Information on Magazines
 

Hello, all. This is my first post. I have searched the world but can't find the answer, so I'm turning to the forum for help. I have a 1916 DWM P.08 that is untouched and matching other that two late 1930s (I think) magazines that do not match each other. I believe that the correct magazine for my pistol would be made of pressed, non-blued steel and have a wooden bottom, but I'm not sure of that (so, any correction/better info would be appreciated). I hope to find an unnumbered example for my pistol and then sell at least one of the two existing mags to offset the purchase price, but I want to know the makers and general years of manufacture so I know what I'm dealing with.

Both have aluminum bottoms and both are blued. The first is numbered 3039k and wears a WaA37 on top and a 122 over WaA37 on bottom, which I believe indicates manufacture at Haenel. The second was clearly a spare magazine and is numbered 287n above "+" above WaA63, which I believe is Mauser Oberndorf. Pictures are attached. Any guidance? Thanks.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

You're basically right about your magazines. The milled Haneal Schmeisser magazine is probably later - 1941 or so. The "63" inspector was a Mauser followed by the "655" in late 1939 and then the "135" inspector in late 1941. The symbol included a droop eagle and then a stick eagle (horizontal). Remember that guns were made in batches, and there is some overlap.

Formed nickle plated sheet metal magazines with a wooden base numbered to the pistol would have been issued with your DWM Luger. DWM commercial Lugers were shipped with unnumbered magazines.

Erfurt magazines differ slightly from those shipped by DWM. I identify them by the shape of the crimp ("D" shaped versus rectangular).

Take a look at the forum FAQ PDF document and see if there is material there to help...

You can post a "WTB" (want to buy) on the forum and find a magazine that would be appropriate for your pistol. You can also offer to sell the more modern mags and recoup the cost.

G2

I believe a K suffix 122 code magazine should be for a 1940 chamber date Mauser

Andy,

I had a thought about the commercial magazine you would seek. It might be more appropriate to install a military mag--even if the number doesn't match--because it would be more proper in relation to the gun itself than a mag that was meant for a commercial pistol. It would be somewhat a shame to "soak up" a commercial mag for display in a military pistol, thus theoretically depriving someone who needs a strictly commercial mag.

I agree. Find a WWI military magazine. What is the serial number of your Pistol?

Bob

* OBTW: Your 287n, blue tubed, dE/63 mag is likely the reserve (spare) magazine for a 1936 S/42 code Mauser Luger.
* Trust this helps.