Mauser C96 Prussian M1916 Red 9 Broomhandle C&R Blue 5 1/2″ Semi-Auto Pistol, 1916-1918 9mm Luger

SOLD FOR: $3,725.00
LSB#: 190311DS01

Make: Mauser

Model: 1896 9mm Military Contract

Serial Number: 98005

Year of Manufacture: 1916-1918

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 “98005”, the left side with a crowned “U” and “1920”, and the right side with a Crowned “Script I” Army acceptance mark. The top rear of the bolt is marked with a crowned “U” and “8005”. The right side of the frame is marked “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER / OBERNDORF A NECKAR”. The flat on the underside of the barrel is marked “2”, “Z”, “S”, “6” and with a Crowned “K”. The barrel just in front of the flat is marked with a six-pointed star over “M”. The top of the bolt-stop is marked “8005”. The rear faces of the lock frame and frame are marked with “98005”. The rear face of the hammer is marked with an “SN” monogram (Neues Sicherung/New Safety) and “005”. The inside surfaces of the grips are stamped with the number “98005”. The sear disconnector is marked “005”. The bolt locking block is marked “8005”. The magazine floorplate is marked “8005” on the inside. The front of the grip frame/magazine well is marked with a Prussian eagle.

Barrel Length: 5 1/2”

Sights / Optics: The pistol is mounted with a “V” notch rear sliding elevator sight with markings from “50-500” that is pinned to the barrel extension. The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece walnut panels with 24 grooves and a large “9” burnt into both grips filled with red paint. The grips have some scattered light compressions and bruises with light-moderate handling wear. There are no chips or cracks. The grips are flush at the backstrap (for use with a stock/holster) but otherwise are proud to the grip frame. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: The pistol is blued. The safety, bolt stop and extractor have a fire blued finish and the bolt and hammer are in the white.

Finish Originality: Refinished, likely original to arsenal refurbish.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The barrel has finish wear on the bottom and at the muzzle with some scattered light marks. The barrel extension has light operational wear, thinning finish on the edges, most notable on the frame-rails and light wear around the bolt stop. The right face of the bolt stop is mostly worn to white but still shows fire-blue on the top and bottom, and the rear sight slider has handling wear. The grip frame has thinning at most edges, a few spots of wear on the front of the magazine well, operational wear in the stock-slot and some scattered light marks. There are a few scattered nicks which are under the finish. The grip screw is lightly tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good-Fine 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 barrel extension is tight to the frame. This pistol has a New Safety that requires the hammer to be pulled back slightly while the safety is engaged. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Broomhandle Model 1896 Mauser is certainly an interesting looking firearm, and the “Red Nine” variants are the most distinctive of any pistol made. During WWI Mauser had two contracts with the military, the first for 7.63mm pistols and the second for 9mm pistols. It soon became apparent that two nearly identical guns with dissimilar ammo was not a good idea. In December 1917, a decision was made to burn a large “9” into the grips and fill them in red paint, with those already issued to be similarly marked in the field, thus creating three variants of the 9mm pistols: those with no marks on the grips, those with factory “nines” and those with “nines” added in the field. This pistol is a 9mm Military Contract with factory burned “nines” in the grips. The serial numbers are all matching, including those stamped into the grips, and the pistol has the correct “New Safety” and an Army acceptance mark on the right side of the barrel extension. The left of the barrel extension is marked “1920”, an indication that this pistol remained in service in the post-war Wehrmacht, limited to 100,000 men under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. While the treaty strictly limited arms production, the Germans did refurbish and update those arms they were permitted to have in service. In Very Good-Fine condition, this pistol has about 90% of its finish, a great bore and strong mechanics. This is a rare pistol that is sure to be of interest to the serious collectors. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible pistol CAN be transferred in California but CANNOT be sold to a California resident as a private party transaction (PPT) at our shop in Simi Valley. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state buyers.