C96 Mauser Broomhandle

whitecoyote · Sep 30, 2009

Recently aquired this Mauser C96 "Broomhandle".
I've been doing some research, and have found it to be a Pre-War Commercial model, 5.5" barrel, caliber 7.63 Mauser (.30 Mauser). All the parts match (including grips). The Mauser is in excellent condition, and is a "bring back" from WWII, no other details available. Included in the sale was the holster (pictured), several boxes of ammo, and three stripper clips.
Apparently, Mauser had a goofy serial numbering system. I'm trying to determine the date of manufacture. I suspect the Mauser C96 was manufactured around 1913-1914 time frame. Are there any experts out there that can help determining the D.O.B., and any other information regarding the Mauser. Thanks!
The serial number is #2069xx.

nicky4968 · Sep 30, 2009

go to 1896mauser. com

unfortunately, the administrator doesn't run it any more and the posting sections have been completely overrun with ... everything.

But the bar at the top of the site has areas with great information. I learned more off that site in 8 hours about this pistol than I had learned in a lifetime. Disassembly, identification, safety types, and so on. I gather the site goes down about January 1. I am going to try to load as much of the useful information as I can onto a backup hard drive.

Texas Star · Sep 30, 2009

I think there's a book called, "System Mauser", by Breathed and Schroeder. You might find a copy Online.
There is another good Mauser book, but I forget the title.

Please don't ask why I'm typing in Italics. I must have accidentally hit some button somewhere.

Oh: Nice pics, nice gun! I saw one of those things fired at dusk once. BIG muzzle flash.

T-Star

Sam McCord · Sep 30, 2009

Whitecoyote,
I think you are right about your C-96 being a pre-war commercial but I do not know if it is going to be possible to get a D.O.B. narrowed down any more than that. Alot of records were destroyed in the course of two world wars and most serial number info I have seen seems to have been compiled from observed specimens by collectors.

I have the System Mauser book mentioned in a previous response and would be willing to loan it out. It is autographed by John W. Breathed and is not for sale. PM me and we can talk about if you want to.

2152hq · Sep 30, 2009

Standard PreWar Commercial. Ser#'s run from ab't 39,000 to 280,000.
That's an approx on the ser# range but fairly close.

It should have the second style safety lever in that it is pushed forward/up to engage it in the 'safe' position w/o retracting the hammer at all.

The safety mechanism was altered shortly after this range to make it necessary for the hammer to be slightly retracted before the safety was pushed into the safe position. That is the 'New Safety' and the rear of the hammer is marked NS for Neue Sicherung. Wartime commercials have that type of safety.

The grips if original have a certain number of lines cut on them and differ from model to model. I don't recall how many this model is supposed to have but if they are numbered I don't doubt they are original from the looks of them. 32 lines sounds familiar....but I really can't say for sure.

A DOM of 1913/14 would seem a fair guess in that the serial number is near the end of the range.

The Standard PreWar Commercial is one of more common C96 variations. But finding any C96 in excellent condition and w/matching numbers outside of an auction of collectors offering is getting to be a rarity. Very nice pistol. Congrats!

The holster looks like a commercially produced item and were offered by retailers back then as an accessory. Some were bought (private purchase)and used by Military and Police as the pistol was sold all over the world including the US and British Empire.

bobcat · Sep 30, 2009

Wow, that is beautiful. I have nothing to contribute, other than WOW, I've always lusted after one, and have always been curious how they shot and handled.

Are you gonna fire it?

Very nice catch, and thanks for sharing...

Texas Star · Sep 30, 2009

On the off-chance that anyone here hasn't heard, Winston Churchill used a Mauser like this at the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, in 1898. It was one of the last big British cavalry charges, against Muslim Dervishes.

Lt. Churchill, with the 21st Lancers, used his pistol, because he had a sore shoulder, making handling his sword painful.

He claimed to have shot three men for sure, a couple of probables, and one or two "doubtful." See his book, "My Early Life" for this account. Published in the 1930's, it should be in many libraries.

This Mauser was taken from him when the Boers captured him in South Africa a year or two later. He owned revolvers, but his next autopistol seems to have been the Colt M-1911 .45 that he bought before leaving for combat in France in WW I.

T-Star

Cyrano · Sep 30, 2009

It seems pre-war, due to the safety burr being bored all the way through. Later broomhandles had a safety burr hollowd out from the right side but not bored through. As 2152HQ said, if the hammer is not marked with an entwined NS, it's another sign of a pre-war gun. This one should have 6 groove rifling and a short extractor. Somewhat earlier guns had 4 groove rifling and a longer extractor, almost 1 3/4 inches long.

moosedog · Sep 30, 2009

Nice John. Is that the one you bought from the widow down the street for $50?

pawncop · Sep 30, 2009

I realize that dates of manufacture, shipping, etc, etc, etc, are very important to those who collect, accumulate, acquire, and otherwise gather fine firearms such as you have done.

That being said, OH MAN !!! Is that not one beautiful looking handgun!!

I am so jealous, (wait - - - thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not covet) hell with that - - I am so jealous.

I do not know what you paid, don't care, Damn that is one fine handgun.

gunsmith11 · Sep 30, 2009

A very good reference book is the System Mauser by John W. Breathed Jr. and Joseph J. Schroeder published by HANDGUN PRESS 1967.
Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-30346
includes the pictorial history of the Model 1896 Self-Loading Pistol
In 1967 it sold for $15.00
It is a very good book, it has all the info

darmtn1917 · Oct 1, 2009

Trivia - only 1 screw and that holds the grips on. It comes a part and back together like one of those Chinese puzzle blocks!

Joe Kent · Oct 1, 2009

Great find! It is always an interesting time when you can aquire something kind of off the usual radar. I am lucky to have been able to find and get quite a few different guns but in all my trading days I have never had a Mauser 96. Again, very neat find.

Texas Star · Oct 1, 2009

YouTube - C96 Broomhandle mauser pistol

I found this. Pretty good video of a C-96 in use.

T-Star

whitecoyote · Oct 1, 2009

moosedog said:
Nice John. Is that the one you bought from the widow down the street for $50?

So much for keeping a secret. Now the whole world knows!
No more secrets for you Moosedog.

digi-shots · Oct 1, 2009

Very nice looking Broomhandle!

Not to highjack this thread, and since there are some Broomhandle folks here.. has anyone ever seen grips like this? I got them a couple of weeks ago.

whitecoyote · Oct 1, 2009

Those are excellent looking grips. I'm sure they would look good on my Mauser.
Are they silver, pewter, other?
Nice picture.

digi-shots · Oct 1, 2009

The grips are made of brass. I just got them back today.

A friend of mine had to do a little adjusting on the backside (re-solder, etc.) so that they would fit a Model 1930 Broomhandle I have. I need to go to the hardware store tomorrow and find a screw that will fit.

whitecoyote · Oct 1, 2009

Excellent.
Post a picture of you Mauser, with the grips when you get it together.

tabs · Oct 2, 2009

I have this one, it is 98% + with matching shoulder stock that is in near perfect condition. It is going to be sold at Amoskeag in November.

C96 Mauser Broomhandle

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

US Veteran

US Veteran

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Attachments

Similar threads