Bosnian "Fluer De Lis" AK mag ?

[MFWIC2]

I have read different stories about these mags. Can anyone clear the air of the history behind this mag and what are they worth?
Thanks

[Moose-Knuckle]

They started appearing INCONUS back in 2006. The Sportsman's Guide must have bought out every warehouse and store room in Bosnia because they were having mad sales on surplus steel E-bloc mags, were talking as low as $4 per mag. I did not receive any of the "boy scout" mags in any of my shipments but a lot of AK owners on the boards did. These bundle packages were a pot-luck of mags from various coutries of origin, you had no choice totally random. From the get go guys started putting these back as they had never been seen before.

Back in April Armslist had an auction on one, the asking price was $200.

[eodinert]

Sportsman Guide eventually figured out they had some gems in their AK mag grab back, and started culling the rare ones and selling them separate.

Good times.

[Dave_M]

Sportsman Guide eventually figured out they had some gems in their AK mag grab back, and started culling the rare ones and selling them separate.

Good times.

Worst part of that deal were the guys that ordered 100 mags at a time and just returned all non-rare mags for cash back/store credit. Only then to buy another 100 mags to repeat the process.

[Bret]

I purchased a bunch of AK mags from Sportsman's Guide. Here are the four best I received.
Chinese Stamped (received several of these)


Russian Bakelite


Russian Slabside


Bosnian Lilly

As far as the symbol on this magazine goes, it's the Lilium Bosniacum (Bosnian Lily in English). The French just called it the Fleur-de-lis, so that's what it's more commonly known as in the US.

Regarding the magazine values, I really have no idea. I'm not selling, so it really doesn't matter (although I wouldn't mind knowing what they're worth).

[KalashniKEV]

There is also a "Bosnian Two-Rib"

[m03]

I have read different stories about these mags. Can anyone clear the air of the history behind this mag and what are they worth?
Thanks

Their history is mostly unknown, but there have been plenty of probably-correct assumptions about their history that can be found elsewhere on the 'net.

I've owned a couple. Their quality is slightly worse than the North Korean mags I've owned, but still usable. The flat spring has a lot less tension than a typical AK mag spring.

Current prices are ~$200 each when they show up, relegating them to looking-pretty-on-a-shelf duty.

They started appearing INCONUS back in 2006.

In bulk yes, but I believe there were a handful that found their way into the country prior to that. I recall seeing this one in Buddy Hinton's collection back in 2003:

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/bhinton/A...ur-de-LisD.jpg

There is also a "Bosnian Two-Rib"

I believe those are actually of Croatian origin.

[Moose-Knuckle]

In bulk yes, but I believe there were a handful that found their way into the country prior to that. I recall seeing this one in Buddy Hinton's collection back in 2003:

http://www.sturmgewehr.com/bhinton/A...ur-de-LisD.jpg

Hah, leave it to Buddy Hinton to have one before anyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if he has contacts in E Europe that gets him stuff.

[Fail-Safe]

As recently as a 2 years ago, FDLs were showing up in Aim's, Centerfire's, and I want to say Cope's and Atlantic's magazine grab bags. I remember a bunch of collectors being pissed about that. Just as a bunch of collectors were pissed about all those $30 Russian bakelites Aim was selling earlier this year.