No4 7.62 Magazine ID

[xa-coupe]

Many moons ago I purchased a couple of no4 7.62 mags for when I got a 7.62 No4 .. which I eventually did and then put one mag in it.
I wonder if the mag is a cheap chinese knock off or real surplus. It has been 10+ years since I purchased them so I am leanbing towards surplus. Here's a couple of pics, if anyone can give me an opinion I would be grateful.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Alan de Enfield]

Original - that D shaped mark is actually the EFD (all 3 letters stamped in one) logo.
Value today around GBP £100 (US$150)

[xa-coupe]

Thanks Alan, for once I bought well.

[Peter Laidler]

But before you leap, you've only shown us the magazine platform. There were thousands of these kicking around spare. So many, that one enterprising wag had a load of magazines made/copied. Alas, his sub contractors pressed sheet metalworking skills weren't quite up to the standards of the Enfield factory and they a) needed a bit of titivating to fit and b) the ejector fell off after a couple of uses. You've had them 10 years...... time scale you have fits in well too..................!

[xa-coupe]

lol, you brought me down rather quickly as this one had the ejector fell off after one use and needed some tweaking to fit ... ah well, it does the job

[Thunderbox]

Are the sides of the magazine marked with the military code? If not, its one of the repro shells paired up with a genuine platform.

[Peter Laidler]

What your mag follower has emphasised is the old Ministry of Supply part number of (B1 - small arms, rifles)/CR-1256 and the 1965 date. 60,000+ magazines were manufactured for a never-to-be-completed/failed Aid for India agreement of the period. The magazines and charger guide inserts were set aside to be used should the L8 idea ever need to be re investigated. However, within a few years the L42 programme came about and the magazines were used there. The L42 programme was really pared to the bone and done on the cheap. Just look at the fore-ends...............

[newbieDAN]

anyone have a L8 type 7.62 mag for sale?

[xa-coupe]

The body of the mag is as clear as a virgin's conscience ... at least it works I suppose !

[Maxwell Smart]

I have been able to examine some genuine Enfield 7.62 mags and a repro one side by side, and offer the following observations.

"Original" 7.62 mags have a blackened finish follower platform, with the "CR" code number stamp on the follower and the mid-upper left hand side of the case.

The "Repro" mag has a parkerized finish to the follower (with CR stamp) and no CR stamp on the case. The feed ramp insert inside the front of the repro magazine case is attached with two spot welds on each side (there are three visible on the originals). The feed ramps are a different shape viewed from the top; the repro is an almost perfect curve, whereas the genuine one has a flattened curve.

On the left hand magazine side, at the top of the case between the two stamped ribs, the original has a small raised section about 20mm long - the repro has a continuous staight edge in the area. Viewed from the top, the follower on the repro almost touches the case in this area on the left hand side, there is more of a gap on the original.

On the bottom of the case, the repro has six visible spot welds, in three pairs. The originals have only four spot welds, with two being much more prominent than the others.

Other impressions are that the repro case has a duller, more matt finish than the original.
The metal edges of the repro case are tapered off, making the metal thickness appear thinner than the squarer-cut edges of the original. (Actual measurements indicate both are close to .030" thick.) The stamping of the top of the wider rib on the case sides is sharper on the repro; the original has a pronounced dimple around this area, and a mark like a line which continues straight up towards the ejector tab area.