Old L.E. mag

[rgwhitman]

Here is an oddball Lee Enfield mag that I picked up with an older rifle the other day. It was attached to an old LSA Co. made rifle built on the Lee-Speed patent. Very fast twist rifling in bore. There is a dust cover over the bolt body and the safety is on the left rear of the bolt--not the receiver.Barrel is 30 inches long. and the rifle has funcional ----in good condition "Volly Sights" The rifle is interesting but the mag is what I am enquiring about. Unique mag follower and spring. It no longer works well. Is there a piece of the spring system missing? The spring has a bent over lip which looks like it would fit over the front edge of the mag but it doesnt work when attached in this manner.

Anybody out there familiar with this type of magazine ?

 

[buffdog]

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Early Lee-Metford Magazine.

The "hook" on the spring DOES clip onto the front of the magazine case. The small loop on the front of the magazine case had a link attached to it, and then to the rifle so that the magazine will not get lost. Very early magazines held 8 rounds.

It does look like your spring has been bent a bit out of shape. It should be more like a "C" shape with a more gentle curve than your spring has.

"Instructions for Armourers - 1897" shows the Lee-Metford Mark II rifle with this type of magazine.
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[John Sukey]

This was before the day of charger loading when rounds had to be loaded one at a time. A spare loaded magazine was carried. In case of a cavalry attack or the opposing infantry closed, the magazine could be dropped and a loaded one inserted. The chain insured you didn't lose the empty one

 

[rgwhitman]

Thank-you for the enlightenment. I will leave the spring alone. It will work after a fashion if allowed to just drop down and lay against the front slope on the mag body but will hold only 3-4 rounds when used in this manner.