Magazine Question
 

Hey all, simple question regarding magazines for the Luger. What is the difference between the blued and nickel magazines? I've searched around and haven't been able to find any info. I'm trying to figure out which would be correct for my DWM 1918. Also, how come original magazines are so expensive? Thanks!

because the magazines are 100 yrs old

In assorted luger books it talks about magazines

the short answer is tin and nickle plating were used first - then they were blued

you will find some tin (early ones) that were blued, later they all were blued

wood bases first, then aluminum, then bakelite

John,

It took me awhile to figure out the differences in the mags as well. You need nickel mag with wood base for your DWM. I believe blued mags are post WW1 but not sure when they changed. I know there are tons more on here with way more knowledge than me.

Phil

John, Blued folded mags were introduced by Mauser in mid 1937. Chrome floded tube from 1930 until mid 37 at Mauser and the blued code 122 type mags started appearing in late 1939 and changed to FXO code in 1941. Early DWM & Erfurt mags wer nickel plated until 1916, when tin plating was introduced. There were some exceptions and other types used by the Police. TH

how come original magazines are so expensive?

The Luger magazine is fragile and expendable. They were not all that well made by their nature..NEVER use a wood bottom mag for shooting. You would be risking a wooden bottom cracking or the mainspring kinking up.
Plus the older the more rare. And they ain't making any more! Buy any you can get hold of..they will likely not go down in value.

How do you tell the difference between a tin and nickel mag. Color?

The early nickel coated mags are similar to what we might think of as a chrome plate..bumper chrome so to speak except that nickle is a pleasing soft color with a golden hue because of the metals it is made with. Nickel, copper..brass. It often has a green verdegris in the cracks and crevices..I have seen some stored in a magazine pouch that were completely covered with the stuff..Unfortunately it had eaten off much of the nickel. A good nickel magazine is usually slippery or slick to the touch..

The bare steel magazine bodies are quite evident as well..They are a plain steel body with little in the way of coating. These will have no verdegris associated with them as they have no metals that grow the stuff.

I have two nickel mags. However I have not seen a tin before. Could anybody please post a pic for reference. Even maybe a pic of both for comparison. Thanks.

Tom Heller said:

"John, Blued folded mags were introduced by Mauser in mid 1937. Chrome floded tube from 1930 until mid 37 at Mauser and the blued code 122 type mags started appearing in late 1939 and changed to FXO code in 1941."

Well Tom you are really close! The blue folded tubes were first seen in the 1936 L-Block. The first Code 122 type began in the first 1940 no suffix Block. The fxo type was introduced in the early 1941 P-Block. :)