.303 Bren Gun magazine markings

Hello, I've just acquired five very tidy .303 Bren mags & wondered if anyone could help with deciphering the various stamped markings present on them?

Four of them are close to being identical, with the following marks in evidence:

Attachment 27309Attachment 27310Attachment 27311

The fifth has a different set of stamps, as follows:

Attachment 27312Attachment 27313Attachment 27314Attachment 27315

Would I be correct in assuming that the '42' & '54' marks are dates & the 'MA' & 'FTR' are manufacturer's codes?

Also, is it possible to remove the top plate from a mag without any specialist tools, as one of mine is not seated properly?


Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can offer,

Kevin

Hi Kev, are you the same Kev from HMVF? Anyway, MA is 'Made in Australia' or 'Munitions Australia' depending on your view, and will be Lithgow in origin. JI is John Inglis of Canada, M/117 is a UK contractor code for Hercules Cycles, FTR 54 stands for 'Factory Thourough repair 1954'. The Various I, II, II* etc. are the mark numer of the part that is marked.

The top plate is removed by pushing the little button in the middle of the plate down against the spring and sliding the plate off the wider end. Watch the spring flying out and catching you off guard.

There was/is a special tool for pressing in and sliding off the base of the magazine. It's called a drill round!

What differentiates your Mk2 (and 2* magazines) from the earlier Mk1 types are the two 'D' shaped dimples in the base plate and corresponding retainer plate inside. These dimples ensure that you can only slide the base plate off an inch or so at which point the plate will be free to tip off instead of winging its way across the firing point. Much to everyone's amusement except yours and the firing point Officer who'll shout and rave for a few minutes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brit plumber

Hi Kev, are you the same Kev from HMVF? Anyway, MA is 'Made in Australia' or 'Munitions Australia' depending on your view, and will be Lithgow in origin. JI is John Inglis of Canada, M/117 is a UK contractor code for Hercules Cycles, FTR 54 stands for 'Factory Thourough repair 1954'. The Various I, II, II* etc. are the mark numer of the part that is marked.

The top plate is removed by pushing the little button in the middle of the plate down against the spring and sliding the plate off the wider end. Watch the spring flying out and catching you off guard.

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Yeah, one & the same :). Just caught up with your reply on there, too - cheers for all the info.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

There was/is a special tool for pressing in and sliding off the base of the magazine. It's called a drill round!

What differentiates your Mk2 (and 2* magazines) from the earlier Mk1 types are the two 'D' shaped dimples in the base plate and corresponding retainer plate inside. These dimples ensure that you can only slide the base plate off an inch or so at which point the plate will be free to tip off instead of winging its way across the firing point. Much to everyone's amusement except yours and the firing point Officer who'll shout and rave for a few minutes

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Thanks for that Peter, I suspected the little plunger was the key, but was reluctant to try it without confirmation, just in case 'explosive disassembly' awaited the unwary... :lol:


Thanks again to both of you,

Kevin

Go on then, what's HMVF..............?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Go on then, what's HMVF..............?

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