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 'LONG LIFE' will prevent rusting to your prized items.  LONG LIFE 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.  LONG LIFE 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 interchangeability between the main components and sub assemblies. New ideas were rigorously trialled 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:-

 
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 ...................................................................................... L
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