Federal Ordnance C96 Broomhandle Cartridge Counter .30 Mauser 7.63x25mm Semi-Auto Pistol MFD Ca. 1988

SOLD FOR: $1,701.99
LSB#: 
190716JL02
Make: Federal Ordnance
Model: Reproduction Model C-96/Cartridge Counter
Serial Number: 872847
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1988
Caliber: 7.63x25mm Mauser (.30 Mauser Automatic)

Action Type: Single Action Semi–Auto with Internal Magazine
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “7.63 Mauser” in gothic script. The top flat of the barrel extension is marked “WAFFENFABRIK / MAUSER / OBERNDORF A/N”, the left shoulder has a crowned “U” and the left flat is marked “872847”. The left of the frame has a Mauser banner logo, the right is marked “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER / OBERNDOFR A NECKAR / D.R.P.u.A.P.” and the rear is marked “872847”. The top of the frame at the front, under the barrel extension, is marked “2847” found again on the top of the magazine floorplate. The left of the magazine well has Chinese characters 1 through 10 next to a slot cut for the cartridge counter.
Barrel Length: 5 1/2”
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” notch integral to a rectangular base fixed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece walnut panels with coarse serrations. The grips have a couple of light nicks toward the bottom. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine-Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original to Federal Ordnance production.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is some very light wear along the edges of the cartridge counter slot and a few other minor marks. The hammer ring and the serrations on the bolts cocking surface have some light surface erosion which has been mostly polished out. The screw head is sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety can be engaged when the hammer is cocked or down. The trigger has a smooth takeup with some creep before breaking. 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: This pistol comes with a brown leather thumb-snap flap holster with storage for two included stripper-clips, also with thumb-snap flaps. The clip pouches on the holster have draw-straps to assist in lifting loaded clips from the pouch. The holster has minor wear with intact stitching, however one of the holster flap’s thumbsnaps has pulled free of its rivets, the other snaps function properly. Overall, the holster is in about Good condition and will be Very Good-Fine with the damaged snap repaired.
Our Assessment: The Broomhandle Model 1896 Mauser is certainly an interesting looking firearm, with an internal magazine forward of the grip, short-recoil operating system with a locking bolt and a very ambitious tangent sight graduated to 1000 meters. Introduced in 1896, the pistol was originally a very slow seller. Thankfully for the C96, if not for the rest of the world, the Great War changed all of that, and thousands upon thousands were ordered by the Central Powers for their armed forces. They went on to be used in large numbers in the Russian Revolution, throughout China and South America. In the 1980s, the PRC updated their military’s small arms and large numbers of surplus C96 pistols became available on the commercial market. The pistols tended to be in very rough condition, but due to demand, Federal Ordnance Inc. purchased large numbers and then refurbished them with new barrels and frames, refurbished barrel extensions, bolts, hammers, and lock pieces. This example is further customized with an intriguing cartridge-counter feature. This is accomplished with a tab attached to the magazine follower which extends out of a slot on the left of the magazine, with the final touch being Chinese characters from 1 to 10 next to the slot. For those who want to shoot their Broomhandle, this pistol has a better bore and mechanical condition than most any originals you will encounter and the cartridge counter is a neat feature as well. It even comes with a nice holster and a pair of stripper clips. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This pistol CANNOT be transferred as a Dealer Sale in California but CAN 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 section does not apply to out of state buyers.