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    Contributing Member USMA79's Avatar
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    Identifying Two M1911 Magazines

    I'm looking for information regarding the possible origin of two M1911 magazines. Both have pinned bases and both have lanyard rings. One has a keyhole cutout on the back, while the other does not. I cannot find any markings on either magazine, and neither has the two-tone finish I would expect from WWI-era magazines. The finish on both is a relatively uniform very dark gray, although it doesn't quite look like they were Parkerized. The finish on both magazines is very similar, although as you can tell from the photos, one has a slightly more matte finish. Has anyone run into magazines like these before? Did the government ever refinish the M1911 early magazines? Or is it likely they were refinished by someone else after the magazines left military control? Thank you in advance for feedback.

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    Legacy Member Tom Doniphon's Avatar
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    The bottom mag may a late production one for the Norwegianicon M/1914 pistol. The lanyard loop on the Norwegian mags is not as rounded as they are on the U.S. made mags. And the late production Norwegian mags had a phosphate finish.

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    Contributing Member USMA79's Avatar
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    Thank you very much. I hadn't noticed, but there is clearly a difference in the curvature of the two lanyard loops. The one which may be Norwegianicon is on the right in the additional photo I've uploaded. Will the M/1914 magazine function in an M1911 pistol? I never tried using it because I thought doing so might damage it. Thank you again.

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    Legacy Member Tom Doniphon's Avatar
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    Yes it should work in a US made 1911 pistol. The Norwegianicon KV/1914 was a licensed copy of the 1911 pistol.

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    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
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    Keyhole possibly to prevent cracks in the magazine lips. First time i've seen it in more than 30 years of acquaintance with 1911 mags.

    Definitely two different manufacturers.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Daan Kemp View Post
    Keyhole possibly to prevent cracks in the magazine lips
    Yes, the stress point is usually the back top corners there. They're a collector's item now. Not common at all...
    Regards, Jim

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