"Flaming Bomb" Magazine...
 

This one has a crack in the wood...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

Pete, I was wondering, the mag that came with my test luger has the same lttle crap in the same place, yet I dont recal ever seeing a crack in another mag, Whats up? A possible production defect?

Eric,

I have seen many cracked wood bottoms...my guess is that it cracks along the grain of the wood when the magazine is dropped...probably dropped empty...

This crack is also in an area where it hsa been drilled through for the retainer pin...so it may be a weaker spot as well.

If a fully-loaded magazine was dropped, I would think you would end up with more severe wood damage...

The seller states that this is a military proof. I believe that this is a standard commercial proof that is also found on the frame and receivers of some early commercial Lugers.:confused:

You are correct; seller is armed with commonly held, widely believed but absolutely false info.

Tom A

Myths are hard to kill.

Speaking of flaming bombs has anybody seen one in front of the receiver/barrel lug like this one?

Yes, that is a very common location on Model 1900 Lugers.

Ron,
Thanks for the reply. I have not looked at enough 1900's to know what's common and what is not.

Dow,

I even have a M1906 M2 Portugese Luger that has this stamping in the front frame well and in front of the receiver lug...

Ron was one kind of wood was used in all the mags. Was it the same wood used in the grips. Im half Polish, You know how we love our wood, 'The church bells are ringing, The Pollocks are signing, "hey, hey, theres wood in the bay" !!

The majority of the grips and magazine bases were made from walnut. A WWI progressed and walnut supplied dwindled, beech (Buchenholz) was substituted, which was still a relatively dense and durable wood but much lighter in color.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

Here is another Kenny (i.e. Revshop) is offering out of Burnsville, MN...

It appears to be nothing more than the typical Swiss '24 Bern magazine with a "flaming bomb" proof added...

It has even been drilled and pinned for a 2nd. retainer pin.

The word "original" is carefully left out of the sales ad on this one...

I guess the buy-it price of ONLY $ 145 could be a tip-off that something is not right...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._mag_copy1.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/bog_fb_mag_1.jpghttp://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/bog_fb_mag_2.jpg

Eric here, I commend our resident experts. I know of no other place, site or book written which exhaustivly addresses questions and inquiries available for the mere asking. I know of no other site that thrugh their overseers provie answers, direction and blunt advice. I wish to thank one who has the patience of a Saint, correcting, reinforce and looking out for me, post stroke/coma, my Luger Mentor, Ed Tinker, none other, than my wife, Debbie have provided direction and patience, Thank You, Edward!!

Ed,
What are the details you see that makes it a Swiss '24 Bern?
I can't tell the difference betwwen it and a DWM. Probably something obvious, but I don't see it.
Mike C.

Mike,
The '24 Swiss observation is by Pete (Ed is another handsome and intelligent member). The noticable step between the bottom of the mag and the "knobs" is the marker for a '24 Swiss. On DWM magazines the transition between the bottom and the knobs is a smooth contour.

Sorry Pete,
I definitely missed one obvious detail.

Thanks Ron,
I've seen this step before on a few mag bottoms and wondered about it. Now I know. I just noticed the double pin holes, is that also correct for a Swiss '24 Bern?
Mike C.

Hi Mike,

No, a' 24 Bern wood mag bottom was held by one retainer pin only...unless it needed some help/repair and a second one was added.

If you compare the shape of the rim of the wood finger knobs on the first eBay offering with the shape of the wood on this 2nd. "revshop" offering, you will see the difference in the shape of the knobs on an early DWM vs. a Bern magazine as well.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...ink/AEmag1.jpg http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...ink/AEmag3.jpg

The Swiss did double-pin their M1929 Swiss Luger magazine...but the placement of the two holes/pins is in more or a symmetric pattern.

BTW...seeing '24 Bern magazines at guns shows is an interesting surprise...sellers usually assume they are repro's and most of the time price them as such...I have found several cheap...

Thanks Pete,
Now I'm straight.
I'll be on the lookout for one of those" cheap repro" mags. ;)
Mike C.

Mike,

Most of the time you will see a little "pimple" of wood in the center of the finger buttons on the '24 Bern wood mag as well.

Here are a couple of photos of a gun offered for sale at Cabellas that shows this feature well.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/bern_mag_1.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/bern_mag_2.jpg