mystery magazine

saab-bob · 09-02-2009, 08:32 PM

Hello Gents
Long time lurker first time poster.
I have been messing about with various lugers for years and recently have gotten badly bitten by the luger collecting bug.

A good friend has a pristine 1937 Mauser S/42 and it came with this magazine.He and I can not identiy its origin.

I have searched the forum and cannt find any info on it.

It has no markings at all. It has a brown base of plastic or bakelite. The body and follower are nickeled. Any ideas?

I promise my next pics will be better!

Thank you!

FNorm · 09-02-2009, 10:17 PM

You sure about the bakealite? The tube has to coloring of an Erfurt. But wait for the more experienced guys to check in..

FN

wlyon · 09-03-2009, 12:25 AM

My guess would be Swiss. Bill

Lugerdoc · 09-03-2009, 08:56 AM

Mag appears to have an original pre-1916 tube, but if the base is plastic, it is a replacement, that my be marked "Franzite" inside. TH

John Sabato · 09-03-2009, 10:51 AM

I'm with Tom Heller on this one... it doesn't look Swiss to me... their plastic bottoms don't usually hang down once installed. I also think that this is a "Franzite" brand replacement bottom that was made in the 50's or 60's.

Ron Wood · 09-03-2009, 12:42 PM

I think Tom and John have nailed it. Here is an example of that type of magazine base along with a set of Franzite grips. This particular set of grips was distributed by Sports Inc., Chicago, and are so marked on the back. These are rather scarce examples made for a grip safety Luger.

lugerholsterrepair · 09-03-2009, 01:51 PM

With a clear photo of the follower button and the indent beside it you will be able to tell if it is DWM or Erfurt. Your photo is too fuzzy to tell.

As Tom & John say..this bottom is not original to the mag body. It would have been wood.

Ron, cool Franzite setup!

Jerry Burney

saab-bob · 09-03-2009, 02:49 PM

I believe you gents are spot on.
The magazine bottom is a little loose,like it was repaired. It would make sense that the original wood bottom broke and was replaced.
I have a set of Frazite plastic stag grips for a DWM luger that where fitted to a WW2 Vet bring back. They do not fit anymore as they have shrunk with age. Didn't know that Franzite made mag bottoms as well.

Jerry, I will take a pic of the follower button and post it.

Thank you for your comments and knowledge!

saab-bob · 09-04-2009, 12:56 PM

Here is a better pic of the magazine button.
Is it a DWM or a Erfurt? Never knew there was a difference!
Thanks for the info!:thumbup

lugerholsterrepair · 09-04-2009, 01:11 PM

DWM mags have a 'D' shaped indent, and Erfurts have a long stick shaped indent. Your photo is still so out of focus it is hard to tell but you can look at it in hand to determine what it is. It appears to be an Erfurt.

Jerry Burney

saab-bob · 09-04-2009, 03:20 PM

Thanks Jerry
Holding the magazine in my hand and using your info,it is a Erfurt body.

I love this forum,I always learn something new.
Luger forensics is really fascinating.
Thanks to all

George Anderson · 09-04-2009, 03:41 PM

Judging on color alone I would say it is either Swiss or DWM.

09-02-2009, 08:32 PM	#1
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	mystery magazine Hello Gents Long time lurker first time poster. I have been messing about with various lugers for years and recently have gotten badly bitten by the luger collecting bug. A good friend has a pristine 1937 Mauser S/42 and it came with this magazine.He and I can not identiy its origin. I have searched the forum and cannt find any info on it. It has no markings at all. It has a brown base of plastic or bakelite. The body and follower are nickeled. Any ideas? I promise my next pics will be better! Thank you! Attached Thumbnails

09-03-2009, 12:25 AM	#3
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,629 Thanks: 3,168 Thanked 2,552 Times in 952 Posts	My guess would be Swiss. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

09-03-2009, 08:56 AM	#4
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Mag appears to have an original pre-1916 tube, but if the base is plastic, it is a replacement, that my be marked "Franzite" inside. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-03-2009, 10:51 AM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	I'm with Tom Heller on this one... it doesn't look Swiss to me... their plastic bottoms don't usually hang down once installed. I also think that this is a "Franzite" brand replacement bottom that was made in the 50's or 60's. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-03-2009, 12:42 PM	#6
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,010 Thanks: 1,088 Thanked 5,149 Times in 1,694 Posts	I think Tom and John have nailed it. Here is an example of that type of magazine base along with a set of Franzite grips. This particular set of grips was distributed by Sports Inc., Chicago, and are so marked on the back. These are rather scarce examples made for a grip safety Luger. Attached Images __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-02-2009, 10:17 PM	#2
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	You sure about the bakealite? The tube has to coloring of an Erfurt. But wait for the more experienced guys to check in.. FN

09-03-2009, 01:51 PM	#7
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,768 Thanks: 4,892 Thanked 3,122 Times in 1,433 Posts	With a clear photo of the follower button and the indent beside it you will be able to tell if it is DWM or Erfurt. Your photo is too fuzzy to tell. As Tom & John say..this bottom is not original to the mag body. It would have been wood. Ron, cool Franzite setup! Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-03-2009, 02:49 PM	#8
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	I believe you gents are spot on. The magazine bottom is a little loose,like it was repaired. It would make sense that the original wood bottom broke and was replaced. I have a set of Frazite plastic stag grips for a DWM luger that where fitted to a WW2 Vet bring back. They do not fit anymore as they have shrunk with age. Didn't know that Franzite made mag bottoms as well. Jerry, I will take a pic of the follower button and post it. Thank you for your comments and knowledge! __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

09-04-2009, 12:56 PM	#9
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Here is a better pic of the magazine button. Is it a DWM or a Erfurt? Never knew there was a difference! Thanks for the info!:thumbup Attached Thumbnails __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

09-04-2009, 01:11 PM	#10
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,768 Thanks: 4,892 Thanked 3,122 Times in 1,433 Posts	DWM mags have a 'D' shaped indent, and Erfurts have a long stick shaped indent. Your photo is still so out of focus it is hard to tell but you can look at it in hand to determine what it is. It appears to be an Erfurt. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-04-2009, 03:20 PM	#11
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Thanks Jerry Holding the magazine in my hand and using your info,it is a Erfurt body. I love this forum,I always learn something new. Luger forensics is really fascinating. Thanks to all __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

09-04-2009, 03:41 PM	#12
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,528 Times in 787 Posts	Judging on color alone I would say it is either Swiss or DWM.