東京マルイ(TOKYO MARUI) No.23 MEUスペアマガジン ガスブローバックガン用
Features
| 主な素材 | 金属 |
| 電池使用 | いいえ |
| 電池付属 | いいえ |
| ASIN | B001DM7GB0 |
| おすすめ度 | 4.5 5つ星のうち4.5 (231) 5つ星のうち4.5 |
| Amazon 売れ筋ランキング | ホビー - 7,059位 (ホビーの売れ筋ランキングを見る) パーツ - 104位 |
| Amazon.co.jp での取り扱い開始日 | 2007/5/1 |
- 男の子向き
- 対象年齢 : 15歳から
A perfectly serviceable old pistol can become a paperweight over one small, missing part.
The pistol may lock up tightly, show an honest bore, and cycle dummy rounds from a borrowed magazine—yet its value as a usable firearm hinges on a component that was often treated as expendable. Original magazines were lost, mixed into parts bins, altered, or discarded long before the pistol became collectible.
That shortage invites false rarity pricing. A seller may call any old, blued magazine “original,” even when its feed-lip geometry, witness holes, baseplate stamp, or latch-cut location belongs to a later contract or a different variant. Under pressure to complete a purchase, buyers can mistake scarcity for correctness. A questionable magazine is more than an overpriced accessory: improper dimensions can cause failures to feed, weak retention, slide-stop problems, or damage to the pistol’s finish and controls. Condition matters, but verified pattern, fit, and provenance matter first.
- Compare the magazine catch cut and feed-lip profile before treating a listing as variant-correct.
- Baseplates are frequently swapped; markings alone rarely authenticate the entire magazine.
Identify the magazine pattern first
A pistol’s model name is rarely enough to identify its magazine. Makers often retained a familiar name across caliber changes, frame revisions, export versions, and later production runs. Two magazines may share overall length and feed-lip shape yet differ at the catch notch, baseplate, or follower—differences that prevent locking, reliable feeding, or slide-stop function.
Create a written compatibility profile before comparing listings. It gives a seller-specific claim something concrete to be checked against, rather than relying on phrases such as “fits Model X.”
What to record
- Full markings: manufacturer, model designation, proof or import marks, and any serial-number prefix or suffix relevant to the pistol.
- Caliber and cartridge family: chamber marking, not just a broad caliber nickname. Similar cartridges can use different magazine bodies and feed geometry.
- Production variant: early/late revision, commercial or military contract pattern, and country of manufacture where applicable.
- Frame and grip size: standard versus compact, full-length versus shortened grip, and single-stack versus double-stack configuration.
- Release style: heel release, button release, paddle release, or a frame-specific arrangement. This determines where the magazine must present its locking surface.
- Catch geometry: notch or hole location, shape, depth, and whether it appears on one side or both. A clear side-on photograph beside a ruler is particularly useful.
Also note magazine-body width, front-to-back length, witness-hole layout, baseplate profile, and follower shape. These secondary details often expose a mislabeled substitute. An original magazine, if present, is the best reference: photograph all sides and measure it before treating an online listing as compatible.
Ask for a crisp photo of the magazine’s catch notch and upper body. Sellers commonly photograph the side with markings; the opposite side may reveal the feature that determines whether the magazine locks into a particular variant.
Buy for the pistol’s actual job
A magazine bought for a display case answers a different question from one carried as a range spare. Collector originality can justify patience: correct finish, period markings, baseplate style, and even small manufacturing details may matter more than cosmetic wear. A later magazine that functions perfectly can still weaken the appeal of an otherwise original outfit.
For regular shooting, the priority shifts to reliable, replaceable serviceability. Current-production magazines are often the sensible choice when they match the verified pattern and are made by a reputable specialist. They preserve scarce factory-era examples, simplify sourcing of backups, and make ordinary wear less consequential.
A clean used original often sits between those two goals. It can be appropriate for an owner who values period character but does not need museum-level correctness. Condition matters more than surface shine: inspect feed lips for distortion, the body for dents or splits, the follower for free movement, and the baseplate for secure retention.
Before paying a premium, classify the purchase:
- Collection: prioritize documented factory-era correctness.
- Range use: favor proven current production and spares.
- Mixed use: retain one original example; use serviceable replacements for shooting.
That distinction prevents a scarce collectible from being treated as a consumable—or a routine range magazine from being priced like one.
Price the Magazine by Its Delivered Reality
- Compare completed sales, not hopeful listingsA single live listing measures a seller’s ambition, not market value. Build a range from several recent sold listings, auction results, dealer archives, and specialist forum sales, matching maker, finish, capacity, and condition as closely as possible.Look forRepeated completed-sale evidence for the same pattern and condition tier.AvoidTreating the highest unsold asking price as the going rate.
- Count every cost required to put it in handThe meaningful comparison is delivered cost: item price plus shipping, platform charges, tax where applicable, and any separate payment or transfer-related fee. A modest-looking listing can lose its advantage once those additions appear.Look forA total calculated from the checkout or invoice details.AvoidComparing headline prices while ignoring unavoidable add-ons.
- Let provenance change the comparisonClear photographs of markings, a credible source, original packaging, and a documented association with a particular pistol can support a premium for collectors. For ordinary shooters, those features may matter less than feed-lip geometry, spring health, and reliable lockup—part of deciding which pistol magazines are worth buying.Look forEvidence that supports originality, maker identity, and claimed history.AvoidPaying a provenance premium based only on a seller’s description.
- Put a value on returnabilityAn old magazine can conceal cracked feed lips, altered catch notches, weak springs, or corrosion under oil. A clear return window and accurate inspection photos reduce the cost of being wrong; an as-is sale deserves a larger uncertainty discount.Look forSpecific return terms and close views of lips, body, base, and follower.AvoidAssigning full value to an unreturnable magazine with vague photos.
Start With Sources That Stand Behind Fitment
Established firearms-parts dealers are usually the best first stop. Their advantage is not merely inventory: the stronger shops publish measurements, photographs of the catch cut and feed lips, maker markings, condition notes, and a stated return procedure. A listing that names only a pistol model is weak evidence; many older designs changed magazine geometry within the same family.
A practical source order
- Specialist parts dealers and manufacturer archives. Prioritize sellers that distinguish factory original, contract, surplus, and current-production magazines rather than blending them into “OEM-style.” Their fitment notes often flag known exceptions.
- Reputable surplus dealers. These can offer excellent used magazines when grading explains finish loss, dents, spring condition, follower wear, and whether the item was function-tested. “Good surplus” without photos or a definition is not a grade.
- Current-production makers and authorized distributors. For a shooter-grade magazine, documented compatibility and a warranty can outweigh period-correct markings. Backorders here are often more rational than paying a collector premium for an unverified example.
- Collector forums, auction sites, and private listings. These are useful for uncommon originals, but require the most scrutiny. Clear photos, exact markings, and an agreed return process matter more than a seller’s claim of rarity.
A supposedly scarce listing often reflects thin supply that week, not genuine absence. Restock alerts, saved searches, and a willingness to wait reduce the pressure to accept vague fitment claims or irreversible sales. When the pattern is known, a later listing with better documentation is commonly the cheaper purchase in the only sense that matters: it is less likely to become an unusable magazine.
When a replacement beats a marked original
A reputable contract or replacement magazine can be the smarter purchase when the pistol is meant to be used rather than displayed. Original markings establish period appeal, but they do not repair tired springs, distorted feed lips, or a baseplate that no longer stays locked in place. A current-production magazine with known fitment can offer a clearer value proposition than an unproven “correct” example.
Inspect the parts that determine reliability
Feed lips deserve the closest look. They should be symmetrical, free of cracks or burrs, and not visibly spread or pinched. The follower should travel smoothly without tipping, while the spring should return it briskly and evenly rather than binding midway through its travel.
Also check the details sellers often omit:
- Baseplate retention: tabs, pins, and welds should be intact; a loose floorplate is a condition issue, not patina.
- Finish: light wear is usually cosmetic, but deep corrosion inside the tube can impede follower travel.
- Body geometry: dents around the catch notch, spine, and upper tube can affect seating and release.
- Documented fitment: prefer a maker that names the exact pistol pattern, capacity, and any frame or release variations it does not fit.
The useful comparison is not “factory versus aftermarket,” but whether the magazine is built to the correct pattern and supported by evidence. A comparison of Mec-Gar and factory magazine value is especially relevant because contract production may deliver strong construction without attaching a collector premium to a factory logo.
Before committing, compare photographs of the catch notch, feed-lip profile, and baseplate with the pistol’s known pattern. Keep original magazines with a collectible pistol when possible; let well-documented replacements handle routine use.
For compatible gas-blowback airsoft pistols
A metal, 26-round gas-blowback magazine for specified Tokyo Marui 1911/MEU-pattern airsoft models, including the MEU Pistol and M1911A1. It is not a magazine for a live-fire pistol; confirm the exact airsoft model before purchase.
Treat Used Magazines as Evidence, Not Bargains
A used magazine is not simply “original” or “serviceable.” Its value rests on whether the listing documents the surfaces and dimensions that control retention, feeding, and collector identity. A low-resolution exterior shot cannot establish any of those things.
Photos that answer mechanical questions
Request—or prioritize listings with—sharp, well-lit views of the front, rear, both sides, top, base, and follower. The top view is particularly revealing: feed lips should appear symmetrical, without flare, crushing, filing marks, or a split at either rear corner. A straight-on rear photo can show whether the body is twisted and whether the catch notch has been rounded by repeated insertion.
The strongest listings also show the magazine seated in the correct pistol or identify a verified test firearm. That is useful corroboration, not proof of universal fit; small production changes can matter. For a closer checklist, inspect and clean used magazines methodically before treating one as range inventory.
Markings establish identity—and expose alterations
Clear close-ups of maker stamps, patent lines, caliber marks, floorplate legends, witness holes, and inspection symbols help distinguish a correct period example from a later body fitted with an appealing base. Compare font shape, stamp depth, placement, and finish wear against documented examples. Wear should make visual sense across the piece: a heavily polished body paired with a pristine, sharply stamped floorplate deserves questions.
Condition evidence should include the spring’s response, follower movement, interior rust, dents, and any repaired seam or soldered area. Light finish loss may be cosmetic; pitting around feed lips, a cracked floorplate tab, or a weak spring turns an apparent bargain into a repair gamble. Listings that disclose flaws, show them at close range, and offer a return path generally deserve more confidence than vague claims of “excellent condition.”
A correct-looking floorplate does not authenticate the body beneath it. Evaluate the magazine as a matched assembly, especially when collector value is part of the asking price.
Scarcity claims that do not survive inspection
Many discontinued magazines remain available through old dealer stock, estate lots, and periodic surplus releases.
A gap in current production is not proof of a thin supply.
Counterfeit bodies can be artificially aged, and later floorplates or followers can be mixed into genuine bodies.
Markings, welds, geometry, and component construction carry more weight than patina.
A premium is credible only when condition, provenance, and correct period details are documented.
Unverified listings often use scarcity language to conceal uncertainty.
A premium can be defensible when the magazine is correct, complete, and verifiable: a documented original finish, period-correct baseplate and follower, crisp manufacturer marks, intact welds, and provenance that ties it to a known collection or firearm. Scarcity has value when comparable examples genuinely appear infrequently and sell consistently.
The expensive mistakes often hide behind an attractive body. Look for shallow or poorly formed stamps, inconsistent font spacing, fresh finish inside worn witness holes, altered catch notches, crushed feed lips, and floorplates that do not match the body’s era. A magazine that locks only with force, drops free unpredictably, or shows weak spring return is not rescued by a rare-looking mark.
Fitment deserves the same scrutiny applied when avoiding unreliable aftermarket Glock magazines: compare lock-up, release behavior, feed-lip symmetry, and follower travel against a known-correct example. Modifications can erase collector interest and create a costly troubleshooting project.
A modest saving disappears quickly if photos are incomplete, condition language is vague, or returns are excluded. Clear images of both sides, spine, feed lips, base, follower, and witness holes make a higher price easier to defend than a bargain listing with no recourse.
A seller who permits inspection after delivery is offering meaningful confidence. “No returns” is especially consequential when markings, spring strength, or fit cannot be verified from photographs.
Search Methodically, Not Emotionally
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Keep a fitment record
Save the pistol’s model and variant, magazine dimensions, catch location, baseplate profile, markings, and known-compatible patterns. Add photos and measurements so each listing can be checked against evidence rather than memory.
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Set the acceptable range before searching
Define whether the target is an original, a serviceable used example, or a current-production substitute. Note the non-negotiables: catch geometry, feed-lip condition, capacity, finish, and return eligibility.
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Watch sources with accountability
Monitor established dealers, maker restocks, specialist forums, and auction listings with clear photographs and descriptions. Saved searches expose normal supply over time and make dramatic scarcity claims easier to spot.
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Compare the delivered transaction
Evaluate shipping, taxes, fees, condition risk, missing parts, and return terms alongside the asking price. A lower listing can become the weaker purchase once those details are included.
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Archive the listing before committing
Preserve photos, description text, seller identity, stated fitment, and condition claims. If the evidence is thin, contradictory, or replaced by urgency, passing protects the search budget.
Let Evidence Set the Price
- A documented fitment profile eliminates most costly near-matches.
- Restock monitoring and completed-sale records are stronger than scarcity rhetoric.
- Listing evidence matters as much as the magazine itself when condition or originality is disputed.
The strongest search is deliberately unglamorous: identify the pattern, decide what condition and originality are actually worth pursuing, then compare documented listings by their full delivered cost. A magazine is only a bargain when its fitment, condition, and seller claims can be supported.
When a seller relies on hurry, vague compatibility, or an untested rarity story, the sensible answer is to leave it. Another listing may take time, but unsupported premiums rarely become better evidence later.
7 Comments
Could a current-production replacement be safe to use if it needs a tiny bit of fitting to lock in? I keep seeing forum posts saying “just file the catch notch,” which sounds like a great way for me to turn an expensive magazine into scrap metal.
Is any fitting reasonable, or should I only buy one that works as-is?
Your caution is justified. Do not casually alter a catch notch based on a forum comment; removing material can weaken retention or create an unsafe, unreliable fit. Minor fitting may be appropriate only when the maker specifically documents it for that pistol pattern and you understand exactly what is being adjusted. For most buyers, a replacement that locks securely and functions as supplied—or one sold with a clear return policy—is the better choice.
The source ranking is useful, although I wish more dealers would publish the actual measurements instead of just writing “fits Model X family.” Some of those families have enough sub-variants to make that phrase basically meaningless.
One thing I would add: provenance can be overstated too. A handwritten tag saying “original WWII issue” isn’t documentation, especially when the markings and construction don’t match reference photos.
The part about comparing sharp multi-angle pictures was spot on. I’d rather have a plain replacement with a return window than a supposedly historic magazine supported by vibes and a blurry basement photo.
Restocks really do change the math. I panic-bought a “last one anywhere” part years ago, then the manufacturer had a batch two months later for half the price. Never again 🤦♂️
This is the first explanation I’ve seen that separates “discontinued” from actually scarce. I was about to pay nearly $180 for a magazine just because the seller used the word rare three times. Saved searches and checking completed sales it is.
How much play is acceptable when checking a used magazine in the pistol? I understand it should latch and feed, but mine has a tiny bit of front-to-back movement after it clicks in. The seller says that’s normal for this pattern, which may be true, but I don’t know how to tell normal tolerance from a bad catch or wrong body shape.