M1 carbine magazine- USGI?

[fatelk]

I just bought an M1 carbine 30rnd magazine yesterday at a gun shop. Someone had just traded it in and I picked it up for $10. I didn't need it but the price seemed right.

I'm usually pretty good at finding info on the internet but just can't find much about carbine mags this morning. The only thing I could find was a reference to "hard-back one piece" and "split-back two piece" magazines. I'm almost certain this one is USGI. It's grey in color and marked with a "J" on the lower back.

Does anyone know for sure that this is USGI, anything about manufacturer, type?

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Firehand]

http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/Carbine_30_Round_Magazines_2007.pdf

Pretty much the word on the 30-round magazines

 

[fatelk]

Thanks Firehand. You are right, The word and a very interesting read. Mine is definitely USGI Vietnam era. A bargain for sure even if the finish isn't quite right. It should work good when I get the cosmoline cleaned out of it.

 

[Trebor]

Check your carbine to see which type of mag catch you have. They modified the mag catch design when they came out with the 30 round mags for the full-auto M2 Carbine. There's a little hook on the new design catches that helps support the weight of the heavier 30 round mag. I don't have a pic handy, but a search should turn up a picture.

If you have an earlier M-1 style mag catch, you may want to upgrade to the later M2 style.