Glock clone mags plus + age = fail

[Barney Gumble]

Just thought this was interesting as i've never seen it before. I've had these mags since the mid-90s and they've been sitting unused for most of that time. I recently pulled them out of the safe and noticed that the mag bodies were cracked. They were clones of some kind so I'm sure a cheaper plastic was used because my factory mags from that period are still good as new.

[Joe]

looks like its time for a couple rebuild kits

[NewbieDave]

Hmmm... you sure they're clones?

When I got my G19 back in the early 90's... I got 3 mags that looks just like those in your pic. They were the earlier non-metal lined magazines, or the non-drop free mags as they were referred to back than. The round notch is the easiest way to tell... all the drop-free mags use a square notch.

My older G19, about 5 of them are still rocking as range mags. Maybe it was a bad batch?

~dpc

[doughboy334]

gorilla tape?

[Barney Gumble]

Already replaced them.

At the time they were sold to me as rejects, which was the explanation for the "U" stamp, and maybe that's what they are. But now with so many different types of clone products on the market I wonder about it because the followers are different from my other mags from that period, and the mags didn't have spring retainer clips on the bottom (the part that snaps into the baseplate). But who knows.

gorilla tape?

Haha I don't think so...they wouldn't even fit into the mag well anyway, and besides mags are disposable items, when they wear out you're supposed to replace them.

[pTa]

use a synthetic oil... petroleum based oils weaken plastic

[Barney Gumble]

use a synthetic oil... petroleum based oils weaken plastic

I may have used them once, if at all. If it were an oil issue my others would have cracked. It's just cheap plastic is all.

[SJgunguy24]

Glock mags are so cheap why go with knock offs?

[Futurecollector]

Glock mags are so cheap why go with knock offs?

my local shop charges 35 a glock mag, not so cheap IMHO...

[Barney Gumble]

Glock mags are so cheap why go with knock offs?

I didn't have much money in those days so every little bit counted.

[P08]

Those are early non full metal lined police trade in glock 17 magazines. They are not clones, they hit the market several months prior to the original mag ban. The same thing happened to all of mine, both loaded and unloaded stored. The non full metal mags swell when you load them, and the earlier ones may have been made with an more brittle form of plastic. The 'U' mark was for used, so they could not be confused by a retailer as new, though some of them were in fact unused. I recall the cost at the time was $6.95 each.

[Waterfowler]

Glock mags are so cheap why go with knock offs?

In the mid-to-late 90s when the OP bought these, 9mm factory glock *hicap mags were going for like $100-$150 in any store, website, or auction site in the USA. I remember only being able to afford the $30-$40 Pro Mags.

*edit

[Shane916]

my local shop charges 35 a glock mag, not so cheap IMHO...

Thus the invention of GunBroker and CalGuns Marketplace

[SJgunguy24]

my local shop charges 35 a glock mag, not so cheap IMHO...

Last time I picked up 10 round mags they were 20$

I didn't have much money in those days so every little bit counted.

I know man i've been out of work for 3 months with 2 kids and a wife to take care of.

[pTa]

Might wanna change your thread title, those look like the genuine article... Just "Used" as opposed to NEW.