.

First set by Giollo & Matinelli, does anyone have a spare MkIV ?

I have never understood why Italian chargers are made to the MkIII pattern as it is the most difficult to load a magazine with, does anyone know the reason?

Inviato: 30/09/2007, 0:31
da enfield56
Next, two chargers by SMI.

One marked 'SMA a' and the other 'SMI 963'. Most Enfield chargers are marked on the side, the only others that are marked on the base are the prototype MkI clips (VERY rare) and the French made ones (hard to find).

Are there any other markings?

Inviato: 30/09/2007, 13:37
da Blaster Twins
This ones are clips of the same type used in Lee-Enfield rifles,right?+

Queste lastrine sono dello stesso tipo usato dai fucili Lee-Enfield,vero?

Inviato: 30/09/2007, 14:04
da enfield56
My apologies,

Yes, these are Lee Enfield loading clips. In Britain all loading was done through the top of the rifle by clips or loose ammunition. Magazines were numbered to the rifle and spare magazines were not issued.The magazine was only to be removed from the rifle to clean it or to replace it when damaged..

Because loading was most often by clip it was important that it was easy to 'strip' the cartridges from the clip into the magazine. The MkIII is quite difficult to do this with because the 'spring' at the end is quite strong. There were 4 marks, looking like this;

An early MkI by Enfield
A MkII also by Enfield
A MkIII by Enfield
Finally, a MkIV by Enfield

It took some time but the final version works very well. The long 'spring' on the MkIV is strong enough to stop the cartridges falling out but not strong enough to make it hard to use

Inviato: 04/10/2007, 18:30
da Aorta10
Hi Enfield56, compliment! What do you know about these marks? Should the bystander be American but the others?

Inviato: 04/10/2007, 18:47
da Blaster Twins
Thank you for the explainations!!!

Grazie per le spiegazioni!!!
Ciao![ciao2]

Inviato: 05/10/2007, 19:52
da enfield56
Hello again,

Sorry, I was working away from home this week.

Aorta10, your chargers are;

IV P a MkIV (modified) made by Perry & Co in Birmingham, England
B IV a MkIV by an unknown maker (probably English)
II M a MkII clip made by Charles Mitchell & Co also in Birmingham

Both Perry and Mitchell originally made pen nibs so were expert at using spring steel in sheet metal work.

I hope this helps!

All the best and happy collecting, Peter

Inviato: 07/10/2007, 17:25
da Aorta10
Thanks enfield56 of the explanation.