Chinese Spineless Mags?

blackwater1825 · July 9, 2015, 09:54 PM

How much are the Chinese Spineless mags worth these days? Are they pretty rare?

Model12Win · July 9, 2015, 10:29 PM

The "spinefrees" really aren't worth a premium over standard mags,

Bart Noir · July 10, 2015, 02:44 PM

But they are well made.

Maybe 10 years back there were mag's being sold as "Yugoslavian" which were identical to the Chinese, except for not having the 'Made in China' label on the bottom.

Surprise! They were actually made in China. They were purchased by one side or the other during the messy break-up of Yugoslavia, or maybe just before that. And then sold as Yugoslavian. They didn't have the Yugo bolt hold open mag follower so I guess you have buy the new Gibbs magazines to get those.

I like the no-spine feel when I grab a Chinese one, but otherwise I don't think they are worth more money.

Bart Noir

5.56RifleGuy · July 11, 2015, 07:03 AM

I remember purchasing quite a few from aim surplus for about $10 each not too long ago.

**44 AMP** · July 11, 2015, 03:41 PM

would someone please explain "spineless mags" to the more unenlightened of us (like ME??

)

The spine is the back edge (rear face) of the mag, can't have one without it, so clearly you mean something special.

(no, I can't help with the discussion but I would like to know what you are talking about, and I may not be alone...)
Thanks

DubC-Hicks · July 11, 2015, 04:05 PM

With the Russian and some other mags, they have a spine sticking out of the back, perpendicular to the back of the mag. The Chinese don't have the sharp spine sticking out.

highpower3006 · July 11, 2015, 05:29 PM

I bought a bunch of them for five bucks apiece.

**44 AMP** · July 12, 2015, 10:43 AM

Thank you DubC for part of the answer. Since you are talking Russian and Chinese, shall I assume they are AK mags???

DubC-Hicks · July 12, 2015, 06:53 PM

Your assumption is correct

Sorry, I didn't even realize that wasn't stated in the first post

**44 AMP** · July 12, 2015, 10:05 PM

Thanks, I guess its just one of my pet peeves, but I've even seen more than one page with everyone talking and never saying exactly what..

so here I was, looking at the mag on my SVT-40 and thinking...what raised spine????

Bart Noir · July 14, 2015, 06:39 PM

Sorry Amp, I never even noticed that we hadn't really defined the subject of our conversation.

It was AK-47 steel magazines, the traditional European/Russian version versus the Chinese version. But not AK-74 magazines since there haven't been any Chinese-made imported ones.

Bart Noir

July 9, 2015, 09:54 PM	#1
blackwater1825 Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2015 Posts: 150	Chinese Spineless Mags? How much are the Chinese Spineless mags worth these days? Are they pretty rare?

July 10, 2015, 02:44 PM	#3
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	But they are well made. Maybe 10 years back there were mag's being sold as "Yugoslavian" which were identical to the Chinese, except for not having the 'Made in China' label on the bottom. Surprise! They were actually made in China. They were purchased by one side or the other during the messy break-up of Yugoslavia, or maybe just before that. And then sold as Yugoslavian. They didn't have the Yugo bolt hold open mag follower so I guess you have buy the new Gibbs magazines to get those. I like the no-spine feel when I grab a Chinese one, but otherwise I don't think they are worth more money. Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

July 11, 2015, 07:03 AM	#4
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	I remember purchasing quite a few from aim surplus for about $10 each not too long ago. __________________ Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus

July 11, 2015, 03:41 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	would someone please explain "spineless mags" to the more unenlightened of us (like ME??) The spine is the back edge (rear face) of the mag, can't have one without it, so clearly you mean something special. (no, I can't help with the discussion but I would like to know what you are talking about, and I may not be alone...) Thanks __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 11, 2015, 04:05 PM	#6
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	With the Russian and some other mags, they have a spine sticking out of the back, perpendicular to the back of the mag. The Chinese don't have the sharp spine sticking out. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

July 9, 2015, 10:29 PM	#2
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	The "spinefrees" really aren't worth a premium over standard mags,

July 11, 2015, 05:29 PM	#7
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,220	I bought a bunch of them for five bucks apiece.

July 12, 2015, 10:43 AM	#8
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	Thank you DubC for part of the answer. Since you are talking Russian and Chinese, shall I assume they are AK mags??? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 12, 2015, 06:53 PM	#9
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	Your assumption is correct Sorry, I didn't even realize that wasn't stated in the first post __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

July 12, 2015, 10:05 PM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	Thanks, I guess its just one of my pet peeves, but I've even seen more than one page with everyone talking and never saying exactly what.. so here I was, looking at the mag on my SVT-40 and thinking...what raised spine???? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 14, 2015, 06:39 PM	#11
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	Sorry Amp, I never even noticed that we hadn't really defined the subject of our conversation. It was AK-47 steel magazines, the traditional European/Russian version versus the Chinese version. But not AK-74 magazines since there haven't been any Chinese-made imported ones. Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!