Mauser C96 Broomhandle Standard Wartime Commercial 7.63mm Semi-Automatic Pistol & Holster 1915-21 C&R
SOLD FOR:$1,825
LSB#: 170707BB04
Make: Mauser
Model: Standard Wartime Commercial C96 Broomhandle
Serial Number: 294613
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 “294613”. The top rear of the bolt is marked with a double-crowned “U” and “613” and the top of the bolt stop is also marked “613”. The back of the lock mechanism and the top of the backstrap are marked “294613” and the back of the hammer is marked “613” 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 “Gothic W”. The flat on the underside of the barrel is marked “8”, “Y” and “5” and the barrel in front of the flat with an “M” over a six-pointed star. The inside surfaces of the grips are marked “613”.
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 shows oil staining. There are 34 grooves in the grips. The smooth areas of the grips show a few light bruises and small dings, with abraded spots in the bottom surfaces from a lanyard. The serrations show light wear to medium wear except for the bottom three grooves, which are worn smooth in spots. There are few tiny dings and bruises in the serrations of the left grip and drag lines in the right 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 original.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with light to moderate wear in the rifling. There is light erosion in the grooves the length of the barrel.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 65% of its metal finish. There are tiny spots of solid erosion scattered over the sides of the frame and barrel extension, the top of the bolt and rear sight slider, and the front strap. There are tiny dings, a few scratches and thinning in the barrel, and thinning on the magazine floorplate, backstrap, frame rails and edges of the frame and barrel extension. There are a few tiny dings in the barrel extension, scratches at the top of the backstrap and scratches on the sides of the lock frame. The serrations on the hammer are relatively sharp, the serrations on the cocking piece show light wear and tiny nicks on their edges, and those on the safety are sharp. The grip screw is sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition.
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 a full cock in order to engage the safety. 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 & Accessories: This pistol comes with a wooden shoulder stock/holster. 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 “652”. 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 butt plate when attached to the pistol. The cover is tight in the holster when closed. The hinge and the tangs of the front clasp are blued and show thinning and are sprinkled with pinprick surface erosion. There is a crack from the back of holster through the push-button release to the screw that fastens the release to the inside of the holster. There are multiple dings, bruises, and draglines scattered over the stock, along with a few deep dings on its underside. There is oil staining around the front clasp. The shoulder stock is in about 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. The Chinese liked them so much, they not only armed their troops with them but made a version on steroids chambered for .45 ACP. This is a Standard Wartime Commercial model with a 5 ½” barrel and chambered in 7.63mm Mauser. The pistol has all the correct markings with matching serial numbers on the small parts, including the grip panels. It comes with a wooden shoulder stock/holster, but unfortunately, the serial number on the shoulder stock is different than that of the pistol. The pistol is in about Very Good overall condition as refinished with 65% of its finish remaining. The bore is gray with light to moderate wear in the rifling and light erosion in the grooves. This model is collectible, and with its original finish and matching numbers, this one is sure to make it into a Broomhandle collection or any collection of early German or European pistols.
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible pistol can be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. 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 residents.
