FXO Magazines.
 

I'm sure this has been asked in the past and been answered probably many times; however, I can't find the info. What is the deal with Luger magazines marked FXO? What is so special about them? Who made them? Why are they so desirable? Both of my mags are marked fxo which is why I was wondering. Thanks in advance for the info!

"FXO" is the concealment code for Haenel Waffen. Later in Luger production, these magazines were introduced with numbered aluminum and unnumbered bakelite bases.

They are very high quality, with machined exterior surfaces, and function quite well in Lugers.

Post war, the Haenel factory (in Suhl, part of East Germany) continued to manufacture magazines, and these are often found with Russian Capture Lugers and were available as Eastern Block surplus for some time.

Marc

Thanks for the info! I've been wondering about it for some time.

Another reason is that the later, un numbered magazines are desirable because they are correct for a wide range of WW2 Lugers and obtaining one would make these pistols "matching" including the magazine.

Trouble with the post WWII unmarked Vopo magazines is that while they look about right, they are 1/10" shorter in tube length! So you can't change the bottom very easily!

Vopo magazines That and the hole is off center..

and vopo bottoms have more of a pot metal look to them, then aluminum

this should be one of the earlier mags, if i remember right these mags are made on a different angle and stick out a bit or not a flush fit.

Correct original FXO mags are pinned thru the gripping part of the bottom, not at the rear. THe mag shown above has been convered. TH

I've also found that in addition to their sturdiness and generally high craftsmanship and superior materials, due to a slightly higher cartridge positioning/presentation of the top round that my 1938 Mauser S/42 will reliably feed hollowpoint cartridges from them-at least Winchester Silvertips.

Best, Jon

As i mentioned earlier this FXO magazine does do fit flush or has a different angle than all my other mags. I remember this being discussed before, something about the way they are made. Allso this goes to another thread where the discussion is about the difference in mags and some being tight. Shown is my 1917 erfurt and the only mags that will just drop out when the mag rlease is pushed is the FXO mag shown and thriple k repo mag, all my original mags except the fxo will have to be pulled out when the mag release button is pushed . All my other mags work just fine in my dwm's. thanks Padre

fxo mag....
 

Hi Dan, Lugerdoc has it right.. it's been converted...but, it may be able to be converted back?? It depends on if the knobs have been relieved to let the shell slide down into them, or... cut away to clear the knobs.. If you tap out the pin, and the mag shell is complete, we can put a nice Black Plastic Bakelite bottom in.. if not...we can recut the shell to fit the exsisting bottom.. at least i think we can.. gott'a see it apart first... It's altered, soooo, we can alter it again and make it more asthesticly pleasing.. At my house, it'll run you $35.00... but it'll be nice..and a better fit... best to you, til...lat'r...GT:cheers:

what i wondering, what if i wanted a base other than bakelite, this base is numbered but not to any of the lugers i have thanks

aluminum...
 

Hi Dan, as I mentioned earlier..first we have to remove the exsisting bottom to see what there is to work with??.. But, un-numbered fxo aluminum bottoms are out there.. and, East German bottoms (hard to get!!) of the earlier pattern are available also from Lugerdoc... We can make just about anything happen..but is it worth it???.. either as a collectible, or just a desire to have a correct style mag??... :cheers:..I will help as much as possible... and keep it affordable... best to you Dan, til...lat'r...GT