Magazines with SN's - When did it start

admiral1960 · 03-21-2018, 12:33 AM

Hi all,

I have a 1916 Luger with one wood base magazine and one serial numbered magazine.

As an aside I picked up a 1916 holster, belt and buckle.

When did they start putting serial numbers on the magazines ?

Are there differences in wood base magazines that you can identify year made or a number of years a particular style was manufactured ?

I am assuming if there is no way of telling when a wood base magazine was made that any wood base mag could be considered "matching".

Thoughts gentlemen ??

Thank you for any input !!!

ithacaartist · 03-21-2018, 01:05 AM

German military guns's mags were probably marked from the beginning in 1908. Commercial mags were not.

No way to tell year made beyond what a serial number and suffix would give away for when made. IIRC, Erefurt and DWM mags have distinctive crimps/follower stops at the top.

One would strive first for "period correct," then come as close as possible in number within a production block of the same suffix letter.

DonVoigt · 03-21-2018, 09:39 AM

1916 Military magazines should be numbered to the pistol; DWM commercial magazines were not numbered- you could have one of these commercial mags or a later made substitute.

If you post good close up pictures of the magazine tube crimps at the top, the button, and the magazine base, you may get better info on your particular magazine.

George Anderson · 03-21-2018, 05:12 PM

Actually the first numbered magazines started with the Navy models in circa 1904.

admiral1960 · 03-23-2018, 11:42 PM

Thanks for input guys!!!

Where would a 1916 magazine have its SN and are there pictures available of what the lips would look like ?

03-21-2018, 12:33 AM	#1
admiral1960 User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Covington, WA Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Magazines with SN's - When did it start Hi all, I have a 1916 Luger with one wood base magazine and one serial numbered magazine. As an aside I picked up a 1916 holster, belt and buckle. When did they start putting serial numbers on the magazines ? Are there differences in wood base magazines that you can identify year made or a number of years a particular style was manufactured ? I am assuming if there is no way of telling when a wood base magazine was made that any wood base mag could be considered "matching". Thoughts gentlemen ?? Thank you for any input !!! __________________ seeking "Trigger Sideplate"for 1916 DWM with 04 SN Allen Michler AW1, USNR-R (10 yrs) LTC, TC, USAR (29 yrs)

03-21-2018, 01:05 AM	#2
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,339 Thanks: 7,263 Thanked 2,564 Times in 1,362 Posts	German military guns's mags were probably marked from the beginning in 1908. Commercial mags were not. No way to tell year made beyond what a serial number and suffix would give away for when made. IIRC, Erefurt and DWM mags have distinctive crimps/follower stops at the top. One would strive first for "period correct," then come as close as possible in number within a production block of the same suffix letter. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

03-21-2018, 09:39 AM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	1916 Military magazines should be numbered to the pistol; DWM commercial magazines were not numbered- you could have one of these commercial mags or a later made substitute. If you post good close up pictures of the magazine tube crimps at the top, the button, and the magazine base, you may get better info on your particular magazine. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-23-2018, 11:42 PM	#5
admiral1960 User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Covington, WA Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	magazine SN's Thanks for input guys!!! Where would a 1916 magazine have its SN and are there pictures available of what the lips would look like ? __________________ seeking "Trigger Sideplate"for 1916 DWM with 04 SN Allen Michler AW1, USNR-R (10 yrs) LTC, TC, USAR (29 yrs)

03-21-2018, 05:12 PM	#4
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	Actually the first numbered magazines started with the Navy models in circa 1904.