Hi Jerry,
* Actually the choices are:
(1) 1937 S/42 Code Luger - Most likely a 2nd Var. (Still, TRL, Pg. 39)
(2) 1939 42 Code Luger (Still, TRL, Pg. 65)
(3) 1940 Army Banner - 4th Dutch lot (Still, TRL, Pgs. 140 & 178, Var. 3, S/N range of 2655v-3254v )
(4) 1938 S/42 Code, C/U Military Coded Commercial in the Banner "v" block range (Still, TRL, Var. 9, Pg. 220 & Costanzo, WOL).
(5) 1936-1940, Banner Dated Commercial in the Banner "v" block range (Still, TRL, Var. 6, Pg. 220)
* (1) & (2) can likely be eliminated as there is no WaA mag acceptance.
* (3) The mag's S/N falls in the correct S/N range for the 600 guns initially built for the cited Dutch lot and impressed by the German Army in May, 1940. The mag's "v" is of the font size/style for the Dutch Contract as can be seen from the Forum's Tech Info display of suffix letters. Many of the early pistols in this range are proofed w/ the commercial C/U mark. However, all examples I know of this lot ( & I don't know them all) received the sE/655 Army acceptance(s) on the pistol & intuitively, one would expect the mags to have received the same Army inspector's acceptance treatment. Still, TRL, Fig. 30f, Pg. 184 and Fig. 22, Pg. 144 displays pics of the pistol's sE/655 acceptance marks; but, unfortunately does not mention the mag's markings. I believe in a long past thread on Dutch Army Banner's, MauserLugers (Bill Munis-RIP) reported his matching mag example having only the S/N & suffix letter on the mag. Begs the question how a spare mag would have been marked.
* (4) As Ron has stated, the "+" is an Army marking requirement for the reserve mag & the lack of a Waffen Inspector's stamp suggests commercial or contract. This option best fits (without an unintended acceptance mark error/omission having occurred) with the info only gleened directly from this mag.
* (5) The Banner commercials are also an option; but, the J. Peason examples shown in Still, TRL, Figs. 44b - 44e, Pgs, 234 note the issued mags for these are unmarked in keeping w/ Mauser's pattern for commercial sale pistols.
* Possibly Joop's data research on the "v" block Banners up to 6000v will help add to this topic & possibly provide a solution.
* SO: A strong case can be made for either a Dutch contract gun or a C/U Military Coded Commercial. Therfore, I'm proud to definitively say its either a Contract or Commercial Mauser Mag. Ahhhh, you didn't say that in your question did you??? Oh well, I suppose we'll know more positively when the original, unaltered P.08 pistol w/ its original main mag matching this spare mag shows up.
* Anyway, I hope this helps clarify the options & gives others cause to report further info or matching mag pistols w/ mag markings contemporary to your example.
Respectfully,
Bob
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