Gunbroker: EXCEPTIONAL DWM 1908 9MM LUGER W/EXTRA MAGAZINE, HOLSTER & TOOLS FULL RIG

G.T. · 09-06-2020, 02:35 PM

Hi Gentlemen! The discussion about magazines caught my eye, and I may be able to shed some light on the subject? I have repaired many 100's of mags, maybe even into the 1000 mark.. and I have noticed that early DWM Nickel plated magazines, have a unique brushed appearance, under a white (not bright) nickel plating. Now I think this is where one needs to understand about the manufacturing process, and how it affects our collectors theories? Number one, the surface of the sheet metal, is exactly what you see on the finished magazine. The forming, stamping, and blanking dies are spotless and polished, and other then making the desired forms or cut, shows little signs of distortion or deformation, in other words rash!
So, if the sheet metal surface is smooth, the mag surface will be smooth as well, if it is brushed, the surface will be brushed on the mag, again, as well. They can specify any grade of surface finish they felt best suited their end result desires. The reason I outlined this process is because, they didn't polish magazines, they came off the assembly or manufacturing line, and were plated, or blued, or heat treated and then issued? No polishing, never, ever! And, the plating was never bright, (exception, early Mauser thru 1936 )
The finished were always meant to be dull or industrial, not for appearance so much as anti corrosion? I have seen the brushed finish on early DWM P.08's and primarily Navy models as well, and mostly pre WW1. As for most DWM mags, it would seem the vast majority would be smooth finished, and dull nickel, The 1900 commercials and into the 1920 commercials generally have/had magazines that were not plated at all! I also don't think you can go by the dimple stops alone to determine DWM or Erfurt mags as I think the suppliers sent product to who ever needed it at the time, in conjunction to what the dedicated manufactures could and did supply.. A better tell for Erfurt mags, are, greenish yellow color? The spring follower cap will be normal aluminum color, DWM dark gray, the follower button will be crude and flattened checkering and unplated on the Erfurt, and the finish will not be brushed! Now, please understand, again, it is all theory, I have not one fact to hang my hat on, but it is what i've seen, and until I hear or see different, i'll stick with what I know... best to all, til...lat'r...GT

09-06-2020, 02:35 PM	#28
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,528 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 3,711 Times in 1,014 Posts	magazine finish! Hi Gentlemen! The discussion about magazines caught my eye, and I may be able to shed some light on the subject? I have repaired many 100's of mags, maybe even into the 1000 mark.. and I have noticed that early DWM Nickel plated magazines, have a unique brushed appearance, under a white (not bright) nickel plating. Now I think this is where one needs to understand about the manufacturing process, and how it affects our collectors theories? Number one, the surface of the sheet metal, is exactly what you see on the finished magazine. The forming, stamping, and blanking dies are spotless and polished, and other then making the desired forms or cut, shows little signs of distortion or deformation, in other words rash! So, if the sheet metal surface is smooth, the mag surface will be smooth as well, if it is brushed, the surface will be brushed on the mag, again, as well. They can specify any grade of surface finish they felt best suited their end result desires. The reason I outlined this process is because, they didn't polish magazines, they came off the assembly or manufacturing line, and were plated, or blued, or heat treated and then issued? No polishing, never, ever! And, the plating was never bright, (exception, early Mauser thru 1936 ) The finished were always meant to be dull or industrial, not for appearance so much as anti corrosion? I have seen the brushed finish on early DWM P.08's and primarily Navy models as well, and mostly pre WW1. As for most DWM mags, it would seem the vast majority would be smooth finished, and dull nickel, The 1900 commercials and into the 1920 commercials generally have/had magazines that were not plated at all! I also don't think you can go by the dimple stops alone to determine DWM or Erfurt mags as I think the suppliers sent product to who ever needed it at the time, in conjunction to what the dedicated manufactures could and did supply.. A better tell for Erfurt mags, are, greenish yellow color? The spring follower cap will be normal aluminum color, DWM dark gray, the follower button will be crude and flattened checkering and unplated on the Erfurt, and the finish will not be brushed! Now, please understand, again, it is all theory, I have not one fact to hang my hat on, but it is what i've seen, and until I hear or see different, i'll stick with what I know... best to all, til...lat'r...GT