Inline FabricationWidenersMidSouth Shooters SupplySnyders Jerky
Titan ReloadingLee PrecisionRotoMetals2Load Data
Repackbox Reloading Everything
Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: 1911 Magazines.

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    North Central Ohio
    Posts
    138

    1911 Magazines.

    I have about a half dozen of each of these I’ve acquired over the years. I’ve always wondered are both Colt factory magazines? Or just the ones with the pony?


  2. #2
    Moderator


    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Just outside Gun Barrel City, Texas
    Posts
    9,712
    The bottom for sure.
    The top one is 'probably'. Usually a company puts their own name on mags. or there isn't one at all.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    North Central Ohio
    Posts
    138
    Quote Originally Posted by Winger Ed. View Post
    The bottom for sure.
    The top one is 'probably'. Usually a company puts their own name on mags. or there isn't one at all.
    That's what I was thinking, based on some other reading I've done it looks like the top one is probably a military surplus magazine. The funny thing is the top style I have bought from my LGS for $10 because he thinks they are some off brand imported junk. But if it has the rampant pony on it he wants $45! I think that's more than Colt charges new. I know of at least 3 local gun shops that were taking one magazine out of the Colt box, and selling them separate for $30-$35 years ago. Word got around and their distributors told them no more or they wouldn't get any more pistols. I don't know how true it is but I heard that at one time this got to be such a problem that Colt only shipped pistols with 1 magazine. I've never opened a new Colt box that I can recall to see if they come with 1 or 2 magazines.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master schutzen-jager's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    peoples republic of new jersey
    Posts
    831
    just checked all 9 of my U.S. issue ones, none of the WWI or WWII have markings on base - the post war ones are marked with the national stock number - i have several like top one in picture + iirc they are aftermarket -
    never pick a fight with an old man - if he is too old to fight he will just kill you -
    in this current crisis our government is not the solution , it is the problem ! -

    ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM

    as they say in latin

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Las Cruces, NM
    Posts
    4,558
    My GI ones were either unmarked or had the stock numbers on them. I had a few with the lanyard ring as well, unmarked. The only Colt marked mags were from my Dad's 1911 commercial pistol and my FIL's NM pistol.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,888
    There are a lot of fake mags with the stock number on the bottom, the feed lips on the fakes don’t last long. I’ve used them for range mags, have also thrown some away. Someone sold then as ww2 surplus new on wrappers in the 1980s or 90s and since most folks fondle their guns more than shoot them they haven’t all broken yet.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    308
    The bottom magazine with the Colt Pony and the M. Is a Colt Factory supplied magazine made by Metalform. They are well made magazines.
    Rick

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,808
    Pictures of the top mag will help.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    North Central Ohio
    Posts
    138
    Here are some pics. Turns out I have 10 of these all identical. I bought about half of them from various places and got the other half from my grandfather. He says he got them from the shop he bought his lightweight commander from in the 60’s.





  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    762
    Metalform was mentioned on one, they're a good mag. Many outside vendors made mags for Colt and others that were factory mags.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master schutzen-jager's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    peoples republic of new jersey
    Posts
    831
    jmho - mags pictured in post # 9 are definitely not Colt or GI, common aftermarket - feed lips, arched + dimpled follower - Sarco + others are currently selling them with floor plate marked like yours - have you function tested them ? -
    never pick a fight with an old man - if he is too old to fight he will just kill you -
    in this current crisis our government is not the solution , it is the problem ! -

    ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM

    as they say in latin

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    North Central Ohio
    Posts
    138
    Quote Originally Posted by schutzen-jager View Post
    jmho - mags pictured in post # 9 are definitely not Colt or GI, common aftermarket - feed lips, arched + dimpled follower - Sarco + others are currently selling them with floor plate marked like yours - have you function tested them ? -
    I’m be used them all with various guns over the last 5-10 years.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master

    NuJudge's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    SE Michigan
    Posts
    1,223
    Colt has not made magazines in a very long time. As noted, the one has a "M" which is put on "Colt" magazines made by Metalform. The other maker Colt is supposed to have making them magazines is Checkmate, and for theirs look for a small "C" stamped on it somewhere.

    The arched, dimpled follower does not look anything like a "Colt" magazine, made by anyone.

    You are blessed to still have your Grandfather. Both of mine died before I was born, one in 1940 and the other in 1955.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Butler, MO
    Posts
    9,053
    As long as they work, who cares?

    I will agree that the magazine shown in post #9 is not a GI mag:; all the ones I ever saw had flat followers, whether they had the NSN on them or not.

    Robert

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,888
    I think metalform made the arched follower, not 100% sure. More sure that it was not purchased by US mil.

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,808
    It looks like a metalform made mag to me. Not GI, but I think it's a real colt mag.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    North Central Ohio
    Posts
    138
    Thanks for the info everyone.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check