Pre-War Commercial C96 Broomhandle 9mm Mauser Export? Semi Auto Pistol, C&R

SOLD FOR: $6,175.00

WOA#: WY240530TP031

Make: Waffenfabrik Mauser, Oberndorf  

Model: C96

Serial#: 138263 

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1911-1913, C&R 

Caliber: 9mm. A 9mm Luger will fall into the chamber. 9x23mm (9mm Largo) chambers, but does not extract properly. It is possible that this pistol is chambered for 9mm Mauser Export, but we do not have an example to test in the chamber. The magazine follower does have a proper relief-cut, but the pistol is not in the known serial ranges for 9mm Export. The chamber should be cast to confirm exact chambering before firing.

Action Type: Semi-Automatic Short-Recoil Pistol with an Internal Magazine fed by stripper clips. 

Markings: The serial number “138263” is marked on the left shoulder of the barrel extension, the rear of the lock frame, and the rear of the frame. A portion of the serial number is marked on the bolt, bolt stop, magazine floorplate, hammer, sear, locking block, and the inside of each grip panel. The right side of the frame is marked “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER / OBERNDORF A NECKAR”. The rear of the bolt is marked with a crown above a crowned “u”, found again on the left of the barrel extension. The top of the chamber ring is marked “WAFFENFABRIK / MAUSER / OBERNDORF A/N”.  

Barrel Length: 5 1/2” 

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed by the muzzle. The rear sight is a tangent leaf marked 50-1000 inclusive in increments of 50m up to 500 and then increments of 100m up until 1000. 

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece serrated wood. There is a lanyard ring fixed to the butt-strap. The grip panels have light handling wear with some scattered nicks, scuffs and small scratches. There is some discoloration from age and handling The serrations are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.  

Type of Finish: Blue, some small parts are Fire-Blued

Finish Originality: Original 

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7-8 out of 10. 

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most on the bottom of the barrel and the bottom-front of the magazine well. There is surface oxidation and some light erosion on the grip frame under the grips. There is wear on the backstrap consistent with the use of a shoulder-stock. There is some edge-thinning and wear on raised surfaces. The action shows minor operational wear. The screw head is sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, the pistol is in Very Good-plus condition. 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. 

Box Paperwork and Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: At the end of the 19th century semi-automatic handguns were being adopted by most major powers. Germany was at the forefront of this firearms revolution, a number of prominent designs coming from the relatively young nation (it took its modern form in 1871 following the Franco-Prussian War). Among the most iconic was the Mauser Model 1896 (remembered as the C96), designed by the Feederle brothers (Fidel, Friedrich and Josef) whom were close associates of Paul Mauser, the owner of the famous German arms manufacturer, and they all worked at Mauser’s experimental workshop. They developed a number of prototypes over the course of the early 1890s before finally perfecting what would become the C96 in 1896. A number of variations of the design were produced by Mauser over a production cycle that would last over four decades; most featured a 10 round fixed internal magazine that was loaded with stripper clips. Most C96s were chambered for the 7.63x25mm cartridge and a number were later also chambered for 9mm Luger rounds (several other chamberings exist as well, but these are the two most common by far). Mauser’s design was adopted by the German military and the company secured a number of contracts with various powers to sell the weapon to their armed forces; this included the Ottoman Empire, Italy, Persia and Austro-Hungary. The gun saw extensive use during WWI and was still in service during WWII with the Wehrmacht to a much more limited degree.  

This particular specimen was made in the years preceding the First World War and is in quite nice condition, retaining serial-matching parts including the grips. It is intriguing as it is chambered for a 9mm cartridge, but a 9mm Luger falls into the chamber. It is possible that it is chambered for 9mm Mauser Export (9x25mm), but we do not have a sample cartridge on-hand to test. The pistol is not in one of the four recognized serial ranges for Export chambered pistols, so it is not impossible that it was re-chambered. In any case, this is one handgun that historical firearms collectors will not want to miss out on!       

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud