GENERAL

The earliest dated clip I have seen is dated 1960 and all but one version are stamped with MariByrnong Ordnance Factory 'MBO', the latest clip seen is dated 1983. Just been informed the MBO is in fact Maribrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne, not what I previously had.

Mark 2 Stripper Clip Found recently amongst the shipment of bandoleered ammunition sent to America. These Mark 2 clips have the double stops on each side and are un-marked. The end profile is different to the British Mk. 2 clips so I've called it profile 4.
Mark 3 Stripper Clip This is the standard stripper clip for Australia and is a slightly modified version of the British Mark 3 clip.  The spring has been modified to improve the push-out load and the end profile is of the Canadian standard production, profile 1.
7.62 mm Adaptor for .303 in. Chargers These simple one piece clips are used for modifying the standard .303 in. chargers so they will accept 7.62 x 51 mm ammunition. These can then be used in an umodified Lee Enfield receiver.

Information obtained recently from Mark Zillmann of Australia has uncovered the reason why some Australian clips have markings on the inside of the clip and some on the outside. The date stamping was done prior to the folding operations on the machines and it was common for the pressings to go through upside down, hence the marking would end up inside the clip rather then outside. Since this production hiccup didn't effect the operation of the clips and it was still within the specifications they were still used. In other countries like the UK, Canada and the USA these clips would have been sent to the scrap bin.

DETAILS

Ser	Marking	No of Stops	End Profile	Stop Posn	Material	Finish	Colour	Manufacturer	Notes
1	No marking	2	4	Top	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Unknown but most likely MBO	Mk. 2 clip No marking
2	MBO 1960	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Small stamping
3	MBO 1961	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
4	MBOI963	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
5	MBO-1964	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
6	MBO-I965	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
7	MBO-1966	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
8	MBO 1966	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
9	MBO1967	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
10	MBO1967	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
11	MBO1967	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Greenish	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Green finish
12	MBO1968	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
13	MBO1969	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
14	MBO1971	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
15	MBO1971	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
16	MBO1972	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
17	MBO1972	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
18	MBO-1973	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
19	MBO1973	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
20	MBO1979	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne	Markings under spring
21	MBO1981	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
22	MBO1983	1	1	Middle	Steel	Phosphated	Dk Gray	Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory, Melbourne
Ser	Marking	No of Stops	End Profile	Stop Posn	Material	Finish	Colour	Manufacturer	Notes

PHOTO'S

Mk. 2 Clip (no marking)	MBO1968 (under spring)
MBO 1960 (small stamping)	MBO1969 (under spring)
MBO 1961	MBO1971
MBOI963	MBO1971 (under spring)
MBO-1964	MBO1972
MBO-I965	MBO1972 (under spring)
MBO-1966	MBO-1973
MBO 1966 (under spring)	MBO1973 (under spring)
MBO1967	MBO1979 (under spring)
MBO1967 (green finish)	MBO1981
MBO1967 (under spring)	MBO1983

MEASUREMENTS

All measurements in millimeters

Ser	Markings	Length	Width	Width with stops	Depth	Retainer length	Material Thickness	Retainer Holes		Spring Profile	Notes
								Height	Width
1	No marking	60.45	14.49	15.48	5.10	2.05	0.55	3.47	4.98		Mk. 2 Clip, no markings
2	MBO 1960	60.05	14.50	15.20	5.23	2.10	0.60	3.49	5.00		Small stamping
3	MBO 1961	60.15	14.50	15.25	5.20	2.10	0.60	3.48	4.99
4	MBOI963	60.10	14.50	15.20	5.33	2.10	0.65	3.48	4.98
5	MBO-1964	60.10	14.50	15.30	5.18	2.10	0.55	3.51	5.00
6	MBO-I965	60.00	14.50	15.40	5.23	2.10	0.65	3.60	4.98
7	MBO-1966	60.20	14.50	15.20	5.15	2.10	0.60	3.57	5.01
8	MBO 1966	60.25	14.36	15.20	5.27	2.27	0.57	3.64	4.89		Markings under spring
9	MBO1967	60.20	14.45	15.35	5.28	2.10	0.60	3.58	5.01
10	MBO1967	60.20	14.50	15.10	5.20	2.10	0.65	3.55	4.96		Green finish
11	MBO1967	60.25	14.45	15.25	5.30	2.10	0.60	3.58	4.89		Markings under spring
12	MBO1968	60.30	14.50	15.35	5.25	2.10	0.60	3.58	4.88		Markings under spring
13	MBO1969	60.35	14.45	15.40	5.25	2.10	0.60	3.40	4.84		Markings under spring
14	MBO1971	60.22	14.51	15.36	5.30	2.10	0.60	3.61	5.04
15	MBO1971	60.28	14.45	15.29	5.28	2.10	0.60	3.65	4.92		Markings under spring
16	MBO1972	60.20	14.45	15.25	5.28	2.10	0.60	3.49	5.01
17	MBO1972	60.34	14.45	15.25	5.29	2.10	0.60	3.60	4.90		Markings under spring
18	MBO-1973	60.20	14.45	15.25	5.21	2.10	0.60	3.58	5.06
19	MBO1973	60.18	14.45	15.20	5.34	2.10	0.60	3.56	4.80		Markings under spring
20	MBO1979	60.25	14.50	15.20	5.25	2.10	0.60	3.56	4.80		Markings under spring
21	MBO1981	60.15	14.55	15.25	5.24	2.10	0.55	3.42	4.98
22	MBO1983	60.15	14.54	15.25	5.29	2.10	0.65	3.50	5.01
Ser	Markings	Length	Width	Width with stops	Depth	Retainer length	Material Thickness	Retainer Holes		Spring Profile	Notes
								Height	Width

All measurements in millimeters

PRODUCTION YEARS