The thread the other day on Broomhandles made me realize I hadn't taken any pics of mine. I've had it for a year or so. It's a German made Mauser Model 1930. I recently picked up some unusual brass grips for it.

From what I've read, about 150,000 of these went to China and were used by the Chinese Communists in the late 1930's.

In addition to the Mauser stampings, this one has some additional Chinese stampings, including "Made In Germany" stamped in Chinese on the left side.

If anyone has any Broomhandles, feel free to post your pics!

__________________
Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews mentioned seeing many Mausers in his Asiatic expeditions for the American Museum of Natural History in the 1920's and early '30's.

Many here seem not to know that China was then ruled for the most part by various warlords. There wasn't a stable central government that amounted to much.

He said that most troops with rifles had ammo that might well not even fit their rifles.

Banditry was common. Andrews shot several bandits, himself, being thanked by the local governor.

Those Mauser pistols were sold in many countries, not only in China. But China may indeed have bought the greatest number.

T-Star

The early Bolsheviks were fond of Broomhandles, too. The Soviets eventually improved the Mauser cartridge for their service pistol, resulting in the 7.62mm Tokarev cartridge.

Another very nice pix, thanks!

Saw one at a gun show, and it had the wooden
holster that doubled as a shoulder stock. Both were
in very nice condition. Don

__________________
"Don't worry be happy"

I have one that was rebarreled in 9mm.
Haven't ever gotten it to work right.

I wanted to shoot a PPC type match with it, years ago.
Cops used to wander over and ask, "What the h... is that?" when I shot them with my Smith 1917 (Brazilian Contract). I figured I'd really mystify them with the C96.

9mm Chinese import gun bought from a friend. Haven't broken out my 'System Mauser" to try to figure out what it is.

My brother bought one that was built in China that fires 45acp. He said they had our Thompson and they scaled up the Broomhandle to the 45. He has the stock/holster for it as well.

Better lighting and a more interesting backdrop:

I had one in 9MM as well, it was very difficult to load. Used stripper clips, and you had to get the bolt and stripper clip just right to load the magazine and chamber a round.

I read an interesting story about Winston Churchill using one against some "Fuzzy Wuzzys" in the Middle East somewhere. He was on horseback, and surprised a bunch of Arab soldiers resting in a gully. He and his men charged on horseback, he drew his Mauser pistol and tried to chamber a round. By the time he got the pistol in action, he had charged straight through the resting arabs, and wound up on the other side of the gully. Some of the Arabs tried to pull him off his horse, so he shot them one by one from horseback. "It is so easy to shoot a man" was his remembrance of the incident, easier I imagine if a man is trying to kill you...

Wish I had one to show on this thread! About 20 years ago, I had .30 Mauser example that was engraved with information indicating that it was taken from a German lieutenant during WWI. Knowing that inscriptions can be quite spurious, I didn't give that detail any extra weight as far as value is concerned. I traded it off plus some cash for a mint condition U.S. Model 1842 musket which, is now worth many, many times more than I paid for it. I don't regret getting the musket, but I often wish I still had that broomhandle. Their prices nowadays are getting stratospheric!

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I posted about this earlier. They weren't really Arabs, but Sudanese. The account is in his book, "My Early Life." the setting for this was the cavalry charge at Omdurman in 1898. Churchill was attached to the 21st Lancers.

A couple of years later, in South Africa, the Boers took that Mauser from him when he was captured while defending a train under attack. His escape made him famous, and greatly assisted his entry into politics.

T-Star