"very rare prototype enfield ww1 spare mag. Carrier for smle rifle" (?)

[rayg]

Not Lee Enfield, of course, but it's progenitor the Remington Lee was advertised as being used with multiple magazines and, according to Myszkowski ("The Remington-Lee Rifle") was used in this manner in combat. As per the LoC, the concept was initially somewhat similar in British use but rapidly "evolved" to easily removable, but not to be removed, magazine, initially with no facility for stripper clip use. Ridolpho

As mentioned, and shown in the book and the advertisement, here's the Remington Lee magazine and cartridge belt for 45/70 cal. cartridges that I have that rifle was issued with. The Magazines only held 5 rds as opposed to 10 as the later British rifles did. Ray

Attachment 60863Attachment 60864Attachment 60865Attachment 60866

[therno]

I have no axe to grind here, & I do not know for sure whether it is what it claims to be, but the general standard of manufacture of the steel box does not look to be what I would have expected on a WW1 (or possibly pre WW1) piece of equipment.
The tensioning spring at one end is a SMLE mag auxiliary spring (though I suppose that could have been found satisfactory & used).
But what I find most surprising of all is that something so 'hard & pointy' would be accepted into service to be used by Tommies who would risk at best bruising ribs, if not breaking them, when throwing themselves around with something that rigid on their belts.
I have seen the approved 20 round magazine pouches, & these were made of leather - much more suitable.
The EFD stamp does look good, but it could have been copied, or a redundant & already marked piece of brassware could have been used in the manufacture of this piece......just as a SMLE mag spring was.

I agree with Roger it does not look like anything you would want on you side while crawling on the ground or out of a shell crater. All the brass just make me think Navy??

[Alan de Enfield]

Well it sold for GBP £83.75 (about US$130)

VERY RARE PROTOTYPE ENFIELD WW1 SPARE MAG. CARRIER FOR SMLE RIFLE FITS 08 BELT | eBay