Description

Matching with original accouchements!

Offered for sale is this great example of the fabled Mauser C96 which we believe to be a M1898 pistol carbine model which was the first model to come cut for a combination wooden stock-holster. The stock doubles as a case or holster & attaches to a slot cut in the grip frame.

The Mauser C96 (Construktion 96) is a semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced by German arms manufacturer Mauser from 1896 to 1937. Unlicensed copies of the gun were also manufactured in Spain & China in the first half of the 20th century.

The distinctive characteristics of the C96 are the integral box magazine in front of the trigger, the long barrel, the wooden shoulder stock, which gives it the stability of a short-barreled rifle & doubles as a holster or carrying case & a grip shaped like the handle of a broom. The grip earned the gun the nickname “broomhandle” in the English-speaking world & is still known by this by modern collectors.

With its long barrel & high-velocity cartridge, the Mauser C96 had superior range & better penetration than most other pistols of its era; the 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridge was the highest-velocity commercially manufactured pistol cartridge until the advent of the .357 Magnum cartridge in 1935.

As a military sidearm, the pistols saw service in various colonial wars, as well as WW1, the Easter Rising & Irish Civil War, the Estonian War of Independence, the Spanish Civil War, the Chinese Civil War & WW2. 

Winston Churchill was fond of the Mauser C96 & is known to have used one at the 1898 Battle of Omdurman & during the Second Boer War.  Lawrence of Arabia carried a Mauser C96 for a period during his time in the Middle East.

This example is unique as it has several personal inscriptions/markings placed there by what would be its various owners through time. None of them are W.C . or T.E.L but do point to a service life with more than one master.

There is an area which has had some finish removed & the initials F.C.G. have been placed on the right hand side, as can be seen in the photos. There is also a name on the back of the leather holster which might explain the F.C.G if we could read it completely as the last part seems to be ‘Gast’.

Overall the finish is very good all things considered after 107 years & what you see is what you get.

This was part of a private collection for many years & is now available for sale to the serious collector who wants the full package.

We are not going to try & rate the condition out of 100 as everyone seems to have a different opinion on what the percentages should be, so we’ll let the pictures be the description. You will know if this is for you so view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired.

We think we have described it accurately & correctly but do not claim to be infallible so if we have got anything wrong, it is unintentional.

Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & this is sold on an ‘as is’ basis. As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting.

Standard cost for shipping to metro locations is $55 & all guns are sent via StarTrack without insurance but packed very well.