Odd magazine find...

[browningautorifle]

any idea of the maker

There's no marking at all?

[USGI]

That mag looks like it was formed in the same way as a USGI hardback. Can't see the details real well in the pics, but I don't see any seams or spot welds. Definitely different from anything I've ever seen. - Bob

[RASelkirk]

There's no marking at all?

Nothing on the tube, follower, or butt plate. The only rub is the "rub" when you stuck 'em in or pull 'em out. There are grind marks on the front and back in the well area that were done before the finishing was applied. I was able to mildly tweak most in my vise so they fit better, but still not as good as USGI stuff...

Russ

[Bruce McAskill]

Back in the 60's and 70's there were many companies making or importing magazines into the country. Sad to say but almost all of the US made stuff was and is junk. The 30 round magazines never fit right and then didn't feed right. Then just before the first ban on 30 round magazines went into effect at least one company out on the left coast was selling them as fast as they could make them for $10 each. The bodies were out of spec and the internal parts were the only thing useable on them. Won't feed more then 3 rounds before jamming inside the body. There have been a lot of Chinese copies made in China and in Taiwan that have been terrible too. The best magazines now available are the ones from Korea in both 15 rounds and 30 rounds. They at least are made to spec and function properly.

[Bill Hollinger]

Well, politics aside (lets leave them way aside ) this is a strange magazine and the 2 X 25 = 50 to a box sounds good and simple, I kind of think it was no more 30s, okay we'll make 25s.

[RASelkirk]

I'm sure there are others out there, but I've not seen or heard of them nor can they be located thru the 'net at this time. Heck, they might actually be worth something, if nothing other than a conversation piece...

Russ

[USGI]

Are all 11 of the mags just alike? I've made somewhat of a study of carbine magazines, and I've never seen anything quite like them. The floor plate looks different, and the body is definitely different, with the extra holes, lack of spot welds, etc. The forum is kind of slow right now, and if you have time I'd like to see more pictures of the magazine from different angles. Use "macro" on your camera if it has it. Thanks! - Bob

[RASelkirk]

Are all 11 of the mags just alike? I've made somewhat of a study of carbine magazines, and I've never seen anything quite like them. The floor plate looks different, and the body is definitely different, with the extra holes, lack of spot welds, etc. The forum is kind of slow right now, and if you have time I'd like to see more pictures of the magazine from different angles. Use "macro" on your camera if it has it. Thanks! - Bob

Bob,

I put the hi-res pix on my bucket: 25 Rd Mags Slideshow by RASelkirk | Photobucket They look pretty sloppy compared to a USGI 15-rounder. These appear to be made in two halves that are spot-welded along the narrow sides. I feel lucky that they feed OK, some are harder than others to plug/unplug and all are harder than the USGI mags which pretty much "fall out" on release...

Russ

[USGI]

Wow, those are different. Nothing looks GI about them except maybe the followers. It appears that some of the feed lips vary a bit in their shape. You are lucky they feed OK. I recently bought (3) of the Korean mags. They all seem kind of "sticky" when you work the followers. I've only tried one of them in a carbine, and it doesn't work 100% - hangs up some when feeding. Same ammo, same carbine works 100% with an old worn USGI 15 rounder, though. Maybe the Korean mags have to get "broken-in" -but that wouldn't "cut it" for combat use. Thanks for all the good pictures. I still wonder if they could possibly be something for another gun that was modified to fit an M1 Carbine? Somebody went to a lot of work to make them, that's for sure. - Bob

[joem]

Wow, those are pretty crude.