Make: Waffenfabrik Mauser, Oberndorf

Model: C96; Wartime Commercial

Serial#: 221216

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1915

Caliber: 7.63x25mm Mauser (.30 Mauser)

Action Type: Semi-Automatic Short-Recoil Pistol with an Internal Magazine fed by stripper clips.

Barrel Length: 5 1/2”

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed by the muzzle. The rear sight is a "V"-notch tangent leaf marked 50-1000 in increments of 50m up to 500m and then increments of 100m up to 1000m.

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece serrated wood. The interior of each panel is marked "216". On the interior, indexing pins have been installed in each panel with corresponding holes drilled in the frame (covered by the grips when installed). There is a lanyard ring fixed to the butt-strap. The grips have even light handling wear with a few scattered nicks and scratches. The serrations are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue, Fire-Blue & Bright

Finish Originality: Professionally Restored, serial-marked parts are matching.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5-6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 92% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas and wear around the stock-slot consistent with the use of a stock. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are a few spots of minor erosion under the finish. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is lightly tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are generally clear, the double-crowned "U" on the bolt is missing the "U". Overall, the pistol is in Very Good-plus condition as restored.

Mechanics: 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 and Accessories: This pistol comes with a custom wood stock/holster with a brass bracket and custom-made retaining mechanism, reproduction leather harness, and a reproduction cleaning rod. The holster has a few repairs/fills at edges and corners.

Our Assessment: At the end of the 19th century semi-automatic handguns were being adopted by most major powers. Germany was at the forefront of this firearms revolution. Among the most iconic was the Mauser Model 1896, designed by the Feederle brothers who were close associates of Paul Mauser. They developed a number of prototypes over the course of the early 1890s before finally perfecting what would become the C96 in 1896. A number of variations of the design were produced by Mauser over a production cycle that would last over four decades; most featured a 10 round fixed internal magazine that was loaded via stripper clips. Most C96s were chambered for the 7.63x25mm cartridge and a number were later also chambered for 9mm Luger rounds (other chamberings exist, but these are the two most common). Mauser’s design was adopted by the German military and the company secured a number of contracts with various powers to sell the weapon to their armed forces including the Ottoman Empire, Italy, Persia and Austria-Hungary. The gun saw extensive use during WWI and was still in service during WWII with the Wehrmacht to a more limited degree.

This particular specimen falls into the range of the Wartime Commercial pistols, produced just before the "New Safety" was implemented during First World War. The gun has been skillfully restored, its numbered parts are all matching and the pistol retains about 92% of its new metal finish. The bore is better than some of the "Broomhandle" pistols we see and the mechanics are still strong. This is one handgun that historical firearms collectors will not want to miss out on. Please see our photos and good luck!