fxo black plastic bottom magazines

[HerbZ]

How can you tell an authentic black plastic bottom on an fxo eagle 37 P.08 magazine from a modern replacement black plastic bottom.

I'm trying to put together a complete rig for a byf 42. I'm in the process of purchasing a black bottom fxo eagle 37 from Legacy Collectables.

I'm also in the market for an appropriate Mauser made Luger tool, if anyone here would happen to have one for sale, or know who has one for sale.

Thinking about an appropriate holster too, but that's further in the future.

[tharpo]

It can be very difficult to tell the difference. A new bottom on a worn magazine body might stand out.

[HerbZ]

Here are photos of the bottom of the fxo magazine that came with the byf 42 (top photo) and the bottom of second fxo magazine for it I recently purchased (bottom photo). I suspect the original, because of the circular line around the hole for the pin. Haven't seen another like it. While other byf 41 & 42 P08's with black plastic bottoms fxo magazines look like the one I purchased from Legacy Collectables.

Has a anyone seen a black plastic fxo magazine bottom with a circle like this?

[DonVoigt]

I think it is fine.
It is near impossible to remove one of the original pins without damage to the base, or noticable marring of the pin; after all - the ends are "swaged" a bit to lock them in place.

I think you are seeing a mould mark on the first mag.

[tharpo]

But then again, maybe the top one did have a broken base and a replacement was put on. I don't think they left the factory with that inner ring.

[Lugerdoc]

Herb, If the top fxo mag had an original black plastic bottom, I'd expect the pin holding it to the body to be flared like the lower mag. TH

[HerbZ]

I think Lugerdoc has it right! I can push the pin out on the original (upper photo) magazine with no trouble at all. I just did it with a 1.5mm easier than pushing a toothpick into whipped butter.

Here's a photo of what this magazine bottom looks like on the inside. It has a raised mark of some sort molded into it. Looks at first like a dollar sign, but under a 10x triplet looks like a capital I inside a larger capital S.

Looks upside down in the preview of this post. (I'm doing this all at our kitchen table with my phone while it's plugged in recharging.)

[mrerick]

Were the originals more of a bakelite material, instead of a polymer plastic?

Can the same "melt test" be used on them as on original versus reproduction grips?

[HerbZ]

I don't know of any test for Bakelite but the scratch test. A scratch with a needle or pin is supposed to reveal a brownish color. As the photo of the inside of the magazine bottom may reveal, it's a bit out of focus, I tried the scratch test. As a septuagenarian in trifocals who hasn't done any kind of testing for Bakelite before, even at 10x magnification, I'm not sure. I was hoping the raised mark molded into it might be recognized by someone here on the Luger Forum.

Otherwise, I want to say here that at no time did I wish to cast aspersions upon Legacy Collectables. My original posting was an attempt to present my inquiry as neutrally as possible. I'm confident that I purchased exactly what was advertised on their website. I hope we have established here that the suspect magazine is the original.

The question that remains is if this suspect magazine bottom is a postwar replacement of something other than Bakelite.

(Can a real Bakelite replacement button be obtained?)

[DonVoigt]

Top pin looked like it was "flared", maybe the edge ground off- if you can push it out it is a good sign it has been changed.

If the mag base is bakelite, the hot pin test will do for it also. Heat a pin or straightened paper clip and press it into the base in an area that won't show- if it smokes but does not melt it is "bakelite"
a registered trademark for a phenolic resin compound.

FXO bases are brittle, and tough to get the pin out without cracking the base; I doubt you will find a good original.

Your picture of the removed base shows a typical crack and chip. Original or not ?
Test it with a hot pin.

I'd just buy another mag if you must have an original base.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by tharpo

But then again, maybe the top one did have a broken base and a replacement was put on. I don't think they left the factory with that inner ring.

Maybe the inner ring is from grinding the flare off the original pin?

[tharpo]

Herb,
Do you have the magazine springs fully compressed in the pictures above? Boy, that is hard to do if they are.

Tom