Help with a snail drum loading tool.
 

Can anyone tell me what to look for on a genuine snail drum loading tool compared with a reproduction. I don't have one and have been offered one and I don't know the difference as they are not that common here in NZ. Help please:confused:

Lugers down under,

I am probably not the best resource on these but hopefully others will correct my mistakes.

Luger snail drum loaders had two finish types; the one I am most familiar with is a black paint over a cast handel. The body is rolled or extruded steel with spot welds on either side to hold in the return spring housing. On mine I am not sure if the housing is painted or blued, the color is black. If I had to guess I would say salt blued as the color extends through the inside of the body. The handel finish is rough and the handel itself is very heavy. The body is marked with a B over N stamp and a crown over S. These stamps are near the bottom on the magazine release button side of the body.

The second finish type is much smoother, but I don't know as much about them as I don't have one. I believe the handel is rolled steel but I have only seen pictures and should let others comment on this type.

There have been a lot of repos on the market here over the last couple of years. All the ones I have seen have been of the second finish type.

Bob M.