FN Trials magazine marked X2 E1

[stencollector]

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.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I remember when we had thet sort of thing around but never noticed any special markings...

[nzl1a1collector]

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

[nzl1a1collector]

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.

[Peter Laidler]

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.

[stencollector]

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.

[RCEMERalf]

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.

[tankhunter]

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!......

[browningautorifle]

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?

[nzl1a1collector]

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.

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