28 idiots

ithacaartist · 10-08-2013, 11:22 AM

Unbelievable! Check out this listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW1-WWII-Ger...item41779971c7 and you will see that as of this writing there are 28 bids for a snail drum mag for a 60s era MGC Luger--a glorified cap gun using the "plug firing cartridge" system! One of these sold on eBay last week for around $100. The mag body will, indeed hold and feed 8 rounds--but whether it can handle real ammunition I don't know. The hollow drum body is constructed of two die-cast halves, no mechanism but a fake winder handle. If it does work with an original Luger, it would be a great display/shooter accessory for those who, like me, live in states with capacity limits on mags. But even for this purpose, I'd say it has been bid up to a ridiculously high price. I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the "happy" winner of this auction discovers that 1) it has nothing to do with either world war and was made in Japan in the 60s, 2) it may not fit an original Luger, or 3) it may not accept real ammunition, or 4) function correctly if it does.

Although these items are fairly rare, I'm astounded that it's been bid up this much, because of what it is. Go figure...

John Sabato · 10-08-2013, 01:53 PM

To the best of my recollection, these will display well with a real Luger, but the magazine tube was designed to NOT hold real ammunition... just the mock ammo that came with the MGC non-firing replica. You can tell these from REAL 32 round magazines by the slot in the side of the magazine tube that exposes the magazine spring. Real trommelmagazines do not have this slot.

suum cuique · 10-15-2013, 03:36 PM

OMG !
Sold for $709.00

John Sabato · 10-15-2013, 04:24 PM

For that price, he could have bought almost 2 NEW ones from Numrich and had 2 loaders to boot!

flytrout · 10-15-2013, 04:40 PM

I agee with John for 399.99 with loader. I was going to buy one and double my money when I saw this auction last week. After hearing from most forum members who got one that the clip/drum does not work, I change my mind. I don't want to screw anyone over.

George Anderson · 10-15-2013, 04:48 PM

That's the price beginners pay. Back in the '90s I bought real ones all the time for $300 and sold them for twice that and thought I was a genius. Times change. now I gladly pay $1000 for originals. I bought my AEG loader for $150. The seller said he couldn't budge on the price as it was a consignment piece.

Zorba · 10-15-2013, 07:09 PM

eBay's full of idiots that overbid things far beyond their value - or even price of a brand new one! No surprise here...

alvin · 10-15-2013, 08:03 PM

Usually, it's people running around the world to find "deal" end up with expensive fake. Normal. Tuition paid. Lesson learned or not is still unknown. But, finally will find out.

ithacaartist · 10-16-2013, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

To the best of my recollection, these will display well with a real Luger, but the magazine tube was designed to NOT hold real ammunition... just the mock ammo that came with the MGC non-firing replica. You can tell these from REAL 32 round magazines by the slot in the side of the magazine tube that exposes the magazine spring. Real trommelmagazines do not have this slot.

John, the other dead giveaway is the "MGC" stamped on the drum body! Worth maybe $100 for display. The "WE" Luger drum mags also look OK at a glance, new for the same price or less, but definitely won't fit.

flytrout · 10-16-2013, 10:15 AM

There's another snail drum (toy) on ebay. Starting bid is 600.00. The seller has all the disclaimers you can think of. The seller even's tells you it will not work. I'm sure someone will buy it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Luger-P08-Sn...1#ht_447wt_970

Maestro · 10-16-2013, 04:20 PM

here's the pictures of the snail drum David was referring to! and make that "41 iodiots"

Maestro · 10-16-2013, 04:28 PM

..oopss..
here's we go..
(these pictures pertain to original post)

Maestro · 10-16-2013, 04:30 PM

..and a couple side views

alanint · 10-16-2013, 05:01 PM

This was produced by the Model Gun Corporation, (MGC), of Japan, in the late 1960s. Most of their stuff was always marked "68", for the year of manufacture/development.

They were represented here in the US by "Collector's Armory", Slater's Lane, Alexandria, Va.

You may remember their ads in magazines like Popular Science/Mechanics, Argosy, etc.

10-08-2013, 11:22 AM	#1
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,283 Thanks: 7,008 Thanked 2,477 Times in 1,320 Posts	28 idiots Unbelievable! Check out this listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW1-WWII-Ger...item41779971c7 and you will see that as of this writing there are 28 bids for a snail drum mag for a 60s era MGC Luger--a glorified cap gun using the "plug firing cartridge" system! One of these sold on eBay last week for around $100. The mag body will, indeed hold and feed 8 rounds--but whether it can handle real ammunition I don't know. The hollow drum body is constructed of two die-cast halves, no mechanism but a fake winder handle. If it does work with an original Luger, it would be a great display/shooter accessory for those who, like me, live in states with capacity limits on mags. But even for this purpose, I'd say it has been bid up to a ridiculously high price. I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the "happy" winner of this auction discovers that 1) it has nothing to do with either world war and was made in Japan in the 60s, 2) it may not fit an original Luger, or 3) it may not accept real ammunition, or 4) function correctly if it does. Although these items are fairly rare, I'm astounded that it's been bid up this much, because of what it is. Go figure... __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

10-08-2013, 01:53 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	To the best of my recollection, these will display well with a real Luger, but the magazine tube was designed to NOT hold real ammunition... just the mock ammo that came with the MGC non-firing replica. You can tell these from REAL 32 round magazines by the slot in the side of the magazine tube that exposes the magazine spring. Real trommelmagazines do not have this slot. __________________ 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..."*

10-15-2013, 03:36 PM	#3
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 100 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	OMG ! Sold for $709.00 __________________ Regards, Andy There's No Place Like Home (Wizard Of Oz)

10-15-2013, 04:24 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	For that price, he could have bought almost 2 NEW ones from Numrich and had 2 loaders to boot! __________________ 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..."*

10-15-2013, 04:40 PM	#5
flytrout User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 25 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	snail drum I agee with John for 399.99 with loader. I was going to buy one and double my money when I saw this auction last week. After hearing from most forum members who got one that the clip/drum does not work, I change my mind. I don't want to screw anyone over.

10-15-2013, 04:48 PM	#6
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,769 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	That's the price beginners pay. Back in the '90s I bought real ones all the time for $300 and sold them for twice that and thought I was a genius. Times change. now I gladly pay $1000 for originals. I bought my AEG loader for $150. The seller said he couldn't budge on the price as it was a consignment piece.

10-15-2013, 07:09 PM	#7
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 951 Thanks: 776 Thanked 526 Times in 289 Posts	eBay's full of idiots that overbid things far beyond their value - or even price of a brand new one! No surprise here...

10-15-2013, 08:03 PM	#8
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Usually, it's people running around the world to find "deal" end up with expensive fake. Normal. Tuition paid. Lesson learned or not is still unknown. But, finally will find out.

10-16-2013, 10:15 AM	#10
flytrout User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 25 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ebaydrum There's another snail drum (toy) on ebay. Starting bid is 600.00. The seller has all the disclaimers you can think of. The seller even's tells you it will not work. I'm sure someone will buy it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Luger-P08-Sn...1#ht_447wt_970

10-16-2013, 04:20 PM	#11
Maestro User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: "Where the streets have no names" Posts: 504 Thanks: 192 Thanked 200 Times in 136 Posts	"41 idiots" here's the pictures of the snail drum David was referring to! and make that "41 iodiots"

10-16-2013, 04:28 PM	#12
Maestro User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: "Where the streets have no names" Posts: 504 Thanks: 192 Thanked 200 Times in 136 Posts	..oopss.. here's we go.. (these pictures pertain to original post) Attached Thumbnails

10-16-2013, 04:30 PM	#13
Maestro User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: "Where the streets have no names" Posts: 504 Thanks: 192 Thanked 200 Times in 136 Posts	..and a couple side views Attached Thumbnails

10-16-2013, 05:01 PM	#14
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	This was produced by the Model Gun Corporation, (MGC), of Japan, in the late 1960s. Most of their stuff was always marked "68", for the year of manufacture/development. They were represented here in the US by "Collector's Armory", Slater's Lane, Alexandria, Va. You may remember their ads in magazines like Popular Science/Mechanics, Argosy, etc.