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Unread 09-26-2004, 07:55 PM   #4
John D.
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But an interesting hand serialization on the firing pin. Notice the â??54â?, which is one over the serials for the rest of the parts. Why (ask me why sometime <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> )? Other then the hand scribing, it is un-numbered, but proofed:



And finally the Magazine. Pete asked in Janâ??s Forum about HK mags, and what â??was whatâ? so here is the brief reply I wrote then. A picture of this HKâ??s mag (proper again for the era) is shown below:

First, Iâ??ll caution that collectors should not use the serial number of the matched HK to determine a â??cut offâ? date. Given the tendency of Krieghoff to disperse serial numbers outside a given chamber date range (look at the span of serialized â??1937â? production; for example), assigning proper magazine â??proofingâ? techniques to a â??serial rangeâ? is grossly misleading and inaccurate.

Rather, to understand what is more commonly found, you have to look at the magazine type first and itâ??s correlation to the LWaA as employed on that specific HK. Second, you have to understand the iterations of HK magazines, and when they were used by the factory. For Military Production it was as follows:

rolled/plated -&gt; rolled/blued -&gt; extruded/plated - &gt; extruded/blue
All of these have the aluminum base with the exception of the last iteration â??extruded/blueâ? which included predominately the Aluminum base, but in the final stages (â??lateâ? 1944 and 1945 HK) included the plastic base.

OK â?? letâ??s take that magazine time line above and try to match production year chamber dates against it:

rolled/plated -&gt; rolled/blued -&gt; extruded/plated - &gt; extruded/blue
G date -1936 -&gt; 1937 -&gt;1937 â?? 1938 -&gt; 1940/41/42/43/early 44

Now â?? for â??1936â? and â??1937â? production, even these are not absolutes, as some â??1936â? production may have the Haenel extruded/plated magazines).

Still with me? Goodâ?¦..

Here we go - in general terms:

- Nearly all PLATED (rolled and/or extruded) HK mags will have the serial number on the base and the LWaA 1 above and upside down (towards the â??frontâ? of the mag). Since the magazine types appear on the preponderance of HK volume, some collectors mistakenly have come to the conclusion that â??thisâ? type of proof is the only HK correct magazine proof placement/serial combination. However;

- The ONLY mag variation where LWaA 1 should appear UNDER the serial number is on the ROLLED/BLUED variation magazines (predominantly in the same orientation as the serial number, ie right-side-up). This magazine variation primarily occurs during production year â??1937â?, but again â?? caution on trying to assign a â??serial numberâ? cut-off or cut-in â?? as itâ??s impossible;

- The only other mag variation the LWaA should appear â??right side upâ? should be extruded/blue marked â??122â? (LWaA Stage 1 early or late) â?? and that too, should be â??aboveâ? the serial number (towards the front of the mag). See John J's attachment above for reference of this variation.

Here is this HKs Mag, which if you followed my comments above (albeit "long-winded" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> ), you understand why it's correct (and serial matched):




And - Dwight???? Nope - no witness marks...??!!!




Best to all,

John D.
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