DWM or Erfurt Magazines
 

Is there a difference?

The first two appear to be numbered factory replacements and the others are also Erfurt but in the standard numbering pattern.

Were all DWM unmarked?

Yes,
there are different "Erfurts", early ones- before 1916 approx.- had two crown/letter inspection marks, as do the two on the left. Later one crown/letter sufficed.

I seriously doubt the two on the left are "replacements".

DWM commercial mags were not numbered.
DWM military mags were numbered, including, suffix, with a "+" on the spare mag.

There are exceptions of course.

Replacement mags get really complicated really quickly, they can have all sorts of combinations.

I just noticed this small mark on this otherwise unmarked mag! I do own a Test Luger and wondered if they are related~

Don't forget the small "indent" on the side of the magazines. DWM produced a "D" shaped indent, while Erfurt's was more of a straight bar.

Eric -

That looks like it's a "flaming bomb" magazine, normally associated with DWM Old Model Commercial Lugers. Here's a thread where several were shown.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...686#post287686

Tks! My only other early commercial is my 1902 fat barrel which has its distinctive 9mm/cal.~

DWM mags have a trapezoidal indent like the Erfurts up until mid 1911.

George, is this what you are referring to~~

No Eric, the little crimp on either side of the tube near the mouth.

All Erfurt replacements I've had have had two proofs on the base with no serial number. That these could have been used to supplement other supplies in production would not be unlikely.

It seems they all have little crimps on either side close to the mouth~

Eric, the third from the left and fifth from the left have trapezoidal crimps and are either early DWMs or Erfurts.

True early Erfurt mags were unnumbered with two acceptance stamps but all pre 1916 issue mags were numbered with two acceptance stamps. See the photos below. The spare with this rig was an unnumbered stamped mag.

Photos

Perfect!!!

Nice pictures! The last Erfurt I had was a 1914 artillery and it didn't last long. Otherwise, I'm more of a DWM fan.

The last Erfurt I had was a 1914 artillery which I traded, being more of a DWM fan. I knew it was scarce but the bore condition left a lot to be desired. Have never heard that pre-1916 Erfurt mags were unnumbered before.

All military contract Lugers came with two serial numbered mags with the exception of Navise and artilleries. The Navies with three mags and the artilleries with perhaps as many as seven serial numbered mags.

George, where doe this fit in?

Eric, it goes with a DWM military after 1911.

You are my Hero!! I have a few plain unmarked. Were they DWM commercial?

George did not say that pre-1916 Erfurt mags were un-numbered;
he said "very early" Erfurt mags were not numbered but did have 2 proofs.

"True early Erfurt mags were unnumbered with two acceptance stamps but all pre 1916 issue mags were numbered with two acceptance stamps. See the photos below. The spare with this rig was an unnumbered stamped mag."

Thanks for the reply because that wouldn't have been my experience. I've sold many common and rare Luger mags, some of which appeared to be wartime Erfurt replacements and they were unnumbered and double stamped. I have also had the same ones with numbers and letter block added both singly or which accompanied the pistol and were original to the period. Similarly, I have had what were originally S/42 and 42 replacement mags that somehow were matched to pistols complete with the correct font and cursive letter block while others remained unnumbered. What designations does Jan Still use?

TKS~ Very Informative Thread~

I have had what were originally S/42 and 42 replacement mags that somehow were matched to pistols complete with the correct font and cursive letter block while others remained unnumbered. What designations does Jan Still use?[/QUOTE]

Such numbered S/42 and 42 mags were probably the work of someone trying tp boost the value of a gun they had.

Uh, yeah.

I've observed that most mag with the light diagonal grain pattern, like #2290g shown above, are DWM from the Weimar period. TH

What years did the DWM spare mags have circles or dimples instead of the + sign? Was that only for commercials?