What Year and Model Were Metal Bottoms First Used

[mrerick]

From Sturgess' book, (p1294) the first Aluminum bases were issued in 1925.

26 May 1925 they were adopted by the Army (Weimar).

Police use followed shortly after this.

This coincided with the 25 May 1925 Simson contract, which means that the Simson made Lugers should be the first with Aluminum bases.

According to Sturgess, all Mauser manufactured Lugers came with Aluminum based magazines. This must start with the 1934 "K" dates. It includes the blued steel body magazines, and Haenel manufactured milled body magazines. This would include nickel plated body magazines through 1937, and blued body magazines starting in 1936. Haenel milled magazines started becoming available in 1939-1940.

Marc