This Mauser C96 broomhandle pistol is of late 1910s production and is all matching. It retains most of its factory bluing and straw finish, and the hammer is NS marked. The bore is bright with sharp rifling, and the pistol appears to have a low round count. The original lanyard loop is present, and no import mark is visible. The pistol carries an Imperial German military acceptance stamp on the right side, identifying it as First World War German army property. It comes with an early original shoulder stock that is non-matching to the pistol and shows evidence of old repairs.
The C96, widely known as the broomhandle Mauser, is a short recoil pistol built around a bolt and barrel extension rather than a slide, with an integral box magazine ahead of the trigger. Its wooden shoulder stock was designed to double as a holster and fits a slot cut in the grip frame. During the First World War the Imperial German Army contracted for 150,000 C96 pistols in 9mm Parabellum to supplement Luger production, and roughly 137,000 were delivered before the war ended; those pistols carry a large 9 burned into the grip panels and painted red, intended as a warning against loading 7.63mm ammunition. The C96 was also produced in 7.63x25mm Mauser, its standard chambering.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Mauser
Model: C96 broomhandle
Country of origin: Germany
Production: Late 1910s
Action: Short recoil, bolt and barrel extension
Matching: All matching
Finish: Retains most factory bluing and straw finish
Hammer: NS marked
Bore: Bright
Rifling: Sharp
Markings: Imperial German military acceptance stamp on the right side, First World War army property
Features: Original lanyard loop, no import mark visible
Included: Early original shoulder stock, non-matching, with evidence of old repairs
