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303 BRITISH - OTHER COUNTRIES

FINLAND

Armour Piercing

GERMANY

The first two specimens with CN RN bullets were Mk. 6 loadings, the third being Mk. 7

Blank loading by GECO

GREECE

ITALY

These specimens are in all probability longer range tracer experimentals. According to Gene Scranton’s manual on bullet tip colours the red, blue and gold tips used a deep (0.85”) cannister for the trace compound. The specimens below were from the Bologna factory. The detail of the inspector (Capotecnici) was Mario Turani, who was with the factory from 1929 – 1939.

BPD was for the company BOMBRINI, PARODI DELFINO. The company was founded in 1912 by Senator Giovanni Bombrini and Senator Leopoldo Parodi Delfino.

The first specimen is an early tracer with very thick red paint, the same as what has been observed on early 6.5 Carcano tracer loadings. The second specimen is a ball loading with CNCS, and aluminium tip filler. Third specimen is the later tracer loading. The fourth specimen with blue tip is the early Armor-piercing loading with phosphorus tip, whereas the green tip specimen is the armor-piercing tip with thermite filling.

First specimen is a ball loading, second is a blank loading with wooden bullet and the third is an armor piercing with green primer annulus.

First is a tracer with red primer annulus, second is a drill/dummy and third is also a drill/dummy loading with empty GM jacket and white tip.

Grenade blanks

These two specimens were export contract loads for a Middle Eastern country. The initials of BPD were changed by one letter, in all probability to disguise the origin of the manufacturer.

Ball loading from Capua in 1950. The initials were for the supervisor “capotecnici” at the factory. In this case the name has not been confirmed yet, or the factory has not supplied the information.

SOCIETA METALLURGICA ITALIANA, FLORENCE.

The L designation on the headstamp was for “Luminose” or tracer.

First specimen was an armor-piercing load with steel core and phosphorus tip. The second specimen with blue tip was an “armor piercing special load”. GMCS envelope with steel core and phosphorus tip.

ISRAEL

Early loading from 1947

The first specimen on the left has an "open" Star of David, whereas the second one had solid stars

MEXICO

NIGERIA

Ordnance Factory Nigeria

NORWAY

PAKISTAN

PORTUGAL

The blank with FNM 71 – 1 headstamp was in all probability reworked by Rhodesian forces. Similar formed blanks have also been observed on RSA cases obtained from Zimbabwe

The RNRA headstamp was always assumed to be the Rhodesian National Rifle Association, however from correspondence it is known that there never was such an association.

SWEDEN