Interarms/Mauser magazine ID
 

I recently purchased a 6" Interarms/Mauser Parabellum. The magazine that was included with the pistol did not have any Mauser markings on the spine like others I have seen, but the seller said it was the original magazine. Is there any way to tell if it is genuine Mauser or not? The base is black plastic with concentric rings in the dished out areas of the base. The follower looks to be chrome or nickel plated steel. Please let me know. Thanks.

http://www.icehouse.net/blfuller/lugermag.jpg

Hello Brad,
All the Mauser Parabellum magazines are marked with the Mauser Banner but the really early production that can have a "made in holland" script.
You magazines seem to me a relacement of the original.
Cheers,
Mauro

These look like the Mec-Gar magazines...???...

Click on their "Luger" offering on the left side of this web page :

http://www.mec-gar.com/product.html

Looks just like my magazine I bought back in the late 70's and I was informed at the time that it was an Interarms Mauser magazine, but several here have told me it is a Mec-Gar. What a let down. If it is a Mec-Gar, have GT put one of his springs and bases on it, and you will have an awesome magazine...

I am disappointed as I specifically asked the seller if it was a Mauser marked mag and the reply was, "The Luger has one mag and it is factory." Ya, the Mec-Gar factory I guess.

Looks like the Mec-Gar on the link above Now I know it is not a factory Mauser Mag. Thanks everyone for your response.

Anyone have a picture of a real Mauser mag so I can see what it looks like? Thanks.

I'll try to take a picture of one for you. These mags are getting kind of scarce. I sold a spare one last year for $110 and may have even been able to sell it for more. I hope you can locate one.

Hope this helps...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/mauser_mag_1.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/mauser_mag_2.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/mauser_mag_4.jpg

Guys,

The magazine is most likely correct. The Mauser magazines were originally made by a Dutch supplier, MFT in Tilburg. Later, MFT only supplied the tubes, but weren't really interested in continuing the contract.

The last batches of Mauser pistols were therefore actually shipped with MecGar magazines.

ps: MFT also sold the magazines separately, first only marked with the Mauser logo, until Mauser protested, then with the Mauser and 'Made in Holland' logo and finally only with the 'Made in Holland' logo as they had no rights to use the Mauser logo for their own personal sales.

Interesting Gerben,
I have a couple of last production (1986) and they both have Mauser stamped magazine.
Maybe the MecGar was used for really a short period.
Brad, can you tell us the serial number of your pistol in this way we can verify if your pistol is a last production?
Cheers,
Mauro

Mauro,

I think the MecGars were used in the later years, when Mauser were busy trying to sell what they had left. Frustratingly I forgot where this info came from....Brain: Funny thing.

I addition to what Gerben as indicated, this other practice is occuring in the USA (and maybe other countries as well).

Two dealers I know in CA have told me they will "split" a like-NIB 1970's Mauser luger apart...especially if the gun shows some evidence of use and wear.

They say they will replace the two Mauser-marked magazines and replace them with Mec-Gar ones and sell the Mauser mag's by themselves for more money.

They will also sell the gun bu itself and sell the empty factory box and accessories separately as well.

The do this as the money they can get for the "parts" is more as a total than what they might get keeping the ensemble together...since they cannot sell the set as "NIB" with the obvious wear on the gun.

So maybe this is another reason Mec-Gar magazines end up with 1970's guns...???

Sure Mauro, the serial number is 11.006014.

One thing I did notice is on Mauro's website was the Interarms advertisement, it shows a 6" with a magazine that has the concentric rings on the base. Mauro's 29/70 Interarms Ad

Hi Brad,
Your pistol is, for sure, not a late production.
Concerning the advertisement you are right I notice this as well.
Let me say that all the Mauser Parabellum I have notice so far have the magazine with the bottom w/o concentric rings and with the mauser banner. The only one with made in holland I have belongs to the my number #19 (prototype number 10.001019).
I can suggest to you to keep your magazines and maybe ask Tom Heller if he still has Mauser Banner magazine for sale. In this way you have both models available.
Hope this helps.
Ciao
Maurp

Most MecGar's I have seen are marked with the producers name on the tube. This one isn't. So at least the MecGar seems to have it's share of variations as well.

I've seen all three types of mags come with NIB Interarms...Mauser marked, Dutch marked and Dutch manufacture unmarked. All have bare steel retaining pins for the base of the mags. (see Pete's pics) The crimp mark at the top of the mag also never extends to the edge of the guide rib on the Dutch manufacture mags, Meg-Gar mags do. Also visible in both sets of pics.

Interesting observation.

I forwarded the question 'Did MecGar deliver magazines to Mauser in the 1972-1997 timeframe' to the Italian head office of MecGar. Let's see if we get a response.

FGS in Ohio has this one for sale :

http://www.fgsinc.8m.com/images/lug11094.JPG

Brad, Pete is correct that the mags you got is an older MecGar, before that applied their logo to luger mags. It will be interesting to see if Mauro can obtain info of a MG contract with Mauser, but I doubt it. I do know that I have in my collect a couple of MG mags that are stamped "Interarms" on the spine, so I believe that there may have been a contract order there. Since Interarms was the US distributor of the Parabellum, and needed mags to sell as spares, after they were no longer available from Holland. TH