P08 Artillery Drum Magazine
 

I have two questions:

1. Does anyone know of a reference source for the proof marks or acceptance codes that appear on the 32 round drum magazines?

2. Does anyone know of an economical source for the tool which is used to reload these magazines?

Thank you,

Ron

Ron, welcome to the forum.

1. Believe the answer is no

2. There have been some fairly good repro's for years, and many times they are sold as original

Ed - Thank you for the information. Ron

Ron
The only markings on the drum mag. that I know about are
The Manufacturers:
B/N Bing Nurnberg
AEG Allgemeine Eleklrizitats Gesell Schaft
VAF Vereinigte Automten Fabriken Cologne
The serial number should be on the top and bottom of the drum.
Another mark is a Crown/(gothic) S. Seems to be a difference of opinion in the literature on whether this is a military proof or a manufacturer. I have a Bing with no other proofs. The greatest numbers were produced by Bing. Bill

Bill -

Mine does have the B/N on both sides of the drum, so that must mean it is made by Bing Nurnberg. It also have the serial number on both sides, 160234. On the side of the drum with the folding handle, it also has the numbers that indicate how many rounds are in it: 12, 17, 22, 27, and 32. On the side opposit the handle/lever, on one of the tabs closest to the base of the upright magazine, there is stamped a letter "R"

Thank you so much for this information, I am saving it with the device.

Ron

Ron
I would guess that the R is an inspectors mark. Bing is the name of the manufacturer located in Nurnberg. Bill

Bing was a famous pre WW2 maker of windup metal toys. I current own B/N 2nd type drum #311116 matching. I also have a spare perfect B/N marked repro loader available @$450. hellerarms@webtv.net

Lugardoc - Thank you for the information regarding the availability of the repro loading tool. I will retain this for reference because it might be a while before I can afford that much. I have ordered the tool for fine tuning the sights, and am interested in what kind of accuracy can be expected at the longer ranges using the shoulder stock, etc. By the way, were all the shoulder stocks serially numbered? Mine appears to be all original and very old, but it does not have any serial number or marks on the metal or wood that I can see. The wood is so scratched and marred that if it ever did have a mark, it might have been obliterated. Ron

"VAF Vereinigte Automten Fabriken Cologne"
this seems to be a very rare maker ----
does anyone of you have seen this maker on a magazine already?

It is believed that VAF, while indicated as a manufacturer, never produced TM08's.