beechnut Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 I just got a batch of new-used mags in the mail today. They're overall in pretty good condition. But, 4 out of the 5 I bought are stamped with a big "V" at the bottom on the front. All of the mags with the "V" have their bolt hold open tab broke off. They're all 30rd Seymour mags. http://drf.lart.net/guns/WH/mags/125-2581_IMG.JPG Any clues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 I have a couple of the mags with the "V" in it. I was told they are a "V" for Victory. These were stamped on them right at the end and right after WWII. I may be wrong but that is what I heard. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/huh.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill in VA Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 I'm also curious about the V marked xxx magazines. I have two, one a Seymour, the other a Crosby, and both also have the bolt hold-open tabs removed. Any ideas? My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill in VA Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 Crap. The pic. didn't load...one more try. http://www.gunboards.com/forums/uploaded/Bill_in_VA/2003121985356_TSMG%20V%20magazine.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisley45 Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 Anyone got any therorys why anyone would remove the bolt hold open feature of a TSMG mag? you drop the empty insert a full one and start shooting no need to release the bolt by hitting a catch or pull a cocking handle or any other means. No one said anything about the witness holes being closed up so I doubt they were trying to keep sand out by closing the bolt after last round. BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beechnut Posted December 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 My assumption was they're used in Europe. The Euros don't believe in locking the bolt back on their semis, I reckon they didn't like it on their TSMGs either. I can't think of what the V might have stood for, but it's also possibly a Roman 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK. Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 If the tab that lifts the trip is broken off, the bolt will not close on the empty chamber. It will impact the back of the follower and stop. If repeated not to many times, the follower and/or the bolt can be damaged. It can prove difficult to remove a magazine when the bolt is pressing against the follower as described. I agree that if this was done intentionally that it is most likely an adaptation to another gun- but which? The “V†marking is perhaps an identifier of this modification? I doubt that in celebration ordnance workers were directed to stamp “victory marks†into magazines. It is interesting to note that the two styles shown above have different positions of the “Vâ€; top and bottom of the magazine body. Those stamped in the bottom part would require disassembly but the upper marking could be accomplished by simply depressing the follower while inserting a mandrel to back up the stamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 I have one just like Bill in Va has. Same make and model. "V" is on the top, not the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21 smoker Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Hey guys, I have xxx mags with V on top and bottom... always thought it was a war time addition for the cause,either Brit. or American...Allied.Just my 2c,..KEEPEM` SMOKIN`,out http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beechnut Posted December 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 Well if anybody would like some of these special mags, let me know. Otherwise I'm sending them back to the folks I purchased them from. So that'd be like 4 "V marked, tabless mags" for $90. Shipping included. Otherwise I'm sending them back after xmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMG28 Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 I still don't know what the V is for, but it apparently dates from 1941 or earlier. The picture Tracie has of one of the prototype 30-round mags has the V on the bottom front (see TCN #133 from Nov. 15, 2001). The prototype was made by welding parts of two 20-round mags together (Crosbys in his picture). I doubt that the V would have been added after the fact, though I haven't had a chance to ask Tracie about the lineage of this particular mag. Just another mystery of the Thompson..... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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