Unknown (to me) carbine magazine

[Bill Ricca]

Tom is correct. The first test magazines were 20 rounders. Furthermore I used to see many "Fantasy" markings on magazines because a standard magazine was 50-75 cents, but if you convinced somebody you had something special, it would sell for $5.00 and up.

I have seen Army Air Corps magazines, Rock Island magazines, WWII Dated magazines with 1960's FSN's and a lot of nonsense. I checked and found no US Co as a contractor.

The follower can not be a hold open. The T18 follower was designed and tested by Autoyre and not adopted until April of 1945. Autoyre made 250 of them and tested them in the 15 round magazine.

Can you post a picture of the follower?

Sorry but none of the markings on this magazine make any sense.

[imarangemaster]

As to the "1" I have seen "1s" like that on older Winchesters and Marlins. It is an archaic style, for sure.

It looks like the base plate is retained by slots cut into the ribs. It also looks like the back is longer and has a slightly rounder contour. The more I look at it, and think about it, I would bet a paycheck (as small as it may be) that is is a prototype run or submission. It may even be one of those 20 rounder trial mags cut down, and the only way to attach the base plate after that was to cut a slot for the vbase plate to slide in. Way to much effort for a fantasy, especially it it measures slightly longer.

I do agree with Bill, based on my limited knowledge, that the markings are odd!

[dnikkor]

Tom is correct. The first test magazines were 20 rounders. Furthermore I used to see many "Fantasy" markings on magazines because a standard magazine was 50-75 cents, but if you convinced somebody you had something special, it would sell for $5.00 and up.

I have seen Army Air Corps magazines, Rock Island magazines, WWII Dated magazines with 1960's FSN's and a lot of nonsense. I checked and found no US Co as a contractor.

The follower can not be a hold open. The T18 follower was designed and tested by Autoyre and not adopted until April of 1945. Autoyre made 250 of them and tested them in the 15 round magazine.

Can you post a picture of the follower?

Sorry but none of the markings on this magazine make any sense.

Damn, there goes my plans on retiring early by selling the Holy Grail of M1 Carbine mags.

The follower is not a hold-open, though it is longer on top than others. The base plate and how it connects to the body of the magazine is something I have never seen before. I'll post some more photos tomorrow and I thank you all for your help.

[dnikkor]

Here are four more photos of the weird magazine (on left) and a IU mag for comparison purposes (on right).

[DaveHH]

just from its length and size. Long front piece too, just like improved M16 followers.

[Curt]

I bet ya if you put it on Gunbroker and called it a rare Exp.,unseen tool room example of the bolt hold open mag for the T-3A4 sniper carbine your Grandpa snuck out of the factory during WW2 in his lunch box you could get your $5,000 and retire.

[Curt]

Or perhaps they were trying to get a contract to make carbine mags and this was a testing example?

[dnikkor]

Or perhaps they were trying to get a contract to make carbine mags and this was a testing example?

That's the $5,000 question.

[phil441]

There is an old-line manufacturing company called Stanley Electric U.S.CO.
They were (or are?) a lighting component company but at one time were involved with other things as well.
Just a thought.

[imarangemaster]

That would make sense, as a lighting manufacturer would already be doing sheet metal and stamping. Someone should see if the are still in business. Most companies have an archivist or historian. worth a shot. That may be a $5,000 one-of mag!