Military Mauser Magazine Identification Technique

[Frank]

Hello friends of the Luger Forum,

Some years ago, a Luger Magazine Researcher, named Don Hallock, developed a Luger Magazine Cataloging Technique that I believe is the best I have seen. This discourse applies ONLY to Military Mauser Magazines.

To describe these magazines, it is important to specify the magazine construction. As well as the inspection (Waffenamt) markings. When this is done properly, it will determine the approximate year and variation to which it applies.

To this end, I give you a catalog technique that pretty well describes which Luger an orphan magazine will match up with.

First, the types:

Type 1: Tin or Nickel Plated Rolled Metal Body, Aluminum Base
Type 2: Blued Body, Aluminum Base
Type 3: Blued Extruded Body, Aluminum Concave Center Pinned Body, 122 Code, E/37 WaA
Type 4: Blued Extruded Body, Aluminum Concave Center Pinned Body, fxo Code, E/37 WaA*
Type 5: Blued Extruded Body, Aluminum Concave Center Pinned Body, fxo Code, E/37 WaA**
Type 6: Blued Extruded Body, Black Plastic Concave Center Pinned Body, fxo Code, E/37 WaA

* These magazines are marked with a P.08 on the left side that appears to be upside down when the magazine is placed on the spine

** These magazines are marked with a P.08 on the left side that appears to be right side up when the magazine is placed on the spine

Next is the inspection marks. These Waffenamt Marks, (Waffen = Weapon, amt = office) then describe which inspector is present during production.

Use the following to describe the Waffenamt (WaA) Marks:

O37 Early K Date
B90 Late K Date, Early G Date
DE1 Droop Eagle 154, Early G Date
DE2 Droop Eagle 211, G Date
DE6 Droop Eagle 63, Mid to Late G Dates to Early 1937 S/42
SE6 Stick Eagle 63, Most 1937 S/42 to about the G-Block 1938 S/42
SE8 Stick Eagle 83, Most 1938 S/42 after the G-Block to Early 1939 S/42
SE6M Stick Eagle 63, Medium Size â??63â?�, Late 1939 S/42, Early 1939 Code 42
SE6L Stick Eagle 63, Large Size â??63â?�, Later 1939 Code 42
SE5 Stick Eagle 655, Late 1939 Code 42, Early 1940 Code 42
122 Side Marked 122, E/37 Mixed with Early 1940 Code 42, All 41 Code 42 and Early 41 byf
fxo Type 4, 41 byf Middle Range (about O-Block to R-Block)
fxo Type 5, 41 byf Middle Range (about T-Block to W-Block)***
NSS Type 4, 5 & 6 with No Serial Number, Armor Special (Type 4) or Late 41 byf, all 42 byf


*** Not many Type 5 were numbered after the U-Block

So for Military Mausers, donâ??t give a serial number without the construction type and inspection mark. Also donâ??t forget that the serial number consists of a number and suffix letter (if there is no suffix letter on the frame front under the number it is indicated with a â??nsâ?�, No Suffix).

Using this technique will better place orphan magazines with the appropriate pistol!

As an example. Don Goodnight posted a magazine 1502y +, se63. That happens to be a match to one of my Lugers, 1937 S/42. It can't be anything else. I hope Don will let me acquire the magazine that matches my Luger!!