Key Hole Magazine

[coice]

Hello. Can anyone out there tell me about the key hole magazine for the 1911? I think I may have stumbled on one but I do not know if it is legitimate or not? Can anyone tell me what to look for? Are there any special markings? What does the "key hole" term signify? Thanks for the help.

[s&w ucla]

Keyhole refers to the hole and sawcut at the top rear of the magazine. I understand that reproductions are made of this. Search around and you can probably find a picture of one online. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[egg collector]

Maybe this will help.
http://www.coolgunsite.com/

[Oyeboten]

Can you post some good close-up images of it?


These of course were the first or earliest Magazine type for the Model O, and, are quite scarce.

The 'Keyhole' in the back side top of the Magazine was an effort to help stop cracking of the Lips, and, was soon abandonded in favor of using a Tempering Method to solve the issue.

Re-pops have been made, and, possibly an artificially aged re-pop could appear to be fairly convincing.

[Rob Greer]

Actually, the first magazine type for the M1911 is known by collectors as an exposed base magazine. Exposed base magazines were originally shipped with serial number 1 through 4500 or so.

The "Keyhole" magazines came a little later, and are the second type of magazine. They were shipped with pistols s/n 4500 through about 30000.

The keyhole refers to an oval punch and saw cut to the top of the oval. The purpose (as mentioned earlier) was to prevent cracking of the magazine at the sharp corners of the top/rear. Pictures can be found on this great web site...
http://coolgunsite.com/pistols/Magazines.htm