Local pawn shop has pre ban high cap glock 17 mags for $65 in pretty good shape. im pretty certain they are worth that if they are drop free, but that you can get new new NON drop free for about that same price. how can i tell if they are drop free by just looking at them. im interested in drop free for using them in a kel-tec i may soon get. He also had lots of LE only mags, but i know i better not even ask about them until 2004.

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If there is a round cut out at the top of the back of the mag, it's a NFML.  If the cut out is squared, it's a FML.  That's the easy way.

Make sure they are genuine Glock factory mags and not an aftermarket distributer.  If they are glock mags, buy them regardless of whether they are drop free or not.  If they are ProMag or some other maker of mags, then they shouldn't even cost $65.  Another thing to keep in mind is that non drop free mags are designed not to drop free WHILE THE MAG IS LOADED.  They were built to swell when full as to not loose a mag if inadvertantly released.  However, most people have ruined them by keeping them loaded and warping the plastic permanently.  Test the mags and see if they free fall when released when empty.

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