The real deal? (1911 Magazine)

[Sport45]

I recently bought 5 1911 magazines on eBay. They have flat dimpled followers and since the price was about the same as I would pay for followers alone, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Anyway, they were advertised as Colt factory magazines. I thought there was something fishy since there wouldn't be much reason for Colt to put 6 witness holes in a 7-round magazine. The baseplate has the rampant Colt, "Colt 45 Auto" in large font, and an "M" in the top right corner. There is not an "S" in the lower right as seen on my original (circa 1998) Colt magazine. The feed lips look like my McCormick's. Are these Colt magazines of some new design or reproductions?





Thanks!

 

[1911Tuner]

Mags

Beware of the alaskan reddogg...He's sold some bogus Colt magazines on ebay, along with some junk that he represents as GI contract magazines.

The "M" in the corner indicates Metalform manufacture, which are very good magazines. "C" could mean Colt manufacture, but Colt hasn't made their own magazines in years, so it could also mean Checkmate, which have also been good mags. Most of the recent production OEM magazines could use a good spring upgrade, with the exception of SOME Metalform stainless mags, which usually come with Wolff springs...but not always.

 

[elric]

Here are some of the mags I've gotten with NIB Colts I've bought in the past, two 7 rounders and an 8. Many variations on the base plate font and follower dimples. Maybe when they made your mags they only had 8 round bodies in inventory (6 witness holes) to go with the 7 round followers and baseplates? No conclusive evidence that they are real or fake, but sure seems that they had several variations on the mags over the years. I may have another mag or two in the garage, if so I'll see if they are different.

 

[georgeduz]

i have heard complaints about bad mags,i have 2 colt mags,one doesnt have a pony on it,it just says colt.but all my mags work great even the cheep south american ones,i never had aproblem with feeding.i pick up most of my mags at gun shows,they are of all different makes,i must be lucky.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

The only two Colt mags I have are from a S80 Enhanced Commander I bought NIB in 1992.

They were 8 rounders and look like the above baseplates except that they are marked G and S and say "Eight Round", not 8-RND.

 

[Sport45]

Beware of the alaskan reddogg...He's sold some bogus Colt magazines on ebay, along with some junk that he represents as GI contract magazines.

You guessed right. These were from Reddogxx. He's not Alaskan anymore, now located in Leander, Texas.

Anyway, the magazines fed my 1911's just fine. Not a single feeding failure. Had a "gritty" feel when loading them. Don't know if the inside of the tube was rough, the follower, or both. Trouble was that not one of them would lock the slide back on my SA 1911A1 and only 2 of them would engage the slide release on my 1991A. I swapped combinations of follower, spring (11# Wolff), and tube and determined the problem was with the followers.

I emailed Reddog and told him of the trouble. He replied that he would make a full refund. I put the magazines in the mail yesterday and last night had the refund in my PayPal account. Certainly can't complain about his customer service.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Beware of the alaskan reddogg...

I can relate to this comment.....I'm much older and wiser, now.

"C" could mean Colt manufacture, but Colt hasn't made their own magazines in years, so it could also mean Checkmate, which have also been good mags.

Both factory mags that came with my brand new XSE LW Commander have the "C" marked on them. They have some really funky looking followers (two-piece I think and no dimples), the mag opening is cut differently than my '80s Colt Metalform mags, and they are 8-rounders.

With my past experience with three absolute JUNK Officers mags that I bought on eBay, I now refuse to buy any mag that is not in the original, unopened packaging. Sometimes you can find some decent deals, too....Like my $13 for an Original Metalform-made Colt Officers mag still in the original packaging or the Colt Mustang mag for $17 in the original package. If you want some good mags, get in on one of the Group Buys of the Metalform mags. I just picked up seven through one last month. Came out to be about $8-$9 per mag (they are identical to my flawless 1980's mags).

 

[Sport45]

If you want some good mags, get in on one of the Group Buys of the Metalform mags. I just picked up seven through one last month. Came out to be about $8-$9 per mag (they are identical to my flawless 1980's mags).

Which forum has the group buys? I haven't noticed it.

on edit: Never mind, I found it. Like my mom used to say, "If it was a snake, it would have bit me".

 

[BigG]

The Colt factory mags have wide variation over the years. Some pre Series 70 merely have "COLT" stamped on baseplate, the ones that have the rampant colt vary in font and letters. "S" means stainless, "C" means Colt; "M" means Metalform, "N" means nickel, etc. They both look like original Colts to me.

Also, judging by the firearms themselves they use old parts and new parts to make consecutive firearms. Some of the early series 80 guns still have the spring finger bushing and stepped barrel OD that supposedly ended on the Series 70, etc., so I am not surprised they put together a body with six holes with a follower for a five hole body. Apparently, in Colt's mind, it works, so why not?

 

[Gunsnrovers]

I figured the S on my mags meant stainless. I don't know what the G stands for on mine.

They worked well for a long time. I recently gutted them and put in a Tripp follower and spring.