Question about pre-ban magazines?
- Thread starter cslinger
- Start date
IamNOTaNUT
New member
Tha manufacturers made a boatload of mags before the law took effect. These newer guns you mention were probably designed to work with the mags the company had on hand. Including one pre-ban mag can be a major selling point for a new gun buyer. Consider that some full capacity mags are going for $90 if they are preban and you can see why the consumer would like one included with their new purchase.
Most of the "pre-ban" magazines for the P99 for US sale are actually Turkish magazines that were imported into the US. That is why they only have witness holes for 15 rounds, even though they can hold the full 16. There are doubters out there that question the validity of these magazines as most sellers claim that they were manufactured prior to '94, but there are no date markings or serial numbers to verify these "facts."
The Mec-Gar/Walther 16 round "unmarked" magazines for the 9mmx19 P99 are, according to Earl Sheehan of Earl's Repair Service, Inc., actually for the Walther "HLP" (hammer-less psitol) which was the original designation of the P99 and they were made prior to 9/13/94.
Walther and Mec-Gar both claim that NO pre ban, non-LEO/Restricted magazines were ever imported into the US as complete magazines or, magazine bodies. Walther-USA, now Walther America says "not available or never were" during a phone conversation, except for the "restricted" mags for those who can legally purchase and own them.
Karl-Heinz Luther of Walther Germany says, "we assume that provate individuals purchased the magazines in Europe and brought them to the USA".
This also includes the 12 round .40 S&W P99 magazines.
The ATF opinion on this is that they are illegal and they cite USC section 921(a)(31) of Title 18.
See my web site for their correspondence direct to me via e-mail.
I'm betting that date of manufacturer could be established by tracking the patent number on all these magazines.
Walther and Mec-Gar both claim that NO pre ban, non-LEO/Restricted magazines were ever imported into the US as complete magazines or, magazine bodies. Walther-USA, now Walther America says "not available or never were" during a phone conversation, except for the "restricted" mags for those who can legally purchase and own them.
Karl-Heinz Luther of Walther Germany says, "we assume that provate individuals purchased the magazines in Europe and brought them to the USA".
This also includes the 12 round .40 S&W P99 magazines.
The ATF opinion on this is that they are illegal and they cite USC section 921(a)(31) of Title 18.
See my web site for their correspondence direct to me via e-mail.
I'm betting that date of manufacturer could be established by tracking the patent number on all these magazines.