Mag serial number
 

Hi guys,

I have the opportunity to pick up an all matching 1940, code 42 luger, each individual serial number on the mag appears to have been stamped at at an angle. Anyone seen numbers like this before, or could it be a sloppy attempt to force match a mag to a gun.
The pic is the only one I have from the seller.

Les

Looks ok to me.

Hard to tell from the picture but looks almost like an overstamp? Bill

I have a 1937 Kreigholl with duel matching serial number and one numeral ais a very small escew, Il try posting it tommorow. To me yours is fine! Congrads Eric

From what you have shown us, it looks authentic to me.

The numbers are the correct size and font and I see no signs of scrubbing or grinding of the magazine base. I have seen these guns with straight numbers and those that are slanted. If the rest of the gun is as nice, you have a quality piece.

Doug

I'm with Bill on this one..Looks like an overstamp. Does the C Suffix match the pistol?
I would want to look at this with good light and super magnification.
Also compare the font with the pistol.

I'll wager that the last digit, (1) looks a little messed with because it was dinged at the same time as the damage seen right above and to the right of it.
Dropping a full mag base first on gravel or other uneven surface would give you this type of multiple strikes.
I think it's ok, just "slightly damaged"

I agree with the Floridas opinions. Some one may have dropped the gun landing on the heaviest part of the gun, the mag base! It wasn't put there on purpose. If anything it ads to its credibility!

Heres One Of My Matching Mags
 

to my 1937 Krieghoff, Absent the dent the numbers are not perfect. I still beleive his is legit. Who make the copies?

Many thanks for the replies :thumbup:

Les

+ 1

I'm with bill on this call...Very well done, but a 'forced match'...

It would help to see the font on the balance of the pistol....

I will be the first to admit that WWII Lugers are out of my area of interest, but I do not see any evidence of overstamp or alteration. The numbers are stamped very deeply and cockeyed, but the font is OK and there isn't any indication that the base has been ground down. It looks like it probably was hand stamped or misaligned in a jig, but I think the numbering is contemporary with the magazine. Could someone more attuned to this era Luger point out what I may be missing? Thanks.

I'm sorry to have to disagree with my colleagues, but this mag looks legit to me. As you can see from the enclosed photo, irregular number placement is not uncommon. Magazine numbers were applied by hand after proof firing, that way, if the pistol failed proof, Mauser would not have to discard two perfectly good magazines. Regards, Norm

as requested

Sorry about the quality of the second pic, it's all I have meantime

I still think it is correct. The numbers were struck deeper at the top due to the curvature of the mag bottom and I still think there is a ding in the number 1.

It also follows the norm that the one matching mag is usually the "+" marked spare.

The magazine looks good to me. Compare to another 1940 mag in the "d" block with 3 of the same numbers.
Tom

One of the things I love about this forum is that we are very capable of taking opposing points of view and discussing the situation with good manners and an open mind.

With that said, I will have to say that Tharpo's post has convinced me that the magazine is legitmate...

Prior to Tharpo's comparison photo to a very close serial number in the next series (d) ... it appeared in my opinion to possibly be an overstamp that as was stated earlier looker "very well done"... but I would have to jump off the fence with those on the "genuine" side now...

Thanks Tharpo...

... and Eric,... your Krieghoff magazine is what you expect in a Kriefhoff... a perfect example of quality workmanship. Slanted numbers and all... after all the numbers are applied by hand, not a machine...

John..Yes.."things I love about this forum " They are many.

Better photo's prooved to tell the tale. At first it looked overstamped but with better photo's ....all is well.

Nice pistol!

I am reversing my opinion as well, after seeing Tharpo's mag with similar features... :thumbup:

Does anyone know what kind of fixture (if any) was used to hold the mag while being stamped??? I am thinking some kind of saddle bracket maybe, to hold the mag by the 'ears' while it's being hit...Seems to me any kind of free-hand whack(s) would bend the feed lips...