Guncrafter Guncrafter Mags

Mine came with unmarked mag bodies, but they're dead ringers for Checkmate's extended-tube 8-round hybrid feedlip magazines. :smilie:

Andy

 

Andy.....yours is a standard .45 framed No Name. The pictures and review are of the .50 GI mags which are not compatible with a standard 1911.....not even the .45 mags for the conversion barrels. The .45 mags for the conversion are NOT compatible with the standard 1911....they are a little wider and only fit the .50 GI frame. As for Guncrafter .50 GI mags (and the .45 conversion mags for .50 GI pistols), I believe they are about the most solid magazines build.....they are just about bulletproof from the mag body, to the mag spring to the follower design.

 

Alex has been using a different mag on the last couple of .45 pistols I have received for customers....I believe they are mags that are built to his specs. Until recently, the mags supplied with the GI .45 models have always been the Wilson ETM mags.

 

Yup, quite so, Dave. I took it as he was asking about the ones that came on the standard .45 guns.

I don't know if Guncrafter makes the magazines (the standard .45 ones), but I doubt it. Even if the tube is made by their shop, the follower is one of Tom Vieweg's designs.

For what it's worth, when I talked to Dave at Guncrafter, he recommended Wilson's ETM mags (the ones Alex had a big part in designing). I had four of them already, and bought another five after that phone conversation. :thumb:

I like Chip McCormick's reputation for tube strength and the skirted follower design on the newer Checkmate magazines.

I have another phone call to make to Guncrafter next week about some stuff; I'll be sure to ask about the make of the magazines then. They're actually not bad at all. No malfunctions with them and the design is solid.

Andy

 

I am pretty sure (could be wrong, though) you will not get an answer as to who actually makes the newer mags. They are listed as a GI product and Alex keeps his vendors pretty closed to the vest. I can tell you one thing for certain.....if it is a magazine that is featured in one of Alex's guns, it has 1. been extensively tested and approved by Alex. 2. Has passed the most stringent standards test 3. Is well built and was not thrown in as an afterthought. Alex is scary knowledgeable about magazine body, spring, follower design and is very demanding about the mags that ship out with his pistols. Just look at the ETM mags....and when you look at them, think Alex Zimmerman.

 

I'm certain Guncrafter doesn't make them, it just wouldn't make sense.

 

When I ordered my No Name back in September, they offered to send two WC ETM magazines (someone already mentioned, but the owner of GI played a HUGE part in designing that magazine) or two of their GI magazines. I would venture to say they have someone build them to their specifications. I asked for the ETM magazines with my gun and they didn't seem the least bit upset at it even bragged on them a bit.

 

They are OEM made to our specs. We consider the WC ETM mags to be among the finest in the world. Both magazines has been tested to death by Alex. Magazines are usually never made in house by 1911 manufacture, but often assembled by them after rigid quality control and testing.

Alex has been a consultant many times in the past, for some of the big companies out there, and known as the guy who can fix problems and forsee how to avoid them.

Nothing wrong with Chip mags, but the spring and follower has to be policed more often compared to WC and ours.