Luger fxo magazines

nmyers

I don't that much about Lugers, but thought that the correct mags for byf (Mauser) 41 & 42 pistols were fxo with a black plastic bottom. I have recently seen pistols offered for sale with fxo mags that had either a wood or aluminum bottom. Could these be correct, or did someone swap mag bottoms?

Neal

p3skyking

Neal, If manufactured in '44 or '45 I would say anything would be possible, but I would imagine that someone broke the original fragile bakelite bases in the fxo mags and replaced them with what was available. I have never seen or heard of them being manufactured that way.

drsck

I always thought that the fxo mags had the bottoms held in with a crimp from some type of machine that pressed the metal so that it "bite" into the mag bottom. I've never seen a picture of the machine that it did it, but in light of all the broken fxo mags I have laying around, I've often wondered about it. When the bakelite bottoms break, there are generally only three responses: 1) try gluing the pieces back together and in place, which usually looks awful and doesn't work for too long; 2) drill a small hole for a pin to hold the new replacement metal or wood bottom in place; 3) throw it away! I've been hoping for a fourth option for forty years.

captkirk3@dslextreme.com

<fxo> = Haenel, C.G.,
Waffen- u.Fahrrad-Fabrik, Suhl

givette

My '37 S/42 came with an FXO bakelite (plastic) base. No plastic bottomed mags had a serNo. Mine also has an "eagle 37" war production stamp like the one on the left. Stamped 3/4 further up the magazine is an eagle stamp also.

Best deduction: Authentic generic wartime production that was mf'd with bakelite bases. Best, Joe

EDIT:
Yes, I'm aware that my '37 P-08 left the factory with two numbered mags that had aluminum bottoms. Probably turned in for aircraft production..and bakelite bottomed mags substituted. Wartime exigency, as previously noted. Joe