Who is Stark??
 

I think that this 8 round mag is East German but who or what was Stark??

Thanks,
Doug

Stark was located in Germany made pre WWII magazines. They are not common and some might consider them on the rare side.

I have a couple sitting around in the gun cabinet.

Thank you for that info.

I guess that if the mag is pre WWII then it can't be East German or did they continue to make magazines after the war?

Regards,
Doug

No, it is late 20's, early 30's, the starburst or some folks say sunburst K is a police acceptance marking, as is the #1

In fact, I have owned 2 or 3 Stark magazines, but they are not common, yet well made.


Ed

Very intersting. Thank you.

Regards,
Doug

I agree that these mags were made in the Weimar period for the police, but would like some verification as to the existance of a firm named Stark. Since this translates to "Strong", I always though the it was just a "new improved" construction. Something for the researchers to work on. TH

Tom, why would the 'word' Strong be put on a magazine like that in Germany?

In the US they had advertising or words on items, but no other magazine has words like that, only acceptance markings or the company name (Haenel)

It could mean "strong spring". Regards, Norm

No Norm, I don't think so.

I have seen it primarily on police magazines and I believe it was a subcontractor, at least for the body.

I think someone found info on it, Vlim, possibly.


Ed

Joop an Don wrote a bit about it in their book 'The Mauser Parabellum'.

There is no definitive conclusion, although I lean towards 'Stark' being a manufacturer's or brand name.

There was a German sheet metal and metallurgy company founded in Germany in 1920. They're name, however, is spelled "Starck" with an added "c"

Doug, I have a question...Is that aluminum bottom cast, or just oxidized/pitted with age???

There are no visible mold marks. Some typlical very light aluminum oxidation with a shallow dent and scratch here and there. If the sun comes out in the morning, which as you know is higly unlikely here in Western NY, I will post a bunch of macro shots of the base and a few of the follower.

Did the Germans actually machine the bases? How would they have been made if not cast? Were they forged?

Regards,
Doug

GT can answer this immediately, but I am thinking that they are milled with later ones forged (post WW2)


Ed

German pulls were milled untill East Germany started molding them from what I know.

cast??
 

Hi Doug, one shot of the inside of the base, from the top, will tell us all we need to know.. as the spring seat hole edges will have a small redius relief on the edges if cast, and a machined one will be sharp edged..:eek:.. I think this is a very, very early cast version.. but hard to tell without a look'e'see on the inside...:thumbup: best to all, til...lat'r...GT

I am thinking this is a casting also...Based on the grainy look of the base, and the 'flat' in the middle of the concave knob...I've made a couple of 'knobs' like this using a ball end mill for the concave part, and while anything is possible, I don't think it is cost effective to add that flat to the end of a ball end mill cutter for a machined base...Just my opinion...

I'm thinking cast because of what appear to be mold marks ground smooth on the top surfaces on the inside and the relief cuts mentioned by GT are present.

Regards,
Doug

Great pics! Right-click & Save! :thumbup:

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