What is a "G Date" mag, and what makes them special?
 

Ive seen this term around a bit, but searching for it is difficult since it wont allow "G" in the search.

What is it, and how to ID?

thanks,
clay

It is a magazine with the proper markings to indicate that it belongs to a Luger marked with a G over the chamber, code for 1935 mfg. as I recall. Others will fill you in on what those marks are.
dju

1935 was an interesting year for Lugers.

The government in Germany was still trying to "sneak" the manufacture of firearms. The lines for military Mauser manufactured Lugers had just been setup in 1934 (the "K" date) and 1935 was a year when they were increasing manufacture.

There were a number of different inspectors from the government Waffenamt inspection office stationed at Mauser during this year. This creates a number of variations in acceptance stamping during 1935.

The same is true of magazine acceptance. Thus, there are a number of proper combinations.

There were fewer Lugers manufactured in 1935 than in later years. There were more variations of proof markings than in later years. Thus, finding the correct period magazine for a given "G" date Luger is more difficult, and expensive...

Marc

OK, thank you gentleman.

serial numbers followed by a -> g(?) on the magazine base. So is that what this is:

http://www.claysmopars.com/misc/luger6.jpg

That is a suffix letter (a) that does with the serial number. Nothing with the Code G, the 1935 made guns. That will be determined by the numbers with the little eagle stamping below. The book guys can be more specific on the details.
dju

Clay,

I'll try to summarize what others have told you and add some detail.

1. The G-date Luger Model P.08 refers to those guns manufactured in 1935. The G is stamped on the chamber of the gun. There is a S/42 stamped on the toggle.

2. The year 1935 was one of transition within the Inspection and approval authorities and several inspectors were assigned to the Mauser Factory. The inspection and acceptance proofs are stamped on the right side of the receiver. In fact, there are six inspector variations of the G-date military. They start with B/90 S/91, then B/90 S/92, next W/154 S/92, next 211 S/92, next Droop Eagle 63 S/92, and last Droop Eagle 63 Droop Eagle 63. The final acceptance eagle is the same on all variations and is the third mark, from left to right on the receiver.

3. Now each Luger was shipped with 2 magazines. Each magazine had the full serial number on it. Each magazine also contained B90, W154, 211, or DE63 on the bottom. These were the inspector stamps and they are the same as listed above. Additionally one of the magazines had a plus sign (+) on it indicating it was the second magazine.

4. So if a magazine has a serial number within the range of G-date manufacture, and has one of the proof marks mentioned above, it is called a G-date magazine because it was shipped with a G-date P.08, i.e. a P.08 manufactured in 1935 with a G stamped on the chamber.

5. They are hard to find because a lot of them were lost in battle in the early days of WWII especially in Russia. Second, although there were a lot of G-dates made; as pointed out above there are 6 variations so each individual variation is relatively scarce in the overall all scheme of things.

Hope this helps.

John

wow, I dont think I could ask for a better explanation!

Thank you sir!!

Also, the mags for the G-Date are Type 1 Army, plated rather than blued.

G Date lugers and magazines would have the following letter suffix range.
a,b,c,d,e, and f.

Tom

Your magazine has a "Stick Eagle/63" proof, which is from later pistols...

Marc