When did WW2 magazine numbering cease?

byf45 · 01-21-2013, 06:20 PM

This has probably been discussed here many times but approximately at what serial number range did the numbering of magazines
cease during WW2 on the BYF41 Lugers?
Thanks for your help-
JohnB/

guns3545 · 01-21-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byf45

This has probably been discussed here many times but approximately at what serial number range did the numbering of magazines
cease during WW2 on the BYF41 Lugers?
Thanks for your help-
JohnB/

JohnB,

During the the U-suffix of the byf41, Mauser starting phasing out serialization of magazines.

No absolute date or serial number but there is a significant reduction of serial numbers seen on magazines beyond the U-block.

John

byf45 · 01-22-2013, 01:23 AM

Thanks Guns
So a BYF41 in the "L" block should have a matching magazine then? What type would be in use at that point in production? Black plastic FXO? Aluminum base, numbered?
I appreciate you help on this.
JohnB/

tharpo · 01-22-2013, 03:06 AM

JohnB,
Are you sure about a 41byf with a "L" suffix? The "L" suffix is a little too early for 1941.

Tom

byf45 · 01-22-2013, 11:45 AM

Hi Tom
The letter looks like a "flowing' capital L" with a small horizontal bar through the middle. I had thought a fancy script 'L' but perhaps a 'Z' then?
Does that sound correct?
John

guns3545 · 01-22-2013, 01:54 PM

JohnB,

Everything beyond, say the w-block, had the extruded blue body magazine with center pin base (Type 5) and unnumbered or the extruded blued body magazine with the black plastic base(Type 6).

Remembering that suffix letters are scripted lower case representations, your pistol is probably the z-block.

John

John Sabato · 01-22-2013, 02:00 PM

Here is an example "Z"

byf45 · 01-22-2013, 02:16 PM

Thank you, gents -- that's the letter!: a 'Z"
So a Type 5 or 6 un-numbered magazine would be correct for this pistol? The Type 5 is an aluminum base? Is an FXO-marked base proper at all?
I'm researching this as my dad brought it back from Cherbourg but it was in a WW1 holster and has a wood base magazine.
John//

guns3545 · 01-22-2013, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byf45

Thank you, gents -- that's the letter!: a 'Z"
So a Type 5 or 6 un-numbered magazine would be correct for this pistol? The Type 5 is an aluminum base? Is an FXO-marked base proper at all?
I'm researching this as my dad brought it back from Cherbourg but it was in a WW1 holster and has a wood base magazine.
John//

John,

fxo was the manufacturer's code for Haenel and is on the body of the magazine. The base would be black plastic and would not be marked. There would also be an Eagle 37 on the body of the magazine.

Short answer: A fxo magazine with black plastic base is a possibility of being the type of magazine shipped with a z-block and would be considered correct.

For example, I have a late 41 byf, SN 735b, one of the last of the 1941s. It has a FXO magazine, blued body Eagle 37 proof and black plastic base.

John

byf45 · 01-22-2013, 07:53 PM

Thanks John, for you assistance.
Just to summarize then, an FXO extruded mag with a black plastic base with a silver pin in it would be the most correct for this Z-letter `41?
John

tharpo · 01-22-2013, 09:41 PM

The gun was most likely issued a fxo magazine with a black plastic base.
The other possibility would be a fxo magazine with an unnumbered aluminum bottom base.

Tom

byf45 · 01-23-2013, 12:29 PM

Thank you so much for all your help on this guys -- it is really appreciated!!
John

01-21-2013, 06:20 PM	#1
byf45 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	When did WW2 magazine numbering cease? This has probably been discussed here many times but approximately at what serial number range did the numbering of magazines cease during WW2 on the BYF41 Lugers? Thanks for your help- JohnB/

01-22-2013, 02:00 PM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Here is an example "Z" __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-22-2013, 01:23 AM	#3
byf45 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Guns So a BYF41 in the "L" block should have a matching magazine then? What type would be in use at that point in production? Black plastic FXO? Aluminum base, numbered? I appreciate you help on this. JohnB/

01-22-2013, 03:06 AM	#4
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 543 Thanks: 116 Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts	JohnB, Are you sure about a 41byf with a "L" suffix? The "L" suffix is a little too early for 1941. Tom

01-22-2013, 11:45 AM	#5
byf45 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Tom The letter looks like a "flowing' capital L" with a small horizontal bar through the middle. I had thought a fancy script 'L' but perhaps a 'Z' then? Does that sound correct? John

01-22-2013, 01:54 PM	#6
guns3545 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 437 Thanks: 655 Thanked 492 Times in 218 Posts	JohnB, Everything beyond, say the w-block, had the extruded blue body magazine with center pin base (Type 5) and unnumbered or the extruded blued body magazine with the black plastic base(Type 6). Remembering that suffix letters are scripted lower case representations, your pistol is probably the z-block. John

01-22-2013, 02:16 PM	#8
byf45 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you, gents -- that's the letter!: a 'Z" So a Type 5 or 6 un-numbered magazine would be correct for this pistol? The Type 5 is an aluminum base? Is an FXO-marked base proper at all? I'm researching this as my dad brought it back from Cherbourg but it was in a WW1 holster and has a wood base magazine. John//

01-22-2013, 07:53 PM	#10
byf45 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks John, for you assistance. Just to summarize then, an FXO extruded mag with a black plastic base with a silver pin in it would be the most correct for this Z-letter `41? John

01-22-2013, 09:41 PM	#11
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 543 Thanks: 116 Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts	The gun was most likely issued a fxo magazine with a black plastic base. The other possibility would be a fxo magazine with an unnumbered aluminum bottom base. Tom

01-23-2013, 12:29 PM	#12
byf45 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you so much for all your help on this guys -- it is really appreciated!! John