8 mm mag

Greg · 01-12-2003, 12:20 PM

I've come across a Luger magazine (from a 7.65mm model) that has the inscription " Cal 8 m/m on the wood base. Is this an original inscription? And why 8 mm instead of 7.65?

Edward Tinker · 01-12-2003, 12:25 PM

Never seen one of those?

There were rumors years ago that the Luger was relined into 8 MM Nambu, but that was bogus.

Greg · 01-12-2003, 01:06 PM

Here's a different view of the 8 mm script.

Now that is different!!!! I'll try again in a minute

Roadkill · 01-12-2003, 01:13 PM

This reminds me of the .38 cases with the rim smoothed off so they could be reloaded and fired in a Luger. I believe a lady had them, the time frame fit to the early 50's when 9mm was not available. Given the post war situation that there were 8mm Nambus brought back from WWII and that there wasn't the mass importation of Nambu parts and magazines as were the Lugers,nor were Nambus issed in as many numbers, (if a Marine said he got his Nambu from a Japanese officer he probably did) a little "modification" would result in a functional magazine. Wish you were close by, we'd go out in a little while, stick it in my Nambu and see if it worked. At $1.00 per shot it wouldn't take long. I'll get into the toy room later and see if they are close to fitting each other. Perhaps some post war basement gunsmith modified a number, seems it would not be marked if there were only a few. Also wish I had a .30 Luger round to take some measurements to compare with the Nambu 8mm, probably real close.

rk

Greg · 01-12-2003, 01:14 PM

One more attempt!!!

G.T. · 01-12-2003, 07:16 PM

Hi Greg! The 8 looks to be an overstrike on the 9??? Maybe it was as close as someone could come to designating .30 luger at the time?? The Cal. stamp is hard to see, but the m/m looks to be original, most are very light struck, so... I would suspect the bottom was an original "Cal. 9m/m" at the start! til...lat...G.T.

Greg · 01-12-2003, 07:24 PM

G.T.,

There does appear to be something akin to an overstrike around the '8'. Of couse, the split in the wood doesn't help matters. As you observed, the 'Cal" is there, but much fainter. It all appears original to the magazine. I was also thinking that perhaps someone just rounded 7.65 up, and voila, 8 m/m.

Thanks all for your observations!

Greg

Roadkill · 01-12-2003, 07:40 PM

Since the consensus is in another direction this is irrelevant, but a Luger magazine would definitely work in a Nambu with minimal modification. Length is less than 2mm on both long and short side, width is less than 2mm, thickness 2.5mm different with the Luger being on the small side in every comparison. The loading button on the Luger mag is in the way though. If it has not been flattened it won't fit. Wouldn't take much though.

rk

Greg · 01-12-2003, 07:46 PM

Roadkill,

The best I can tell is that the magazine is unmodified. I liked the idea of shooting your Nambu though...Never have had the opportunity to shoot that particular weapon.

Thanks,

Greg

G.T. · 01-12-2003, 08:35 PM

Hi Greg! That split in the wood is probably due to the #8 strike, as the bottoms are weak in that spot. And if unsupported, will break there most every time they are struck... I think that the original "Cal. 9m/m" bottoms were stamped in a well supported fixture with a press, before they were even installed in the magazine! Just my opinion though! Best to ya! till...later...GT

Roadkill · 01-12-2003, 08:53 PM

Greg, come on down. Or better yet, my middle son is stationed at Shaw AFB, next time I visit him I'll let you know. The Nambu has the lightest trigger I've ever fired, took me three tries to get a sight picture, kept going off. Underpowered though. Not one of my favorites, ammo is expensive as hell. I bought a box several years ago from the Old Western Scrounger, when I asked the rep how much it was, he said it didn't matter. There was no where else to get it. That's another one I didn't tell my wife about.

rk

Greg · 01-13-2003, 08:24 AM

Roadkill,

That would be great. Shaw AFB is in Sumter, which is about an hour (or less) from me. There's a good range nearby, not to mention several BBQ joints serving that good ole mid-SC mustard-based sauce.

Next time you know that you will be at Shaw, let me know and we can work out the particulars!!!

Greg

01-12-2003, 12:20 PM	#1
Greg User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern U.S. Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	8 mm mag I've come across a Luger magazine (from a 7.65mm model) that has the inscription " Cal 8 m/m on the wood base. Is this an original inscription? And why 8 mm instead of 7.65?

01-12-2003, 12:25 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,034 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Never seen one of those? There were rumors years ago that the Luger was relined into 8 MM Nambu, but that was bogus. __________________ 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

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01-12-2003, 01:06 PM	#3
Greg User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern U.S. Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Here's a different view of the 8 mm script. Now that is different!!!! I'll try again in a minute

01-12-2003, 01:13 PM	#4
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	This reminds me of the .38 cases with the rim smoothed off so they could be reloaded and fired in a Luger. I believe a lady had them, the time frame fit to the early 50's when 9mm was not available. Given the post war situation that there were 8mm Nambus brought back from WWII and that there wasn't the mass importation of Nambu parts and magazines as were the Lugers,nor were Nambus issed in as many numbers, (if a Marine said he got his Nambu from a Japanese officer he probably did) a little "modification" would result in a functional magazine. Wish you were close by, we'd go out in a little while, stick it in my Nambu and see if it worked. At $1.00 per shot it wouldn't take long. I'll get into the toy room later and see if they are close to fitting each other. Perhaps some post war basement gunsmith modified a number, seems it would not be marked if there were only a few. Also wish I had a .30 Luger round to take some measurements to compare with the Nambu 8mm, probably real close. rk

01-12-2003, 01:14 PM	#5
Greg User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern U.S. Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	One more attempt!!!

01-12-2003, 07:16 PM	#6
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Hi Greg! The 8 looks to be an overstrike on the 9??? Maybe it was as close as someone could come to designating .30 luger at the time?? The Cal. stamp is hard to see, but the m/m looks to be original, most are very light struck, so... I would suspect the bottom was an original "Cal. 9m/m" at the start! til...lat...G.T.

01-12-2003, 07:24 PM	#7
Greg User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern U.S. Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	G.T., There does appear to be something akin to an overstrike around the '8'. Of couse, the split in the wood doesn't help matters. As you observed, the 'Cal" is there, but much fainter. It all appears original to the magazine. I was also thinking that perhaps someone just rounded 7.65 up, and voila, 8 m/m. Thanks all for your observations! Greg

01-12-2003, 07:40 PM	#8
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Since the consensus is in another direction this is irrelevant, but a Luger magazine would definitely work in a Nambu with minimal modification. Length is less than 2mm on both long and short side, width is less than 2mm, thickness 2.5mm different with the Luger being on the small side in every comparison. The loading button on the Luger mag is in the way though. If it has not been flattened it won't fit. Wouldn't take much though. rk

01-12-2003, 07:46 PM	#9
Greg User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern U.S. Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Roadkill, The best I can tell is that the magazine is unmodified. I liked the idea of shooting your Nambu though...Never have had the opportunity to shoot that particular weapon. Thanks, Greg

01-12-2003, 08:35 PM	#10
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Hi Greg! That split in the wood is probably due to the #8 strike, as the bottoms are weak in that spot. And if unsupported, will break there most every time they are struck... I think that the original "Cal. 9m/m" bottoms were stamped in a well supported fixture with a press, before they were even installed in the magazine! Just my opinion though! Best to ya! till...later...GT

01-12-2003, 08:53 PM	#11
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Greg, come on down. Or better yet, my middle son is stationed at Shaw AFB, next time I visit him I'll let you know. The Nambu has the lightest trigger I've ever fired, took me three tries to get a sight picture, kept going off. Underpowered though. Not one of my favorites, ammo is expensive as hell. I bought a box several years ago from the Old Western Scrounger, when I asked the rep how much it was, he said it didn't matter. There was no where else to get it. That's another one I didn't tell my wife about. rk

01-13-2003, 08:24 AM	#12
Greg User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern U.S. Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Roadkill, That would be great. Shaw AFB is in Sumter, which is about an hour (or less) from me. There's a good range nearby, not to mention several BBQ joints serving that good ole mid-SC mustard-based sauce. Next time you know that you will be at Shaw, let me know and we can work out the particulars!!! Greg