Wood base magazines

rexmerdinus · 03-24-2015, 04:36 PM

Hey guys. Still kinda new and just dabbling so far, but I was wondering if someone can tell me if there is a particular reason why some old Luger magazines have wood bases. Just something I've wondered. Thanks!

Neil Young · 03-24-2015, 05:10 PM

Back when these magazines were made, what else were you to use? I don't know when Bakelite or aluminum were available, but it surely was not available in sufficient quantities, if at all. Steel would be too heavy and more difficult to work and I'm sure that weight was a consideration. Later on, then Bakelite and aluminum were used, due in part to wood scarcity.

Now, I've already told you more than I know.

Edward Tinker · 03-24-2015, 06:19 PM

Here is my 2 cents
I can say that most bases were wood at the beginning for most pistols.

But in the mid 1920's aluminum was told to be used (Simson used them from 1925 on, except for a few hundred that were wood bases) while the military stated that as wood was used up, aluminum would be used (1926 on).

Then in the early 40's bakelite started to be used for bases, cost and materials I am sure.

rexmerdinus · 03-24-2015, 09:28 PM

Makes sense. I just can't imagine wood ever being so scarce that a piece of less than a single cubic inch would be prohibitively expensive, but maybe that's because I live in Maine! With their rather complex shape, I figured the cast aluminum would be far easier to mass produce, but I wasn't aware of when aluminum became available in commercially viable quantity. Thanks, I was just curious.

Neil Young · 03-25-2015, 07:42 AM

Think of the drain of Walnut in that area due to fabrication of millions of rifle stocks over the years of WWI and WWII.

Sergio Natali · 03-25-2015, 11:24 AM

If I'm not wrong aluminum bases started in 1925, and in 1940 they started to produce plastic ones.

Sergio

03-24-2015, 04:36 PM	#1
rexmerdinus User Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 23 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Wood base magazines Hey guys. Still kinda new and just dabbling so far, but I was wondering if someone can tell me if there is a particular reason why some old Luger magazines have wood bases. Just something I've wondered. Thanks!

03-24-2015, 05:10 PM	#2
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 547 Thanks: 566 Thanked 443 Times in 168 Posts	Back when these magazines were made, what else were you to use? I don't know when Bakelite or aluminum were available, but it surely was not available in sufficient quantities, if at all. Steel would be too heavy and more difficult to work and I'm sure that weight was a consideration. Later on, then Bakelite and aluminum were used, due in part to wood scarcity. Now, I've already told you more than I know. __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

03-24-2015, 06:19 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	Here is my 2 cents I can say that most bases were wood at the beginning for most pistols. But in the mid 1920's aluminum was told to be used (Simson used them from 1925 on, except for a few hundred that were wood bases) while the military stated that as wood was used up, aluminum would be used (1926 on). Then in the early 40's bakelite started to be used for bases, cost and materials I am sure. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

03-25-2015, 07:42 AM	#5
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 547 Thanks: 566 Thanked 443 Times in 168 Posts	Think of the drain of Walnut in that area due to fabrication of millions of rifle stocks over the years of WWI and WWII. __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

03-25-2015, 11:24 AM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	If I'm not wrong aluminum bases started in 1925, and in 1940 they started to produce plastic ones. Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

03-24-2015, 09:28 PM	#4
rexmerdinus User Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 23 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Makes sense. I just can't imagine wood ever being so scarce that a piece of less than a single cubic inch would be prohibitively expensive, but maybe that's because I live in Maine! With their rather complex shape, I figured the cast aluminum would be far easier to mass produce, but I wasn't aware of when aluminum became available in commercially viable quantity. Thanks, I was just curious.