Matching Magazines

Doubs · 10-15-2002, 11:44 AM

A couple of comments. First, I've had a few East German reworks pass through my hands and most have had two matching mags that were obviously not original to the pistols. I still have two; one as it came from the distributor and the other I had Hugh rebarrel to .30 Luger. The first one is an Erfurt with a replacement sideplate while all else matches. The two mags are matching but one has a high zinc content in the base as it's a dull color. The other mag has a bright aluminum base. The numbers stamped into the bases are larger and heavier than those on the gun. The second one has only one matching mag now and I believe the second mag may have been in the Finnish Luger I sold a few years back. (The Finn didn't have a mag when I got it.)

I've known my share of WW2 vets over the years and in numerous discussions with them it's clear that what was true for one vet wasn't necessarily true for the others. A machinegunner with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division told me he had captured a pristine Luger and was required to turn it in to the Quarter Master section. It "disappeared" and he believed the QM Sgt. stole it as he'd tried to buy it more than once. Those lucky enough to get their guns returned didn't get them until they reached stateside.

My neighbor, a vet of the 17th Airborne, could have mailed his guns back. He was going to mail an MP-40 but couldn't find a suitable box and didn't want to continue carrying it. He threw it away.

Perhaps by the war's end, the Army had standardized procedures for vets bringing back guns but it seems to have varied by unit to some degree.

10-15-2002, 11:44 AM	#21
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,736 Thanks: 819 Thanked 1,767 Times in 584 Posts	A couple of comments. First, I've had a few East German reworks pass through my hands and most have had two matching mags that were obviously not original to the pistols. I still have two; one as it came from the distributor and the other I had Hugh rebarrel to .30 Luger. The first one is an Erfurt with a replacement sideplate while all else matches. The two mags are matching but one has a high zinc content in the base as it's a dull color. The other mag has a bright aluminum base. The numbers stamped into the bases are larger and heavier than those on the gun. The second one has only one matching mag now and I believe the second mag may have been in the Finnish Luger I sold a few years back. (The Finn didn't have a mag when I got it.) I've known my share of WW2 vets over the years and in numerous discussions with them it's clear that what was true for one vet wasn't necessarily true for the others. A machinegunner with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division told me he had captured a pristine Luger and was required to turn it in to the Quarter Master section. It "disappeared" and he believed the QM Sgt. stole it as he'd tried to buy it more than once. Those lucky enough to get their guns returned didn't get them until they reached stateside. My neighbor, a vet of the 17th Airborne, could have mailed his guns back. He was going to mail an MP-40 but couldn't find a suitable box and didn't want to continue carrying it. He threw it away. Perhaps by the war's end, the Army had standardized procedures for vets bringing back guns but it seems to have varied by unit to some degree.