Wood Bottom Mag Help

[sdmark777]

I was rummaging through some old boxes of gun/Luger stuff. I ran across this wood bottom magazine that I got well over 30 years ago and I can't remember where, who from or how I got it. It has a serial number 74?7 which has been stamped over with GERMANY. It also has the plus. So I would like to know what the most likely scenario is. Is it a first war DWM military issue extra magazine that was exported in the 1920's as an individual magazine, so they stamped GERMANY on it? Only one I have ever seen like this. What do you guys think?

[Norme]

Hi Mark,
The beechwood base identifies it as a late war (1917/18) magazine. The lack of inspection mark and the distinctive demi-lune stake marks show indicate that it was made by DWM.
Norm

[sdmark777]

Thanks Norme. But why does it have GERMANY overstamped?

[Norme]

Originally Posted by sdmark777

Thanks Norme. But why does it have GERMANY overstamped?

I'm not an expert in 1920 era U.S. import laws but I assume that your magazine was exported to the U.S. as a stand alone item. If it had been with a gun then the gun would have been stamped GERMANY, but not the magazine.
Norm

[sdmark777]

That's what I was thinking. Just wanted to see if there was another explanation and/or see if these magazines are commonly encountered like this. On one hand it seems odd to me, but on the other hand if you have a bunch of surplus military mags from the war and the market is in the US, you stamp GERMANY on them and export away. Any one else with any thoughts or experience with mags like this one?

[DonVoigt]

Looks to be in good shape, maybe needs a little cleaning and oil inside.
Would be a perfect "companion" to a military luger with Germany stamped on the pistol,
they would be from the same "era".

As with all magazines with wood bases, the base is prone to crack through the pin hole.
If you use it , I would suggest only loading with up to 5 rounds to ease the pressure on the 100 year old wood. JMHO.