Original 1911 magazines
- Thread starter joe n
- Start date
The lanyard loop means they were Cavalry issue. Lanyard went to the loop on the mainspring housing. Stateside, original U.S. lanyard loop mags run $100US each. Norwegian mags run $75US each from Sarco. Reproductions are running $30US.
Your buddies are likely Norwegian. You won't get USD prices here. Unless you find a very serious collector.
Not seeing any of 'em on any Canadian site.
Your buddies are likely Norwegian. You won't get USD prices here. Unless you find a very serious collector.
Not seeing any of 'em on any Canadian site.
I'm wondering how you can tell the Norwegian from the US models?
As far as the Colts go, the M1911 Colts came with the lanyard loops until 1916. From what I read, subsequent US military mags did not have the lanyard loops. Commercial 1911 pistols had the lanyard loop mags until about 1918, if I recall correctly. When it comes to Norwegian models, I have no clue.
Prices seem to be all over the place on the WW I two tone mags, with or without lanyard loops. They often are available in the US, on gunbroker and auctionarms. I've been looking for both types, but they're not that easy to find up here.
At the Easter show in Calgary last year, I looked at (but didnt buy 
) an original ww1 dual mag pouch with two of the 2 tone lanyard mags (1 of which was C broad arrowed). The price was $150 - I figured the mags alone were worth $50 to $75 each.
I should have my azz kicked for not buying the group as it would have been a perfect addition to my Canadian contract Colt.
) an original ww1 dual mag pouch with two of the 2 tone lanyard mags (1 of which was C broad arrowed). The price was $150 - I figured the mags alone were worth $50 to $75 each.I should have my azz kicked for not buying the group as it would have been a perfect addition to my Canadian contract Colt.
At the Easter show in Calgary last year, I looked at (but didnt buy
I should have my azz kicked for not buying the group as it would have been a perfect addition to my Canadian contract Colt.
I could solve that problem for you. Just sell me the Colt.
"...how you can tell the Norwegian from the US models..." Hi. Haven't a clue. Especially with no markings. Speculating that Norwegian mags would be more common here. Why Norway would have cavalry mags is another thing. Mind you, a guy on skis would have the same issues a guy on a horse would have about losing 'em.
Two toned mags are supposedly the standard for W.W. I vintage 1911 mags.
"...subsequent US military mags did not have..." The whole era, Stateside, is historically interesting. Pershing was chasing Pancho Villa around using Cavalry from 1916 to Feb., 1917.
"...my Canadian contract Colt..." It's just a 1911 that may or may not be chambered in .455 Colt/Eley.
Two toned mags are supposedly the standard for W.W. I vintage 1911 mags.
"...subsequent US military mags did not have..." The whole era, Stateside, is historically interesting. Pershing was chasing Pancho Villa around using Cavalry from 1916 to Feb., 1917.
"...my Canadian contract Colt..." It's just a 1911 that may or may not be chambered in .455 Colt/Eley.
Joe, I think you're right. Type III Colt's.
What effects the value here the most is condition. If they were mint, even in Canada you could probably get a pretty decent dollar for them, but in that condition, I would say it's fair around $50. There are lots of much nicer mags still out there, so the rough ones aren't that valuable yet.
I believe importing 1911 mags from the states isn't an issue also.
-Steve
What effects the value here the most is condition. If they were mint, even in Canada you could probably get a pretty decent dollar for them, but in that condition, I would say it's fair around $50. There are lots of much nicer mags still out there, so the rough ones aren't that valuable yet.
I believe importing 1911 mags from the states isn't an issue also.
-Steve
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Actualy the cavalry lanyard had two snaps. One went to the magazine and the other to the pistol. Rare is an understatement for those. The reason for two shap hooks? Try picking up either the pistol or the magazine from your horse if you drop either one!
You do know that all early Colt 1911 and Colt government models came with magazines with the lanyard loop, eh?
So, not everyone who was issued or owned one was in the cavalry...
NAA.
- Location
- Leduc County, Alberta
I used a cut off disk on a dremel once back in the day to remove a lanyard loop form a 1911 mag. It was annoying me.... 
Just call me Bubba McHack.
Just call me Bubba McHack.
You do know that all early Colt 1911 and Colt government models came with magazines with the lanyard loop, eh?
So, not everyone who was issued or owned one was in the cavalry...
NAA.
Yup, NAA is correct. I wondered why the lanyard loop was added to the mags and found an explanation on another site that apparently the 1911 lanyard loop on the bottom of the mainspring housing didn't work well with the old lanyards issued for the previous generation of USGI revolvers that were issued with the new 1911. When 1911 lanyards became widely available, they stopped adding the lanyard loops on the mags. I wish I could find the link explaining this...I'm not sure if it's true or not, but it does make some sense. I actually have an authentic M1911 lanyard I'll have to take some pics eventually.
Also, the Norwegian mags are a problem in the U.S. but I haven't seen any here, they are relatively easy to spot, but some people have tried making fake WW1 mags from them because they have the pinned base. You can check for course grinding marks and other small things that will verify.
-Steve
Think we posted at the same time, but that's correct. The issue was that some sketchy folks were stripping the parkerizing, and half blueing them like the WW1 USGI mags, because they have a pinned base and could trick a beginner or someone who hasn't seen many authentic mags. There are of course many fine details that give them away, regardless I've never heard of anyone doing this in Canada.
- Location
- Leduc County, Alberta
Hey Swampdog,
Post up some pics! Some two-tones don't have lanyard loops! My buddy has a few original examples without loops. There are lots of variants of these mags, some are worth significant amounts of money. The folded base two-tone mags without loops are worth a small fortune.
QM 86-87, the nice ones aren't getting easier to find, nice minty examples will sell for more than $100, worth even more in the U.S. Like I mentioned already, I have no doubts about Joe N's mag being original, but it's the condition that really determines the value.
-Steve
