RESEARCHING STRIPPER
CLIPS
Firstly I must say if you are going
to start researching stripper clips then you are a member of
a rare bred of lunatics. I'm often asked why do I do this
and the only answer that comes to mind is because they (clips)
may all look the same, but there are small minor differences
and when I can't find a rifle to buy I can get as much enjoyment
out of finding the differences between each clip.
Equipment
required
Vernier calipers.
Magnifying
glass.
Notebook.
Pen or pencil.
Permanent marker.
Small plastic zip-loc
bags, sized 62 x 75 mm & 75 x 130 mm
Oil.
References
Basically none, unfortunately there
are very few references for any sort of stripper clip collecting.
There may be some articles found in some of the dedicated
ammunition collectors magazines. But even with the advent
of the internet I believe this is the only web site dealing in
any way with the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO stripper clip. If you
have any links or paper reference sources could you please let
me know.
Classifying
and Identify your 7.62 mm NATO Stripper Clips
This is a tricky subject and is
open to a lot of speculation. Until recently I had to make an
educated guess as to the various marks of British, Canadian and
Australian stripper clips (" Chargers " in British service). Information
obtained from the British
List of Changes in War Materials (LoC) confirms my theories relating to
the various marks of British stripper clips and in turn this
relates in some way to the marks of Australian and Canadian clips.
If
anyone has any official references to the mark, model or version
for USA, Canadian or any other counties stripper clip or charger,
please could you contact me.
Another source of information on
the Australian, British and Canadian clips are the obscure entries
in the Minutes of the RSC (Rifle Steering Committee). Contained
within the pages of the minutes are statements about the production,
trials and deficiencies in relation to stripper clips and bandoleers.
If you have a number of stripper
clips in your collection in which you are unsure of the origin
of them and they have no markings then the only thing you can
do is study the clips closely looking for any differences in
the way its manufactured and then comparing them to know country
examples.
Storage
I have found that if you are accumulating
a lot of stripper clips and you want to be able to access the
clips for reference, swapping, trading or selling then you need
to keep the countries and sometimes the individual markings separate.
A good way of doing this is using small zip-loc bags to
store the different clips in.
For individual differently marked
clips I store them in 'country bags' and for duplicates I store
them in individually markings bags inside a larger country bag.
More effort has to given to your duplicates because it will be
these that you are going to need to find for swapping. It
is a pain in the neck having to go through 100 clips to find
one differently marked clip for swapping purposes.
A light coating of oil such as CRC's
'LONGLIFE' will prevent rusting to your prized items. LONGLIFE
is a better product to use rather then the standard CRC 556 as
this product will evaporate removing with it any traces of oil
on the stripper clip. LONGLIFE applies a coating that encapsulates
the metal which doesn't evaporate and is easier to apply then
standard oil.
Tales
from the RSC (Rifle Steering Committee)
Many of you will not know who the
RSC were, they consisted of representatives from the UK, Canada,
Australia, FN and in the later stages New Zealand. The whole
purpose of the committee was to ensure that there would be a
set standard of production between the manufacturing countries
and interchangability between the main components and sub assemblies.
New ideas were rigorously trialed and tested amongst the participating
countries, some went into production others never made it past
trials. The Minutes of the RSC are a gold mine of information
pertaining to the introduction of new ideas, trials and tests
and changes to the production standards, for example:-
The following has been extracted
from the minutes of the 6th meeting of the RSC and is dated 18-19
November, 1957:-
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CHARGERS (D.S.C. 2.29)
68 The
Australian User pointed out that at the present time
with
their policy on ammunition they did not feel qualified to agree
with the
recomendation that the Chargers (Canadian
type) be made R.S.C. standard.
69 The
Australian User also pointed out that it was most
important
that they be able to top load Canadian, U.K., American and
Australian ammunition with clips used by the various
countries mentioned.
70 It
was AGREED that U.K. and Canada standardize outside
the
R.S.C. on the Canadian drawing.
71 It
was AGREED that the R.S.C. Secretary again inform the
M.A.S.
Committee on Links and Chargers that it is the wish charger among
all countries in N.A.T.O. at the earliest possible
date.
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DESIGN
SUB-COMMITTEE ENTRY
| 2.29 |
Chargers
(B-DAD,102301A) |
(a) |
U.K. suggested that in view of the fact
that
both U.K. and Canada were using the Canadian
1 pip type charger that is should become an R.S.C.
standard. |
(a) |
It was agreed that this matter
be
referred to the main meeting
for a decision as
to whether this
matter should be referred to the
MAS Working Party on Links and
Chargers. |
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(b) |
U.K. request deletion of the 0.3 + .01
radius on the body Charger (DAD.102299). |
(b) |
Canada will investigate this point. |
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(c) |
U.K.
submitted a Thomas French alternative pattern
charger
(one each for Australia and Canada).
Canada and
Australia requested a further 100
samples each. |
(c) |
U.K. agree to supply samples |
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The following has been extracted
from the minutes of the 9th meeting of the RSC and is dated 14-15
November, 1960:-
12.1 CHARGER,
5 ROUND
12.1 U.K -
Present Position on T. French one-piece design
U.K. - Trials
in U.K. indicate complete satisfaction
in magazine
filling and top loading. Samples of the
latest
design should be available soon for Canada
and
Australia if they are required. Finalized
drawings
were tabled by U.K. New Zealand, Canada
and Australia each request 1,000 samples.
12.2 U.K -
Results of Tests on Canadian Samples
Canadian samples
not yet received by U.K.
12.3 Canada
- Status of Development
Canadian design
has not been completed. Material
and dimensions
require adjustment. Samples should
be available
for U.K. and Australia in the near
future. The
plastic material precludes corrosion
and should
be approximately 50% cheaper. U.K. and
Australia
confirm request for 5,000 each. New
Zealand requests
1,000. All chargers should
conform to STANAG gauge
dimensions.
12.4 Australia
- Current Position
Australia have
assessed the U.K. Mk. III design.
The spring has
been modified to improve the push-
out load. Production
is now well in hand.
British
List of Changes in War Materials (LoC)
The following are extracted
from the LoC's which is the official register of equipment in
British service and details the introduction, modification and
obsolescent of military service equipment.
C 8827
CHARGERS, 7.62 MM. AMMUNITION, MK. 1 (Cat. No. Q2/QV 16A)
To hold five rounds ; horse-shoe type .................................................................
L
1. INTRODUCTION.
2. OBSOLESCENT.
CHARGERS,
7.62 MM. AMMUNITION
To hold
five rounds
MK. 2 (Cat. No. Q2/QV 21A)
Springfield type ......................................................................................
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Mk. 3 (Cat No. Q2/QV 20A) .....................................................................
L
3. NEW PATTERNS.
1 and 2. A drawing
(QV 16A) has been sealed to govern manufacture of the
above-mentioned
charger, which is hereby formally introduced for use in Land
Service and declared obsolescent.
Drawings (QV
21A and QV 16A, respectively) have been sealed to govern
manufacture of the above-mentioned new pattern chargers,
which are hereby
introduced for use in Land Service.
The Mk. 2 charger
(QV 21A), of steel, is provided with a spring for retention of
the rounds and is suitably shaped for insertion into
the Adaptor magazine
charging 7.62 mm.
The Mk. 3 charger
(QV 20A), also of steel, is generally similar to the Mk. 2
charger described above, differing mainly in that
it is provided with only one
detent on each of
the frame instead of two.
Both chargers are marked with the contractor's initials or recognised
trade
mark and the year of manufacture.
5th
Aug, 1958-57/Vocab./6760
24th April, 18th June, 29th July, 1957-M.N./141/02
I.A. -F/188, F/193
C 9289
CHARGER, 7.62 mm. AMMUNITION, MK. 2 (Cat. No. Q2/QV 21A) ......................
LN
OBSOLESCENT.
The above-mentioned
ammunition charger (§§ C 8826, C 8827) is hereby declared
obsolescent.
19th
Mar., 1959-57/Vocab./6960
3rd Oct., 1958-M.N./141/02
10th Dec., 1958-W. 17965/58
I.A. -F/251
C 9809
CHARGERS, 7.62 MM. AMMUNITION, MK. 4 (Cat. No. Q2/QV 66)
To hold five rounds ...........................................................................................
L
INTRODUCTION.
A drawing (QV
66) has been approved to govern manufacture of the above-
named charger, which is hereby introduced in Land
Service as an alternative
to the Mk. 3 (§§
C 8826, C 8827) from which it principally differs in being
manufactured in one piece only.
The charger is stamped QV66, the manufacturers code number and
year of
manufacture in 1/8 in. type.
8th
Mar., 1961-57/Vocab./7533
16th Nov., 1960-M.N./141/04
I.A. -F/316
D 287
CHARGER, 7.62 MM. AMMUNITION, MK. 4 (Cat. No. Q2/QV 66)
To hold five rounds ..........................................................................................
LN
EXTENSION OF
USE.
The above-mentioned
charger (§ C 9809) is hereby extended in use to Naval
Service and distinguishing letter amended to read
as now shown.
20th
July, 1964-A/57/Vocab./7962
11th June, 1963-G.U.41/47/3
W4/753/63
I.A. -F/316
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