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A fellow collector gave me a magazine the other day, which seems to have all the attributes of a Canadian EX series magazine. On the mag is stamped
" X2 E1 "
Has anyone seen mags marked as such? Is it Canadian or British? I have seen similar nomenclature wrt the early FN bayonets. I got the magazine to add to my EX1, but am not so sure it is the correct mag.
I remember when we had thet sort of thing around but never noticed any special markings...
The magazine isn't for the EX1 rifles, they were unmarked. The X2E1 is for the British X8 Series of trials rifles. If you don't want it I have a X8 that would love to be fitted with it :-D
Here's what a real EX1 magazine looks like (not my mag).
NOTE
1. no stake marks on the back spine.
2. no spot weld marks on the back spine.
3. narrow lips on the base.
4. wide stamped bottom plate.
5. bright follower.
6. bolt hold open tab on the follower.
7. white ('DP') 1 inch stripe added to most of the mags I've seen.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...EX1mag01-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...EX1mag02-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...EX1mag03-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...EX1mag04-1.jpg
I'll look through what we have at Warminster next week............ But don't hold your breath!
What is the reason for the '8 RDS' (presumable load with 8 rounds only) stencilled on the case.
Did the UK DP any of their FN stockpiles afterwards. I have only seen skeletonised FN's but many DP's L1A1's (plus a load of captured Argentinian FN's DP'd too). In Malaya, the local Singapore Guard Regiment had FN's.
Drat, I thought I had found the EX1 mag I needed. Later I'll post the same photos as you show above, except with the X8 mag.
There are EX1 mags about yet. The majority of the EX rifles were given to cadet units for drill purpose, and many of the mags were retained as souvenirs. I'm pretty sure I had a couple as well, way back before I knew or cared what they were.
nzi1a1collector, I think there's a bayonet for your rifle on Ebay right now. A friend of mine is selling it, if you don't have one. Looks like a #5 bayonet but small ring?
Its probably the Indian 1A Rifle bayonet, it has a catch like the British L1A3/A4 bayonets but has wood grips. There is a 10 inch blade version too.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Sorry about the poor quality of the pic... but the two Indian types of 1A bayonets are at the bottom of the right hand stand
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ct200902-1.jpg
It's possible but does the mortise slot resemble the #5, that is a round bayonet stud? I was told by Oldsmithy that it was a trials. He has one for example on his website of the same name. Under No8 bayonet.
I've checked the 1A Rifle bayonets have the T slot the same as the C1/L1A3/L1A2 bayonets.
Its possible it could be a No. 8 bayonet the only way to tell is an accurate measurement of the Muzzle ring internal diameter.
It's the same size as the FN bayonets.
Any chance of a pic or a list of the markings that are on the bayonet
If you go to BAyonet Collection Presentation you will see the same bayonet in pics. The only difference is there is NO date marked on the one I'm talking about. All other markings are the same. I don't have the blade so I can't post pics. This one is from oldsmithy but it's the same.
Here are some shots of the magazine that started this thread. The camera accentuates the rust spots, which are barely visible to the eye. Also note the non-original pop rivet in the one photo, required to limit the magazine to 5 rounds, as per Cdn law.
I see where you're coming from, it's an FAL mag or early type FN for sure. Almost all of those guns were welded solid for use in the parachute school in Edmonton. I know, I used them. Like I said, I've never seen that marking.
On the subject of restricted magazines, there was an instruction issued regarding .303" and 7.62mm Bren magazines for Cadet Forces use in the 80's where ' a quantity' of magazines could be adapted locally by units having the facilities (or backloaded to Field workshops that did have the facility) where a slit could be cut in the rear spine, part way down and a small steel plate inserted across the slit to prevent the platform depressing past the 10 round position. Thereby restricting the magazine capacity to 10 rounds. The magazine was stencilled with the large figure '10' in white paint to reflect this. The mags could be stripped for cleaning in the usual way. I found a couple of the .303" mags at my sons school Cadet Corps but never saw a 7.62mm version and wondered how it would work! Maybe the rivet idea, with a steel rivet and spot of braze was the answer.
I know that they had .303" and 7.62mm Brens. Strangely, I have never seen the EMER miscellaneous instruction either but it must have been official or at least had some sort of official sanction because their parent workshop certainly did a hundred or so for all of the small units and training teams under their wing
Peter, the mag in picture has been done for the current use as per Canadian mag capacity laws. It's the way we found that would not be questioned by law enforcment. Otherwise, you would have to weld the follower so it can't move. The mags you talk about I may have seen, and they had been shortened to half the size of the standard mag. I was told they had been made for grenade launching purposes. But the people who told me that wouldn't know for sure. I didn't see many of them in any case.
I was digging through some items I received in a deal and found a Canadian FN CDN EX1 mag with a serial number 0B0230 and a white 1" band around it, a wood butt stock stamped with 0B0485, the third item was the pistol grip for the EX1. I found the information in the Collector Grade Publications, the three volume book, in the first section North American FAL's.
The Canadian serial numbers are found on page 149, and pictures are on page 60. Good examples for the FN collectors. The EX1's were metric FAL's, not inch so the mag won't fit an
L1A1 or C1. Here are some pictures of the items.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...PC110765-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...PC110764-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...PC110769-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...PC110774-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...PC110772-1.jpg
Those are some very nice EX parts and EX Magazine :clap:Quote:
Originally Posted by Albayo
oh yes very nice ... just what I need to finish (ish) my deactivated :thdown X8E1.....
want to tade :D :bow:???????
Hey, back off...I asked Al about them first!! :)
Although I guess all is fair in love, war, and collecting that unobtainable stuff. There ought to be a law against exporting Cdn heritage items from the country.....at least those items that I need for my collection. :lol:
Thats all right Sten, the EX1 parts aren't X8 parts, not even close, they are a million miles from being correct................ :yikes:
do you think skiprat will believe me :thup:
anything has to be better than the plastic it came fitted with....
I have a fine collection of wood rasps and a good pen knife to get rid of any wood I dont need,
and there is plenty of good quailty wood filler out there to build up the areas iI need more wood!!!! (only the best as it's a rare rifle)
What would be the value of the EX1 wood and Mag? I am not going to keep them so I might as well ask.
having seen reproduction early type butts for sale in the U.S.A. for $120 and up (ok US made parts may add value:confused: ) I would hate to think what an original one would fetch, and would be well out of my price range.
My deactivated X8 cost £250, an original L38 hand guard (left side only) cost £10 and an original matching bayonet I picked up for £50 (less the wood grips).
I also have a sectioned X2 E1 magazine ( was given for free "as it no use to anyone") these were used on the X8's converted by the British into sectioned instructional "armourers" weapons.
In the US you would be looking at around US$250 - $350 for the Butt, handguards and pistol grip for that EX1 set.Quote:
Originally Posted by skiprat
If you have no requirement for this mag I have a sectionalised X8 that is in dire need of the mag. I can swap it for a FAL mag.
Well the good news is (good for me anyway) that I have secured the EX1 mag, butt and pistol grip from Albayo. I'm working in Kandahar for the next 6 months or so, but am looking forward to these pieces when I get home in July on vacation.
A goodly number of EX1's , converted to DP, were used by the Canadian Airborne Center in Edmonton for para training. I fell from a C-130 a couple times with one myself. Always intrigued by the copper-colored bolt carriers.
here's an interesting snippet concerning the trials EX Marked rifles Bayonets.
My Father was attached to the Nigerian Royal West African Frontier Force in the mid fifties.
He was a Battalion Armourer Sergeant then on attachment. He had some of the FN/EX Rifles there on Trails. The Bayonets were stamped as some of you know with EX serial Numbers.
Do you know WHAT? Those Numbers were Applied by HAND, & NOT a machine. I would stick my neck out after seeing the pics of the at Mag & say the SAME thing has happened there?
To that end, If you had a gap in your collection of the 'rare' Trials EX Marked Bayonets & Mags. WHAT would be to stop you from stamping the exact same details on a FN mag or Bayonet? I am NOT advocating Faking here I stress!
I am just pointing out how SIMPLE it would be to reproduce a clone copy of either one of those equipments to fill a gap in a collection!
Your thoughts Gentlemen please?................
PS: If an abundance of 'Rare' Bayonets marked with EX Figures appear on the UK market in the near Future. I will KNOW that one of you Beggers has been up to no Good!......:D:D
We've got a few of the EX marked bayonets at work Tankie and the actual EX markings along the edge of the handle/blade bit and the same on the top of the scabbard mouthpieces all look like the same font. Not your usual Armourers tool box/workshop sort of stamps. Is it this EX mark that's individually stamped or the rifle/matching serial number?
Just for interest. I have an Enfield Trials bayonet in my collection. Got it from a fellow collector who was selling up. I thought they only existed in the reference books. This one came up so I bought it. Only seen one other for sale. The marking on the grip is X2E1 5472 ( I assume this is the serial or rifle number). I am told the bayonet is the same or similar to the FN bayonet of the early 1950s.
Any comments on this bayonet would be helpful to me, I don't know much about this type. It is very very different to the SLR bayonets in the above photograph.
Kind regards, Lester.
Hi Pete, Dont forget. They were stamped in a time when craftsman ship mattered! & Armourers took thier time & patience with virtualy EVERYTHING they worked on. The Old chap said he stamped one or two replacements that broke during trials. You couldnt tell the difference with his work! Lol! I would ASSUME that the vast majority were done at Enfield or through Donington or the like. before being issued to various theatre units for the trials proper. He said there were TWO variants of the 'New' Rifle on trial. One had a small Optic sight that YOU would know about. ALL the Trials Bayonets were released & sold off in the Seventies through Wallis & Wallis of Lewes, UK. We KNOW this for a fact, as the old boy was Fireams Cataloger & Manager with them before he set up his own shop. He obtained a couple through wallis's & still has them in his collection. There are a few floating about at the moment at Militaria fairs, buth the dealers want STUPID money for them! Personaly, I would stamp one upo myself to fill a gap! At what they are asking for them, you could buy four different decent bayonets!Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
I believe the number after the EX was the rifle number.
Thanks Tankhunter. I paid £100 for mine and it's mint. The other one I saw was really tatty. The chap is still asking £185. Yes ,you are proved right. Get more than four good bayonets for £185 and a set of mess tins!