Matching Prussian contract Red 9 Mauser C96 Broomhandle 9mm Pistol C&R
SOLD FOR: $3,000.00
LSB#: LSB250814MO004
Make: Waffenfabrik Mauser Ovberndorf A/N, Germany
Model: 1896 9mm Prussian Contract “Red Nine”
Serial Number: 78855 (The serial number range for this model was from 1 to about 150000.)
Year of Manufacture: 1916-1918 / C&R
Caliber: 9mm 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 shoulder with “78855 ”, the left side with a double crowned “U”. The right side of the frame is marked “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER / OBERNDORF A. NECKAR”. All parts – including the internals – are serial matched. The front of the frame has a Prussian eagle.
Barrel Length: 5.5” Approximate
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to a rectangular base fixed to the barrel which has been cut and modified with a pinned insert with a white tip. The rear sight is a V-notch sliding tangent leaf marked out to 500.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece walnut with 24 serration cuts and a lanyard loop on the bottom of the frame. The grips have minor handling wear with a few light nicks and scratches. There are a few small chips. The serrations are well defined. There are no cracks. The grips are in Good overall condition. These grips are not original to this pistol.
Type of Finish: Blued, some small parts are Fire-Blued and some are Polished In The White.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is faint erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10 for a C&R.
Many military and C&R-eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 80% of its metal finish. There are light spots of patina and thinning throughout. The leading edges are worn. The barrel shows the most thinning The action shows operational wear. The grip screw is lightly tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The rear of the frame is slotted for a shoulder stock and the bottom of the grip has a boss for a lanyard ring, with a lanyard ring installed. The follower is not correct for this model. The back of the grip frame is cut to accept a shoulder stock.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This is a highly desirable and increasingly scarce example of the iconic Mauser C96 “Red 9” Broomhandle pistol, manufactured under contract for the Prussian military during World War I. In response to logistical issues with the 7.63mm Mauser cartridge, Germany ordered approximately 135,000 C96 pistols chambered in 9mm Parabellum for compatibility with the standard-issue Luger ammunition. To prevent confusion and accidental overpressure incidents, these pistols were marked with a large red-filled “9” on the grips—a feature that gives the “Red 9” its enduring nickname. While this example lacks its original “Red 9” grips, it retains fully matching serial numbers throughout, including internal components, and features a clear Prussian eagle mark on the front strap—hallmarks of an authentic military-issued contract pistol from the 1916–1918 production window.
The pistol retains about 80% of its original finish, with areas of thinning, patina, and edge wear consistent with field use during the First World War. The bore is remarkably strong for a C&R firearm of this era, with sharp rifling and only faint erosion, rating a 9/10. The bolt stop, extractor, and other small parts retain traces of fire-blue, and the frame remains slotted for a shoulder stock. The fixed magazine and tangent rear sight—graduated to 500 meters—highlight the C96’s unique hybrid role as both a pistol and a carbine. Despite the replacement grips and non-original follower, this example remains mechanically sound and historically complete. As a matching-numbered Prussian contract “Red 9” C96, this pistol is a valuable piece for collectors of German military arms, WWI weaponry, or early autoloading handguns. -R.E
