Charger Clips: Who thought of it first?

[Adam Helmer]

I have an old milk bucket full of charger clips and today I finally sorted them all out. Some are Mauser type, some are Mannlicher and some are all the rest. Charger clips really did fill a need and they are neat to have and use as I do daily here on the farm. I will do some reading tonight, but does anyone know who thought of the charger clip first?

Ok, who never saw or used a charger? Well, go get some!

Adam

[gumpokc]

I *think* i saw an article along those lines many moons ago, but can't remember for sure offhand.

i wouldn't think that charger clips would be too long before the Krag, but again i can't remember for sure.

[Gil Martin]

I would vote for the Mauser brothers since their rifle design feeds from the magazine and charger clips would be a good fit. We know that Spanish troops in Cuba used them at San Juan Hill while U.S. troops were single loading their Krags. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

gumpokc & Gil,

I was reading where they did try a prototype charger for the U. S. Krag .30/40 based on Spanish American War experience.

Yes, Gil, I think you nailed it as a Mauser invention.

Adam

[Jack]

I, too, would suspect the charger clip was a Mauser invention.
Although, come to think of it, I wonder if the charger clip was first used with the Lee Enfield series of rifles.
Can't say that I know.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Hmmm there seems to be some confusion between the Charger/stripper clip and the charger clip as in the Mannlicher Packet loading system. they both work differently with the Mannlicher clip being actually part of the magazine and actually being the feed lips of the magazine. The mannlicher system was earlier than the Mauser stripper clip which I think you will find came about in 1892 with the Spainish Mauser which was also the first with the integral staggered magazine. Part of Paul Mausers reason to design the stripper clip was to avoid paying Mannlicher royalties for his charger clip design, the boot changed to the other foot with the Mannlicher Schoenauer which used a Mauser type stripper clip on the military rifles.

It was after facing the M93 Boer Mausers in South Africa that the British Lee rifles got a charger loading system and the 10 shot magazine, early Lee's had an 8 shot mag. The first charger guides were split and one attached to the bolt head the other to the left side of the action.

[Adam Helmer]

Brithunter,

Yes, there is a difference between charger clips and the Mannlicher "Packet" which is inserted into the magazine well. I think most folks agree the Mauser stripper clip system is far superior.

The stripper clip pre-dates the staggered Mauser magazine; my Argentine 7.65mm M1891 rifles and my M1889 Belgian 7.65mm single-stack magazine arms accomodate stripper clip loading.

Adam

[Ak_Red]

I admit to never really thinking at all about charger/stripper clips beyond just using them. But if anyone had asked me before today I would have said a stripper clip was anything like that an M-16 or an SKS uses where the rounds are pusshed off the clip into the mag/feed well. A charging clip are what I would call anything that actually slid into the feed well with the ammo, such as with the M-1 Garand . So, I went is search and found this:

http://www.thegunzone.com/clips-mags.html


David

[Adam Helmer]

David,

Welcome to the Forum and good job on finding us the link. Keep posting as we can use another friend at the "campfire".

Adam