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Joined:
Jan 2026
Posts:
1
EE: 0% (0)
FL, USA
Posted: 1/25/2026 7:44:03 PM EDT
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Howdy folks! hopped on here as I figured one or more of yalls may be able to directly educate me here. Long story short, dad retired n moved abroad, I have his guns, and I found this Termold mag in the pile but it doesn't look like any of the ones I see floating around. Not exactly sure how to upload pictures yet, but there is a circle stamp with 85, of which I assume means it was manufactured in 1985? Anything cool to know bout this year manufacture? I assume it was "pre ban" of some sort from some google searches but I havent found anything this old yet. |
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I presume the circled 85 is the mfg date but I'm not 100% sure. The couple I have (bought in the late 80s) are marked: Thermold 85 (inside a circle) D.&D. INC. H Wilson, N.C. U.S.A Thermold patented their AR mag back in 1977, 30 years before PMags. And Thermold still backs every one of their mags with a lifetime warranty. |
I find life is more enjoyable since I've shunned politics.. y'all should try it.
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Originally Posted By Paintzapper: Howdy folks! hopped on here as I figured one or more of yalls may be able to directly educate me here. Long story short, dad retired n moved abroad, I have his guns, and I found this Termold mag in the pile but it doesn't look like any of the ones I see floating around. Not exactly sure how to upload pictures yet, but there is a circle stamp with 85, of which I assume means it was manufactured in 1985? Anything cool to know bout this year manufacture? I assume it was "pre ban" of some sort from some google searches but I havent found anything this old yet. You'll need a hosting service to post pics here unless you purchase a membership. Imjur and Postimages work well. |
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
Joined:
Jan 2026
Posts:
2
EE: 0% (0)
FL, USA
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Thank you both! Good lord, they still back them up?! Good on them! And thank you for reminding me of Imgur, I haven't messed with forums without a membership in forever and just couldn't remember them for the life of me. Pictures:   
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| https://www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/magazines/thermold.html |
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
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Originally Posted By CA_TX-Cop: That’s a different pattern than I’m used to seeing, oh wait, nevermind, I was thinking Orlite mags. 😬  |
I find life is more enjoyable since I've shunned politics.. y'all should try it.
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The Thermold mag above looks like one of the later expandable 30/45 round magazines. The bottom could be unclipped and extended downward to expand the magazine from 30 to 45 rounds. It could also be used loaded with 30 rounds, extended to release pressure on the spring, then just prior to use, returned to the 30 round position, tensioning the spring back up. I found them to be reliable (both types) at 30 rounds, but were a bit sketchy to fire when extended with 45 rounds on board. The fixed 30 round versions always worked 100% for me. Tony |
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Yep...it's the 30/45 capacity mag. And, Thermold still sells them. https://thermoldmagazines.com/ar-15-m-16-30-45/ |
| Early ones were nicked named Theramelts. I got issued a set while in Bad Tolz late 80s for our M16A2s. Stripper clips could be used as a fire starter in a winter/survival situation. After returning to Ft Campbell had one split down the spine for about 1.5", and it would cause feeding issues. Painted it for dedicated malfunction drills. May still have one or two in my collection. Plastics have improved over the time with them. |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22-26'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11,14,17,-21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22-26'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11,14,17,-21'
| I bought a few of the Master Molder marked 20 round ones like in the Biggerhammer link. They were marked as being made in 95 and cost 3 or 4 dollars each. They would not lock into a lot of lowers I tried them in until I removed some material to lower the top of the side tabs. |
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Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: Early ones were nicked named Theramelts. I got issued a set while in Bad Tolz late 80s for our M16A2s. Stripper clips could be used as a fire starter in a winter/survival situation. After returning to Ft Campbell had one split down the spine for about 1.5", and it would cause feeding issues. Painted it for dedicated malfunction drills. May still have one or two in my collection. Plastics have improved over the time with them. They were nicknamed that because of the Canadian military ones had a different polymer and melted under full auto. The US ones were better. I have a preban that works fine. I wouldn't trust it outside of the range. It feels cheap. |
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