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.

[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

[browningautorifle]

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.

[nzl1a1collector]

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.