mystery magazine
 

Hello Gents
Long time lurker first time poster.
I have been messing about with various lugers for years and recently have gotten badly bitten by the luger collecting bug.

A good friend has a pristine 1937 Mauser S/42 and it came with this magazine.He and I can not identiy its origin.

I have searched the forum and cannt find any info on it.

It has no markings at all. It has a brown base of plastic or bakelite. The body and follower are nickeled. Any ideas?

I promise my next pics will be better!

Thank you!:bowdown:

You sure about the bakealite? The tube has to coloring of an Erfurt. But wait for the more experienced guys to check in..

FN

My guess would be Swiss. Bill

Mag appears to have an original pre-1916 tube, but if the base is plastic, it is a replacement, that my be marked "Franzite" inside. TH

I'm with Tom Heller on this one... it doesn't look Swiss to me... their plastic bottoms don't usually hang down once installed. I also think that this is a "Franzite" brand replacement bottom that was made in the 50's or 60's.

I think Tom and John have nailed it. Here is an example of that type of magazine base along with a set of Franzite grips. This particular set of grips was distributed by Sports Inc., Chicago, and are so marked on the back. These are rather scarce examples made for a grip safety Luger.

With a clear photo of the follower button and the indent beside it you will be able to tell if it is DWM or Erfurt. Your photo is too fuzzy to tell.

As Tom & John say..this bottom is not original to the mag body. It would have been wood.

Ron, cool Franzite setup!

Jerry Burney

I believe you gents are spot on.
The magazine bottom is a little loose,like it was repaired. It would make sense that the original wood bottom broke and was replaced.
I have a set of Frazite plastic stag grips for a DWM luger that where fitted to a WW2 Vet bring back. They do not fit anymore as they have shrunk with age. Didn't know that Franzite made mag bottoms as well.

Jerry, I will take a pic of the follower button and post it.

Thank you for your comments and knowledge!

Here is a better pic of the magazine button.
Is it a DWM or a Erfurt? Never knew there was a difference!
Thanks for the info!:thumbup

DWM mags have a 'D' shaped indent, and Erfurts have a long stick shaped indent. Your photo is still so out of focus it is hard to tell but you can look at it in hand to determine what it is. It appears to be an Erfurt.

Jerry Burney

Thanks Jerry
Holding the magazine in my hand and using your info,it is a Erfurt body.:D
I love this forum,I always learn something new.
Luger forensics is really fascinating.
Thanks to all :thumbsup:

Judging on color alone I would say it is either Swiss or DWM.