+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Identifying Two M1911 Magazines

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    @
    Location
    Willow Street, PA
    Posts
    16

    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.

    USMA79

  2. #2
    The bottom mag may a late production one for the Norwegian 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.

  3. #3
    Contributing Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    @
    Location
    Willow Street, PA
    Posts
    16
    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 Norwegian 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.

  4. #4
    Yes it should work in a US made 1911 pistol. The Norwegian KV/1914 was a licensed copy of the 1911 pistol.

  5. #5
    Legacy Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last On
    @
    Location
    Centurion RSA
    Age
    73
    Posts
    1,401
    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.

  6. #6
    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

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. M1911 Imports
    By Snowman1510 in forum 1911/1911A1 Service Pistol
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 11-06-2017, 10:15 PM
  2. Help identifying lots of Magazines
    By Bren1944 in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 08-29-2017, 04:56 AM
  3. M1911.org...
    By RASelkirk in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-19-2017, 06:30 PM
  4. Replies: 31
    Last Post: 01-19-2014, 12:12 AM
  5. Canadian M1911 ?
    By Promo in forum 1911/1911A1 Service Pistol
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 06-07-2011, 10:41 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts