Mauser C96 Broomhandle Standard Wartime Commercial Model, Restored Blue 5 ½” Semi-Auto Pistol & Wood Holster MFD 1915-21 C&R

Sold For: $1,762.00
LSB#: 160825MD55

Make: Mauser

Model: Standard Wartime Commercial C96 Broomhandle

Serial Number: 319758

Year of Manufacture: 1915-1921 (www.oldguns.net)

Caliber: 7.63mm Parabellum

Action Type: Single Action Semi –Auto with Internal Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel chamber is marked “WAFFENFABRIK / MAUSER / OBERNDORF A/N”, The left side of the chamber is marked with a double crowned “U” definitive proof and the left shoulder with “319578”. The top rear of the bolt is marked with a double crowned “U” and “758”. The back of the lock mechanism and the top of the backstrap are marked “319758” and the back of the hammer is marked “758” and with a “NS”, indicating New Safety, which is the correct safety for this model. The right side of the frame is marked “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER / OBERNDORF A. NECKAR”. The right side of the barrel at the chamber is marked with a crowned “Script M”, which is a Prussian military acceptance mark. The flat on the underside of the barrel is marked “8”, with a five pointed star and a mark we can’t make out. The barrel in front of the flat is marked with an “M” over a six pointed star. The inside surfaces of the grips are marked “758”.

Barrel Length: 5 ½”

Sights / Optics: The pistol is mounted with a “V” notch rear sliding elevator sight with markings from “50-1000” that is pinned to the barrel extension. The front sight is an inverted “V” blade fixed to the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are serrated brown walnut that show oil staining. The smooth areas of the grips show a few light bruises and small dings. There are tool marks around the grip screw escutcheon in the right grip. The serrations show light wear except for the bottom grooves, which are worn smooth in spots. There are few light dings in the serrations. The grips rate in about Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: The pistol is blued with a fire blue finish on the extractor, bolt stop, safety, rear sight slider, rear sight spring and the rear section of the sight ladder and sight. The cocking piece on the bolt, the hammer and the lock mechanism are finished “In The White”.

Finish Originality: The finish is not original, and has been professionally restored. There are wire wheel marks and a few tiny dings under the finish in the underside of the barrel and sanding marks on the sides of the magazine and around the trigger guard in the underside of the frame.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling. There is light erosion in the grooves the length of the barrel and a tiny spot in one of the lands near the muzzle.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 78% of its current metal finish. There are wire wheel marks and a few tiny dings under the finish in the underside of the barrel and sanding marks around the trigger guard in the underside of the frame. There is thinning at the muzzle and light marks along the underside of the barrel. There is surface loss from polishing on the backstrap, and thinning on the front strap and the edges of the barrel extension and frame. The serrations on the hammer are relatively sharp, the serrations on the cocking piece show light wear and those on the safety have the tips ground flat in spots. The grip screw is sharp and the markings are mostly clear, but the “A” in “FABRIK” on the right side of the frame has its left leg ground smooth. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition as restored.

Mechanics: The rear of the frame is slotted for a shoulder stock. The barrel is tight to the frame. This pistol has the “New Safety”, designed so that the hammer must be pulled back further than full cock in order to engage the safety. The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a wooden shoulder stock/holster and a leather holster for the shoulder stock. The shoulder stock is walnut with an oiled finish. It has a spring loaded metal clasp at the front that locks the stock into the dovetailed slot in the backstrap of the pistol. The top tang of the clasp is marked “108”. The rear of the stock has a push-button release hinged cover that covers the grip of the gun when used as a holster and serves as a buttplate when attached to the pistol. There is a small amount of play between the cove r and the holster. The hinge and the tangs of the front clasp are blued and are developing a plum colored patina with spots of surface frosting sprinkled over the hinge. The stock shows a deep ding at the front of the comb and several more on the right side and several bruises on the left side and underside, with several small dings in the cover. The shoulder stock is in about Fine condition. The leather holster is an open framework that we couldn’t possibly describe accurately, so please see our pictures. The rear face of the holster is marked “Ernst Scheffler / CHEMNITZ / 1917” and “BA XII 17”. The latter refers to Beldeidungsamt des Armeekorp (Army Corps Clothing Depot 12 No. 17). The holster has a pouch sewn to it for a stripper clip of ammunition and a pouch for a cleaning rod, along with a loop and strap for securing the handle of the rod. There is also loop of leather at the top of the holster for securing the stock. There are a few scratches through the finish on the outside surface of the holster and wear through the finish around the holes for the lugs in the stock strap and the top flap for the stripper clip pouch. There are also a few spots of oil staining in the holster and a few light marks. The stitching is intact except for two stitches at the muzzle on the outside of the holster. The holster is in about Fine overall condition. The cleaning rod has a wooden handle and a grooved tip for a patch. The metal bolster at the front of the handle is missing. The steel part of the rod is developing a plum colored patina. The handle shows very light oil staining, a few deep bruises and several dings. The rod is in about Good to Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: The Broomhandle Model 1896 Mauser is certainly an interesting looking firearm. The Broomhandle pistol revolutionized the way many gun designers thought about handguns, and forced countries to re-think arming their soldiers with revolvers. This is a Late War Commercial model with a 5 ½” barrel and chambered in 7.63mm Mauser. The pistol has been professionally restored and comes with a wooden shoulder stock/holster and a vintage leather holster with cleaning rod. The serial numbers on the pistol are matching, but the shoulder stock is unmatched to the pistol. The pistol is in about Very Good overall condition as restored with 78% of its current finish remaining. The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling and light erosion in the grooves. This model is collectible, and someone did a nice job of restoring this one, which is very attractive with its fire-blued parts. With matching numbers, shoulder stock and holster, this package will look very nice in a Broomhandle collection or in any collection of early German pistols.