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Green Phosphate MP44 Magazines Origin?

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Planejack

Well-known member
Can anyone inform me of the origin of the MP44 Magazines with very dark green rough textured Phosphate finish? I’ve also seen this finish applied to the guns, so I’m thinking it must have been a post war finish done by a nation who must have possessed many of these weapons? I apologize if this is a pretty basic “”Everyone Knows” question….but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been late to a party! ;-)
 
Only issue with that hypothesis is that it has a rough surface to it….almost a slight aggregate. Normally, the German WWII Phosphate was pretty smooth, as if the metal were left bare. The colors did seem to range anywhere from none, to a slate or greenish gray. However it’s the texture on these that throw me off. Now, I also seem to see these with very late guns….so might it be a last variant of Phosphate that enhanced its protection to the environment? I’d think they’d have bigger fish to fry at that point in the war?
 
I have reproduced “greenish” phosphate using a grey phosphate dip and coat the part with Vaseline, then put it in the oven @300 for a while.
 
Im assuming you mean the ones that are really rough surface and dark green. Idk, but they do look postwar refinished by someone. I have a few and know what you’re talking about. Did Israel ever use the mp44? Looks similar to some Israeli finishes.
 
I believe those dark parked/sand blasted mp44 mags came out of Yugoslavia back in the early 90s....along with parts kits.
 
Brian Kowalski said:
I believe those dark parked/sand blasted mp44 mags came out of Yugoslavia back in the early 90s....along with parts kits.
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Your comment made me wonder what ever happened to those MP44s in Syria. I seem to recall Pak 40 in action as well and understood someone was trying to get a line on that. Even rebels/jihadists are usually willing to make a buck.
 
heavy_mech said:
Your comment made me wonder what ever happened to those MP44s in Syria. I seem to recall Pak 40 in action as well and understood someone was trying to get a line on that. Even rebels/jihadists are usually willing to make a buck.
Click to expand...
Would be amazing to get 5k parts kits imported into the country!
 
Not here to attest to the authenticity of green magazines. You guys are the experts.

At Lassen College we had a dip tank with hot water and GI Grease. After the phosphate dip and rinse the object was dipped into hot water with GI grease tank and hence the green color.
 
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I've been told the company that does phosphate finish for Steyr Arms that they use steel wool as additive to influence the color of the finish. Don't ask me though as to what gives which result.
 
I had just seen some mp40 mags done the same way appear bead blasted then parked. Similar to USA type job. Original mags we just dipped and the phosphate is almost clear like the finish on any late war parts.
 
This one is one of a number imported directly from Yugoslavia into Canada.
All had a distinct "green" (re)finish, indluding the mags with them.
(Note the nice Yugo sling, and second Yugo MP44 on shelf behind me.)

They were used by the former Yugoslavia's airborne units into the late 70's -
More for prestige than anything else, or so I heard tell.
 

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The rifles are still there, and there are probably more now - 100% licensed and correct.
They've been going strong for over 27 years.
It's a movie rental house not open to the public.
 
So, not to beat a “Dead Horse” here….but is it at all conclusive that the mags or guns done in this finish are definitely post war? Or, is it possible to have been done wartime?
 
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