P38 "Zero Series" magazines

[DerSpiess]

I was just at a gun show and was picking through a bin of P38 mags, and I found a real no-fooling "Zero Series" magazine, SN# 011097 - they only made 13,000 of these guns for the Wehrmacht to test, and each gun had matching #'d mags, something the later p38s did not have. I have now confirmed that it is a "Zero Series" for real. It's in almost perfect condition - 95% bluing and is marked with the serial # on the lower left side, and two WaA359 stamps on the spine near the bottom.

I've only found a little info on this - and the only photographs are on THIS site.

Anyone have any additional information for me about these things?

[gew98]

For reference ; I had two 'early' P38's both ac41's and they had matching serialed magazines, a C and a E block.

[DerSpiess]

For reference ; I had two 'early' P38's both ac41's and they had matching serialed magazines, a C and a E block.

How helpful. And this tells me...what...?

I have a bring-back ac41 "i" block with the original holster and two unnumbered but matching mags. I got this rig in 1982 from a veteran.

So...I'm still searching for how your post helps me with information on my ZERO SERIES magazine.

[Gary Cain]

I have a ZERO series, now what info are you looking for? Also keep it a little more civil.



Gary

How helpful. And this tells me...what...?

I have a bring-back ac41 "i" block with the original holster and two unnumbered but matching mags. I got this rig in 1982 from a veteran.

So...I'm still searching for how your post helps me with information on my ZERO SERIES magazine.

[R_Hessian]

Lets keep it friendly

By in large we are a polite group in this forum, courtesy should and will be extended to all.

Regards,
Robert

[DerSpiess]

I have a ZERO series, now what info are you looking for? Also keep it a little more civil.

Gary

My question is about original magazines for Zero Series P38s. Does your Zero have its original mags? it's my understanding that Zero mags are #'d on the side towards the bottom, with two WaA proofs on the spine also near the bottom. This is different than regular-issue #d mags which were stamped on the baseplate.

I am trying to find out how common or rare these mags are. The only person I know personally who has a Zero doesn't have either of the original mags that went with it.

[gew98]

Spice guy ; Both my P38's were numbered on the side of their magazines at the bases. The E block pistol was in an original shoulder holster as well.
Just because your 'i' block ac41 has unnumbered magazines with vet provenance means as it is a later block and likely by then numbered magazines went out the window.
As a sidenote a numbered P38 mag is not rare , zero series or otherwise...it's still going to be mismatch to any pistol you mate it with, just like magazine mismatch P08's.

[Gary Cain]

gew98 is correct. They are not rare by any means. Yes my Zero series has it's original mag and yes it is stamped on the side.


Gary

My question is about original magazines for Zero Series P38s. Does your Zero have its original mags? it's my understanding that Zero mags are #'d on the side towards the bottom, with two WaA proofs on the spine also near the bottom. This is different than regular-issue #d mags which were stamped on the baseplate.

I am trying to find out how common or rare these mags are. The only person I know personally who has a Zero doesn't have either of the original mags that went with it.

[leondes]

DerSpiess,

P.38s had magazines numbered on the side of the tube until the standard ac40s were made and, about that time, the stamping was changed to crosswise on the toe of the mag bottom. Starting in 1942, the mag numbers were stamped lengthwise on the mag bottom until about the end of the "c" block. After that no magazines were numbered by Walther. Mauser nor Spreewerk ever numbered their mags.

I have discussed mag numbering with a lot of collectors and there appears to be a lot of overlap in the transition from numbering on the tube to numbering on the toe. The change to numbering lengthwise on the toe seems to be a definite change when the ac42s were first made and I have heard of no overlap.

Here is a link to one of my "0" series with a matched mag. The "0" series mags are hard to find and worth more than later mags, in my experience.

http://lmd-militaria.com/page155.html

Hope this answers your questions.

Regards, Leon

[dag001]

Leon,

As we have come to expect from you - that is a magnificent "O" series P.38.