The Nomar M1911 Magazine is one of the strangest pieces of firearm history we’ve ever seen.
Designed for trench raiding in the mid 1930s, this 40 round magazine was supposed to fill the gaps of trench warfare. Lewis Nolan Nomar patented his design in 1936 and had two prototypes built by 1938. He tried to sell it to the Army, but no one was buying it.
Weighing 10 lbs unloaded, the ridiculous magazine may look vaguely like a shoulder stock, but it’s anything but. The heavy mag is supported by a shoulder sling, and does provide some support when squeezed against the body by the shooter’s elbow.
Carrying standard .45 ACP cartridges, the Nomar magazine is bulky, heavy, and a little bit awkward particularly when compared against the pistol drum mags of today.