Questions on 4 gcb K43 Magazines

Gunrunner · Dec 9, 2020

Sorting out my spare G/K43 magazines and have questions on these 4 gcb magazines I got years ago with a K43 I bought, the first 2 are painted and look hardly used but the paint is dull, the other 2 are phosphate with one on the green side and the other a gray color, the green one is green inside an out but the gray one has a black front tab and the reinforcement strip on the inside for the tap is also black, I was wondering if the finish on these mags are original or post war?

WreckTangle · Dec 10, 2020

Others should chime in as they have much more knowledge than me.

But, IMHO you don't see many k43 mags in such good condition as yours. The phosphates look okay, but the painted ones are suspect because from my observations originals tend to be more glossy. Concerning the phosphate mags, I've read that some of them were first phosphate and then painted at the factory. Postwar, people stripped the paint off, thus exposing the phosphate. The greenish tint one scarcer than the others.

Brian Kowalski · Dec 10, 2020

From these pics, I would have to say the painted ones have been re painted post war. The paint seems to cover the rivets and the WaA. The phosphate ones also appear to have a more current type of Parkerizing on them, I could very well be wrong. In addition, it seems that "gcb" rarely, if at all, just phosphate their magazines...and if they did, it looks to be a very thin/light color, similar to many of the MP44 mags at the time. Just my opinion here based on these pictures.

mauser99 · Dec 10, 2020

very hard with these photos to judge 100%. I'm going off memory but I think aye is the more preferred maker to see in phosphate not gcb. I'm not saying gcb didn't its just I don't recall seeing a legit gcb phosphate mag. The painted ones the paint looks thinner than normal. But, they all still sell well.

ugafx4 · Dec 10, 2020

This is an area that really needs some study. I am in the GCB did not do phosphate finish camp. I think crappy photos and removed paint tend to make people think that the mags are phosphate when they are not (though I am totally open to be convinced otherwise with photos/evidence). Heck some of the blued GCB mags I have to look really hard at because they look phosphate. I have 2 phosphate AYE mags and their finish is thin and splotchy. The finish on your phosphate magazine is extremely even and thick. It looks to me like it was almost sprayed on.

RyanE · Dec 10, 2020

ugafx4 said:
This is an area that really needs some study. I am in the GCB did not do phosphate finish camp. I think crappy photos and removed paint tend to make people think that the mags are phosphate when they are not (though I am totally open to be convinced otherwise with photos/evidence). Heck some of the blued GCB mags I have to look really hard at because they look phosphate. I have 2 phosphate AYE mags and their finish is thin and splotchy. The finish on your phosphate magazine is extremely even and thick. It looks to me like it was almost sprayed on.

My gcb with what might be a late, thin phosphate finish. No sign of paint, and it doesn't appear to be bare metal IMO, but I don't know.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Brian Kowalski · Dec 10, 2020

Thanks Ryan, that is what I was trying to describe.

Gunrunner · Dec 10, 2020

Here are 2 gcb phosphate mags that have the 3 rib floorplate.

Gunrunner · Dec 10, 2020

Here are 3 aye phosphate mags with no K43 stamp.

mauser99 · Dec 10, 2020

those are yummy chuck... you can clearly see the difference in those from the ones at the top of the post...

were you testing us ?? lol :laugh:

Peter S · Dec 10, 2020

Gunrunner....I am impressed!!!!!

flynaked · Dec 10, 2020

Unfortunately I would have to agree that I don’t like the finish on any of those mags Ryan. Way too much zinc in the one I think. As far as painted mags go, I personally believe they would have undergone a simple passivation treatment prior to painting, you can see this on mags, Luftwaffe MG’s etc; under the chipped paint areas you can see this treatment. As far as the paint goes, I don’t know what type it was originally, possibly a baked enamel finish? But, it would be difficult to remove all of it without any sign, and to leave the original metal treatment underneath. As with anything right at the end of the war, production likely halted mid process, this may leave a possible explanation for these thin looking gcb mags. They may actually only be passivized, and are in fact simply unfinished mags lacking their paint. Of course this is all just speculation on my part, but it might explain them.

mauser99 · Dec 11, 2020

These super late phosphate mags have a very thin light wash on them. k43 and late stg44 mags have a similar look to them. Similar to the late bcd44/45 rifles
where its so thin looks clear almost like bare metal. Very susceptible to staining and rust turning brown over time if not stored correctly. One brown it cant be reversed at all.. Unlike bluing where minor rust can be removed .

ugafx4 · Dec 11, 2020

We need to have a K43 mag summit at the forum meeting and take a look at all of these in person.

sturmgrenadier · Dec 11, 2020

Hopefully Gene aka “Titan” will chime in, we have had this discussion several times as I’m sure most k43 collectors have. He told me he tracked down an original late phosphate GCB coded magazine. Maybe he can post a photo to compare to Chuck’s examples.

mdarnell19 · Dec 11, 2020

Here is one that I used to own that may be that late/thin finish we are talking about. Or maybe it was stripped? I am far from a mag expert.

Erniesq · Dec 11, 2020

I'll join the conversation -

Here are my four aye phosphate magazines, one with a very light strike "K43."

The third picture compares one of the aye phosphate magazines to a gcb magazine with very similar coloring and features - the gcb magazine has a raised rib floorplate.

Ernie

Gunrunner · Dec 18, 2020

Gunrunner said:
Here are 3 aye phosphate mags with no K43 stamp.

I took a closer look at these 3 mags and there are some very faint partial 4's or 3's stamped on them.

Chuck

bigwagon · Feb 14, 2024

I'm bumping this interesting old discussion about phosphate K43 mags because I recently acquired what appears to be an unissued C-block ac45 with a mint condition phosphate aye magazine. It is absolutely flawless without a mark or blemish on it. I almost couldn't believe it when the seller pulled it out of a bag of magazines and said "this is the one that came in it." Notice that it also has the mysterious "+" mark on it. The lighting here is a bit washed out. In person it has more of a greenish tint. The rest of the rifle is in similar condition to the magazine, like it was picked up off the factory floor and stored in perfect conditions for 80 years.

dustoff1996 · Feb 14, 2024

VERY nice aye magazine!!

Questions on 4 gcb K43 Magazines

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