40xx Prototype Magazine

[colt_saa]

This is one of the prototype magazines from the days when Smith and Wesson was first developing the 40xx family of auto-loaders

Since there were no OEM 40S&W magazines at the time, the factory took magazine bodies from the 59xx family of auto-loaders (notice the witness holes) and fitted them with followers that would hold and feed the 40S&W cartridge correctly.

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[GaryS]

That's a nice bit of history.

 

[Sevens]

That is not only neat and interesting... it appears to be like 100% never used, mint. Pretty cool time capsule stuff!

 

[Tom S.]

Very cool!! How did you happen to come across it?

 

[TNZ71]

Magazines were a weak link for the .40 cal 3rd gen guns. Our Dept had numerous variations of magazine up grades denoted by different color paint that was on them. When the 4043 started getting hairline cracks in the frames we went to the Sig 229.

 

[P71]

Does this imply that that you can make new .40 magazines with the 9mm magazine and new followers? I know the .40 magazines are getting harder to find lately.

 

[TNZ71]

Does this imply that that you can make new .40 magazines with the 9mm magazine and new followers? I know the .40 magazines are getting harder to find lately.

They're dimensionally the same. The .40 mag had/has a raised bump the kept it from being inserted into the 9mm frame. We used to drill them out to run in our nines. During the ban a .40 mag held more 9 than a 9 mag did.

 

[colt_saa]

Very cool!! How did you happen to come across it?

Every now and then I am in the right place at the right time.

How many factory original 20 round 356TSW magazines have you come across?

I have never seen another one

I have a few others as well, just not photographed