Different mags for 3913 - not size but location of the mag release/catch?

[Drew816]

I bought two brand new magazines for the 3913 and 3913TSW though listed as "original style" in the ad. They show up, 7 round mags that "look" like they fit a 3913TSW and one mag functioned a single time and then the mag wouldn't lock up anymore. I finally took the grips off and compared to my original 8 round mags and sure enough the mag catch hole is lower on this 7 round mag.

The seller claims there were two different magazines (with different mag catch locations) for the 3913 series; I find this hard to believe but I'm no expert so I'm asking you! He originally offered at least a partial refund but has now disappeared and my 30 day grace period ended before I released what the issue was to begin with; argghhh!

Thoughts?

 

[GaryS]

Post some pictures and maybe we can at least help identify what they are for. Then you can try to sell them and recoup some of your money.

 

[Drew816]

Will do, they look just like the 3913 8 round mags but have a flat baseplate instead and are 7 round mags; and of course the mag catch hole is lower... They got the weapon just fine, the mag won't stay in the weapon though...

Thanks!

 

[scwv67]

Could they be mags for a CS9? Or they might be mags for the early non-railed 3913TSW. It had a shorter grip and one round less capacity than the later TSW IIRC.

 

[GaryS]

Could they be mags for a CS9? Or they might be mags for the early non-railed 3913TSW. It had a shorter grip and one round less capacity than the later TSW IIRC.

That's unlikely as the mag release hole should be the same distance from the top of the magazine. An 8 round 3913 will fit in either a CS0 or a pre rail 3913TSW, but not the other way around. Well, I suppose it would work if you took the butt plate off, but of course then the spring and follower would drop out.

 

[Drew816]

Could they be mags for a CS9? Or they might be mags for the early non-railed 3913TSW. It had a shorter grip and one round less capacity than the later TSW IIRC.

If that's true, I'll bet that's what these mags fit. I didn't realize there was such an animal as a shorter grip 3913. Can anyone confirm?

Maybe I can find someone out there that needs these as it appears I'm stuck with them now; arggh...

 

[GaryS]

If that's true, I'll bet that's what these mags fit. I didn't realize there was such an animal as a shorter grip 3913. Can anyone confirm?

Maybe I can find someone out there that needs these as it appears I'm stuck with them now; arggh...

I can confirm it as I have a pre rail seven shot 3913TSW. The same magazines fit those or the CS9. The difference is in the base plates. The CS9 uses a curved base plate, while the 3913TSW uses a truncated cone shape base plate.

The pictures will probably help us.

If they are CS9 or 3913TSW magazines, you'll have little problem selling them.

 

[Road Rat]

Dang, you would "think" manufacturers could - in this smart day and age - make a handgun to "fit the magazine"..............

I see absolutely no valid reason for each and every pistol to have a totally different magazine.....................

 

[racemi]

But...

More to the point, I would think that the makers of the mags could be expected to put the models that the mag fits on the mag so that people can tell what they have. MacGar mags seem to have enough identifying marks on them so that you can tell what they fit. Why is this not a rule?

 

[GaryS]

More to the point, I would think that the makers of the mags could be expected to put the models that the mag fits on the mag so that people can tell what they have. MacGar mags seem to have enough identifying marks on them so that you can tell what they fit. Why is this not a rule?

Because the government already makes too many rules about how guns are made. Give them the authority and they'll make them impossible to make profitably.

 

[WR Moore]

IIRC, when the 3913 series came out the original mags were 7 round. Since competitors had larger capacity, the mags were redesigned to take 8 rounds. If the changes were like those in the 5906 series (original mags 14 rounds, redesign 15 rounds), the changes were to the follower and baseplate, possibly also in the way the baseplate attaches to the mag. Although it may have been necessary to lengthen the grip frame, wasn't necessary on the 5906.

I expect if you order new followers and base plates for the 8 round mags, you can get them to work. Might possibly have to modify the bottom of the mag slightly to fit the new baseplate. I did that on the one 14 round 5906 mag I got gifted and it works just fine with 15 rounds.

If the mag catch hole is lower, and there's no interference with the baseplate and grip frame, you could always modify the mag catch slot to work. If these are more rare magazines as is, you might want to re-sell them for more $.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Best photo I have to compare the magazines.

 

[handgunner356]

Yes the early pre-rail TSW3913s' '98-00 used the shorter 7rd mag with a oval baseplate that filled in the notched out grip. The same mag with the finger rest extension was used in the CS9. The catch notch is in the same place as the larger mags(from the top) so if yours is different then I'm not sure as to what you got. If they are CS9/pre-rail TSW mags you'll be able to get your money back.

 

[lhump1961]

The 7 round mags are too short to insert completely into the 8 round mag well...the floor plate won't allow it to go all the way in. They aren't interchangeable to the best of my knowledge no matter what you do...unless you insert the 7 round mag without a floor plate on it! The 8 round will, however, work in the 7 round guns...just sticks out a bit.