Any Mauser C96 Collectors here?

[DWalt]

I have a 1985 first edition first printing of the Wayne R. Erickson and Charles E. Pate book "The Broomhandle Pistol, 1896-1936" Autographed by Pate on frontispiece. Hard cover, like new condition, no damage. I've had it packed away for over 10 years with a number of other gun books, and just ran across it. I tried to locate one on eBay to see what it's value might be to determine if it is worthwhile to list it for sale there, but couldn't find anything. I am not a Mauser broomhandle collector, but thought someone here would know more about this book. Any comments?

 

[bigjohn4]

I am not going to tell you the price, but look on Amazon to see what they are going for!

 

[CZU]

They seem to bring anywhere between 250-400 over on the Jan Still forum.
I have a copy as well even though I do not own any Brooms.

 

[DWalt]

Thanks, I'll check Amazon. Don't know what the Jan Still forum is, but I'll find it. I thought it might bring >$100, but didn't know what.
_________________________
Wow! Mine looks exactly like the $575 (minimum) one listed on Amazon. But the highest one is priced at >$5K. That's absolutely insane for a book unless it's a Gutenberg Bible..

 

[CZU]

Don't know what the Jan Still forum is, but I'll find it.

Sorry, should have been more specific. The site contains everything you would ever like to know about European handguns prior to '46 from all nations and conflicts. I checked the for sale section to get real world prices for that book.

Jan C Still Luger Pistols Central Powers Axis Pistols Discussion Boards From Gunboards.com

 

[deadin]

I never have been able to figure out the prices in the used book market.
Go out to Amazon and look up most any reference book (I used "System Mauser") It is listed as available as new for $59.95, used for $59.94 all the way up to $666.74 (plus shipping).
I have found this spread of "pricing" to be common on used books.
(and the $666 one is in bad condition.....)

 

[Cyrano]

Try Abe Books, AbeBooks | Shop for Books, Art &amp Collectibles. Erickson & Pate starts at $495, and they have 4 copies. System Mauser starts at $45 and hey have quite a few copies.

 

[OIF2]

How about a nice Mauser to add some color to the thread?
Bob

 

[moralem]

For a bit of more color to this thread here are a few pictures of my latest prodigal gun returning to me this week from being restored.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have one, so I guess I'm a collector!

It is an import from China and has been reblued, but not refurbished. There is some rifling the whole length of the barrel, and yet I shot a 4" group at 100 yards with the stock attached. It has been 20-22 years since I shot it, maybe it should go on my next range trip.

Ivan

 

[Cyrano]

OIF2, I think you started something. Here's a few of mine:

Cone hammer with rear sight marked 'Mauser Cartridge 303', probably for sale in England but no dealer's mark.

Large ring hammer, with 6 shot magazine.

"Red 9' rig from WW I, in 9mm Luger. The stock has same # as the pistol.

"Weimar Republic' post WW I pistol, in 9mm Luger. Came in period holster.

Not a Mauser: a Chinese copy made at Shanxi, in 45 ACP.

 

[Arik]

OIF2, I think you started something. Here's a few of mine:

Cone hammer with rear sight marked 'Mauser Cartridge 303', probably for sale in England but no dealer's mark.

Large ring hammer, with 6 shot magazine.

"Red 9' rig from WW I, in 9mm Luger. The stock has same # as the pistol.

"Weimar Republic' post WW I pistol, in 9mm Luger. Came in period holster.

Not a Mauser: a Chinese copy made at Shanxi, in 45 ACP.

Always jealous of your surplus collection!

Good stuff!!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[BARgunner]

Here's a C96 my uncle gave me that belonged to my grandfather who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in France during WWI. The stock lug is serial numbered to the pistol.

 

[DWalt]

I've often regretted I hadn't bought a Broomhandle back in the late 1960s when a pretty good one could be found for less than $100. One of the relatively few military handguns I have never fired. I did have a neighbor who had a Spanish broomhandle, but it wasn't in shooting condition, missing some part.

 

[BARgunner]

I've shot mine on several occasions and it is a nice shooting pistol. I prefer it with the stock attached. Without the stock and using one hand, it seems like the grip is too small and the balance of the pistol is too far forward. A two handed hold seems awkward for me also. With the stock attached, it handles well and is a pleasure to shoot.

 

[Cyrano]

Here's a C96 my uncle gave me that belonged to my grandfather who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in France during WWI. The stock lug is serial numbered to the pistol.

BARgunner: That's a pre-war (WW I) commercial Mauser. You can tell: the safety burr is bored all the way through, while the later ones have a solid safety burr. It also has a 900 mete sight setting on the rear sight which the later ones omitted. Yours is from the period when workmanship and finish were probably at their best. Nice piece, and valuable too. That stock numbered to the pistol is a real boost in value.

 

[JavierLaurido]

With a friend we had a wonderfull opportunity a time on our lives, we where able to pick any weapon from a vast old army storage of our country. My frind went stokpiling all Mauser Broomhadles, he got like 13 mostly all. Model produced, even de 6 shot ones, and I went picking all US military weapons from WWII. Was one of the best moments of my life. I still enjoy the items we got at that time, specialy the Garands, Colt 45, and M1 carabines. Years after, my friend sold his mauser collection to a big collector, he got a good sum of money, but he is very sad now for have selled them. I thank God I was able to keep my part, they are now, some part of me that gives me tons of happiness. I hope you never get away your mauser guns, enjoy them, sometime money doesent bring happines, some items do.

 

[DWalt]

The 6-shot broomhandles are exceedingly rare. I suppose one of those would bring a very high price today.

 

[JavierLaurido]

The 6-shot broomhandles are exceedingly rare. I suppose one of those would bring a very high price today.

Yes, and a lot where prototype versions, as my country was a german ally on that time, and we where very rich as nitrate was giving great amounts of money. The consecuence was a great influx of german guns of that era to be here Bordchars, Lugers, Mausers, among others.

 

[Cyrano]

The 6-shot broomhandles are exceedingly rare. I suppose one of those would bring a very high price today.

I'm lucky to have two of them. The cone hammer is a wreck and I should really get it restored; it would be worth it. Bought it at a gun show a couple of years ago for $750. He laughed when he told me I could have got it for $500. He stopped laughing when I told him I could put it out at a table where there were auto pistol collectors and I'd get $2000 for it.

Had the large ring hammer for at least 40 years; I forget where I got it.