[pogeybait]

Hi all:

I was recently given two M14 magazine packages from the estate of a high-power rifle shooter. Do these appear to be original? Both packs are sealed so I cannot see if the mags have any markings. One package is marked Springfield Armory, but no date to be found. The other is without any obvious maker mark, but is dated "NOV 66".

Please note that I have read the sticky and am NOT asking for a value. I would appreciate, however, some sense of the rarity (or lack thereof).

 

[stevegun 1]

Pogey, wait until later today and someone will chime in. Recently on another post this type of packaging was mentioned. I remember something about them being "issued" to a High Power shooter. Do you have an M1A?

 

[chief on one]

Be prepared to open them.

On the dated 66, I think that the W stands for Westinghouse; and they did make magazines .

 

[pogeybait]

Hi - yes I have an M1A but I use modern CMI mags. I have no reason to use these and am very reluctant to open them for fear of destroying collector value (if any).

 

[GardenValley]

Whether or not they are GI magazines will likely have to be determined by opening the packaging. I have seen all variety of fake GI markings on the packaging of a multitude of different items.

A couple of observations ....

I think it unlikely the Springfield Armory label is authentic.

The letter "W" on the other package does not indicate Westinghouse, nor does it indicate Winchester.

 

[M1A Aficionado]

The 'old' milsurp M14 mags I've bought were wrapped in brown paper, if memory serves, although its been decades.

I can't imagine that they wrapped mags in plastic back in 1966.

 

[pogeybait]

Here are a few that were auctioned that are similar to one of mine, but have a different date:

Guns america #975533460

As I said, I was given these so no money lost if they are fake. I appreciate all opinions. Am rather reluctant to open if there is any chance of collector value in intact packaging.

 

[Marine Dad 2004]

There were some Asian magazines imported that had a "W" stamp and sold as made by Winchester in the USA Winchester made magazines are stamped "OM"

 

[jbrooks]

I've only seen original M14 mags in sticks of 2 like that packed in brown cardboard with VCI paper inside. Not plastic.

Original mags were dry. Looks like grease on those. You will need to remove the mags to do some basic checks. Spring coils, front weld dimples (12 + 1) Only one weld dimple next to the mag catch hole in the front.

This from Different:

"In 2006, the owner opened this package of two magazines he had bought several years ago. Inside were two “W” marked magazines. Each magazine had three dimples adjacent to the catch slot, clearly non-USGI contract manufacture. The springs inside the magazines had nine coils, again non-USGI contract manufacture. The packaging led the
buyer to believe he was buying two USGI contract magazines."

Pics are in his original magazine guide. Yours look like the plastic bags shown in his report.

JWB

 

[Capona]

I'd bet on Different's account every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

I've only seen original M14 mags in sticks of 2 like that packed in brown cardboard with VCI paper inside. Not plastic.

Original mags were dry. Looks like grease on those. You will need to remove the mags to do some basic checks. Spring coils, front weld dimples (12 + 1) Only one weld dimple next to the mag catch hole in the front.

This from Different:

"In 2006, the owner opened this package of two magazines he had bought several years ago. Inside were two “W” marked magazines. Each magazine had three dimples adjacent to the catch slot, clearly non-USGI contract manufacture. The springs inside the magazines had nine coils, again non-USGI contract manufacture. The packaging led the
buyer to believe he was buying two USGI contract magazines."

Pics are in his original magazine guide. Yours look like the plastic bags shown in his report.

JWB

 

[lysander]

The contract date is FY 69... hard to imagine how they were contracted after they were bagged....

 

[pogeybait]

Thank you all for your comments. Based on your thoughts I figured I would have to open the packages to learn anything more.

The NOV 66 marked package contained two dry magazines, both marked BRW S-I, upside down. The front seams do have circular spot welds from top to bottom, but are difficult to see unless you catch the light just right.

The Springfield Armory package contained two dry magazines, one marked OM, the other BRW S-I (upside down). Both of these magazines had surface rust developing in spots, but I don't see pitting and they should clean up OK. Both magazines have very clear spot welds on the front seams.

So...

 

[jbrooks]

Remove the followers of the BRW mags. There should be a "BW" stamped on the "leg" of the follower.

Do the same with the OM mag. The follower should have an "OM" stamp.

The OM latch plate should have 2 dimples on the upper part, and 3 in a triangular pattern on the lower part of the latch plate. On the other hand, the BRW latch plates are exactly reversed... 3 on top, 2 on bottom.

If so on both, they are original USGI mags.. Repackaged at some time.

Did they come in a cardboard sleeve? Any markings on the box??

If so, we should have had that info from the beginning...

JWB

 

[pogeybait]

Each package has a heavy card stock sleeve that cover the sides and back of the mags. You can see these in the original photos at top.

The two BRW mags from the package labeled NOV 66 each had the BW mark on the follower spring guide.

Neither mag from the Springfield Armory marked bag had any markings on the follower. These are mags marked on the rear OM and BRW S-I.

The BRW and OM mags have dimple patterns on the catch plates consistent with what you describe.

Is the thought then that these are real USGI mags that were packaged in fake bags and labels at some point? Seems kind of bizarre. At any rate, I've opened them.

 

[jbrooks]

I can see the cardboard sleeves but you have not shown us any markings on the sleeve.

Your mags are original, used USGI most likely, but were repacked at some date.

The word "fake" is tossed around rather freely. I don't assert that they were repacked in fake bags, just repacked at some point with paper labels that are not consistent with USGI practice. They have no collector value IMO.

Can you show us the markings on the sleeve?

JWB

 

[pogeybait]

Thank you all for your comments.

The "sleeves" have no markings, aside from the SA label which appears to be glued on.