Kocapuff1 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 For your reading pleasure and interest: Extremely Rare Sparks-Withington XXX (30rd) magazine marked with the rare "V" for Victory mark! Also the XXX magazine is marked "SWCO" with no period "." after. Most of the Sparks-Withington magazines, including the Sparks-Withington XXX (30rd) magazine picture posted in the pinned Thompson Box and Drum Magazine Guide are marked "SWCO." with the period after the letters. The first 8 pictures below are all of the same magazine I own. It is marked "SWCO " without a period "." after SWCO. It is also marked with the "V" for Victory marking located near the bottom front of the magazine. I looked all over for a reference on the internet, including the pinned Thompson Forum magazine guide and nothing that states Sparks-Withington (SWCO) made a special run of the "V" marked magazine. This magazine may be a first one to come out and to be known that they are in existence. You'll see in the first 3 pictures when the mag was untouched and how it looked when I purchased it. In the next 5 pictures I cleaned up the magazine, got rid of most of the rust on the bottom of the magazine, where the "V" mark is, and re-blu'd the area. I then whitened the lettering to bring out everything for easier viewing. In the last 3 pictures you will see my original Seymour Products XXX "V" for Victory marked magazine for reference. I didn't nickel the magazine and wish it wasn't, but it's rare and the only one I ever found. You will see on the Seymour 30rd magazine they placed the "V" near the top of the front of the magazine. On the Sparks-Withington SWCO 30 round magazine they placed the "V" near the bottom. Another item/picture to denote is again that Sparks-Withington made two types of magazine markings of their name during their production run. I believe the older marking is: "SWCO." with the dot after the letters. I believe, due to the "V" marked magazine have the "SWCO " with out the dot, after the letters, that the later production run had no period after the abbreviation name "SWCO" This may also another good reference and a picture to put in the pinned section, that there is two different SWCO marked XXX magazines. I have another SWCO marked magazine, that is only marked SWCO without the period, if we need another picture of another XXX magazine without the "V" on it. So I hope that this information can be used for the Thompson drum and magazine pinned information. If anyone out there has "V" marked XXX 30 round magazine(s) please post them to this forum topic so we all can see them and the markings. Nothing has been modified/faked. I don't have the "V" marked Crosby yet, so I am interested in seeing one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Good find as these so far have not been common. Also ther is only a few of us geeks who notice. I have one and checked that mine has the period. It was also modified for semi auto use. I don't know if they had dedicated stamps (I assume so) and if that is the case I would say the lack of period is due to wear or die damage. If the letter type were individually set into the stamp holder it could also explain the variation. The SWCO is a variation Roger does not have yet (who provided most of the mag photos). There are a few other as well (reverse Auto Ord). Will try to take some pics of mine to add to the post and pinned section. I sense you are getting hooked on Thompsons. You may want to go over the edge and join us at a show and shoot. Warning there is no turning back once you get too hooked. Ps thanks for your service!Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kocapuff1 Posted March 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 Good find as these so far have not been common. Also ther is only a few of us geeks who notice. I have one and checked that mine has the period. It was also modified for semi auto use. I don't know if they had dedicated stamps (I assume so) and if that is the case I would say the lack of period is due to wear or die damage. If the letter type were individually set into the stamp holder it could also explain the variation. The SWCO is a variation Roger does not have yet (who provided most of the mag photos). There are a few other as well (reverse Auto Ord). Will try to take some pics of mine to add to the post and pinned section. I sense you are getting hooked on Thompsons. You may want to go over the edge and join us at a show and shoot. Warning there is no turning back once you get too hooked. Ps thanks for your service!RonRon,Do you have those pictures to post to this thread of your "V" marked magazine? Anyone else out there with pictures/info to share? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hntrdarren Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Some pictures of my 30 round Seymour magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kocapuff1 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 hntrdarren, Great post and thank you for your time and pictures! That is very interesting, your Seymour Products Co. XXX, "V" marked magazine. Your magazine has the same markings on the Seymour Products, with all punctuation, "commas and periods", the same as my nickel plated Seymour Products "V" marked posted above.. As you can see on my magazine, my "V" is marked at the top of the magazine and obviously your magazine posted, the "V" is at the bottom of the magazine, like my SWCO "V" marked. So now we know the Seymour Products Company stamped the "V" either on the Top or the bottom of the 30rd magazine; so two variation of "V" marked. I did not know that; great information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilroy Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I could've sworn I had a magazine somewhere with this mark on it but I looked everywhere I thought I had magazines stashed and I couldn't find one...I remember when I got the magazine I wondered why there was a randomly stamped 'V' on it. I hope I have one and when I find it I'll add pictures to this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kocapuff1 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Kilroy, That would be great. Looking forward to seeing it. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Hey Keith, I plan on setting up the lights and camera tomorrow so will get those pics for the thread. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike in pa Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Any idea on how long in the production run were these companies stamping them with the "V" ? I will have to check my stash of XXX mags to see if I have any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) Here is one pic of my SWCO. Also a pic of the Auto Ordnance (normal and reversed stampings) and Seymour, one missing the period at the end. I am not completely happy with the way these turned out and will need to mess with the lights some more. I have a few other mags I need to take photos of for the pinned page so will have to when I get around to it. Ron Edited March 23, 2015 by ron_brock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kocapuff1 Posted March 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Ron, Great pictures. If you want to try better ones. Maybe try your smart phone and just regular sunlight. The cameras in the phones now are so good, its amazing. Wow you have many. I did not know Auto Ord mags, did the "V" also. What I have found is that all manufactures did the "V" and in different places. I have a Crosby XXX Mag that I purchased that has the "V" on the top of the mag, just like my Seymour products mag. Your Seymour is on the bottom. Your SWCO definitely has the ".' period at the end where my SWCO definitely isn't there at all. I don't think that was tooling broken. I think it was just the set up of production without, so two different variations. Thank you so much for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbore Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 I found 3 V stamped in a box full of magazines today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 On Saturday I returned home to some nice addtions for my collection, Christmas came early for me this year, thanks to a good friend on the forum, who sold me a Colt XX Shot Cartridge Magazine, amongst some other nice pieces. So, I thought that was my magazine collection about complete, and now I read this post, four more to go at least! I have seen 100's of XXX magazines over the years in the UK, France and Germany, and I have never seen one marked with a 'V'. So if any come up for sale, you all know I am looking for some now! Stay safeRichard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) Does anyone agree, it would be good to add some of these 'V' marked XXX magazines produced by SWCO, Seymour, Crosby and Auto Ordnance (USCO), to the single photo on the pinned "Thompson Box and Drum magazine Guide". Stays SafeRichard Edited March 20, 2019 by rpbcps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMG28 Posted March 24, 2019 Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 (edited) Richard, Yes, I think it would be great to add pics of each of the different "V" mags to the pinned post. As shown above, Ron has examples of all four manufacturers, so I suspect his pics would be the best source. The V was placed either on the front top or front bottom of the mags. I have seen it both places. As to the Sparks-Withington XXX mags, I doubt there are two different versions of the dies. In all of the examples I have scrutinized, it appears that the "missing" period is simply one of the die sets that is worn and had that tiny feature broken off at some point. The examples that have the period all show deeper stamping of the metal. The ones without the period are stamped less deeply. This is a little different from the one version of Seymour XXX mags which I propose never had any punctuation. The font and spacing support that opinion rather than worn dies. FWIWRoger Edited March 24, 2019 by TSMG28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted March 24, 2019 Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 Yes I need to take some clean pics of them with good lighting and background. Have a few other oddballs to add to the page too. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dillinger Posted April 19, 2020 Report Share Posted April 19, 2020 Does anyone agree, it would be good to add some of these 'V' marked XXX magazines produced by SWCO, Seymour, Crosby and Auto Ordnance (USCO), to the single photo on the pinned "Thompson Box and Drum magazine Guide". Stays SafeRichardAgreed Richard.Its a great reference tool but needs expanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrylta Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 Don't forget about the Israelis' star magazines?Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrylta Posted April 20, 2020 Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) Double post? Edited April 20, 2020 by darrylta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted March 3, 2021 Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 If anyone has a 'V' marked 30 round magazines to sell on, I am interested in buying one, or more, for my collection. Stay safe Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner Posted March 4, 2021 Report Share Posted March 4, 2021 I may have inadvertently sold a SWCO V mag lately as I thought I had one. So if you bought some mags from me, check them out and your welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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