Make: Waffenfabrik Mauser, Oberndorf

Model: Mauser C96; Standard Pre-War Commercial

Serial#: 184095

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1914

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 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 "195". There is a lanyard ring fixed to the butt-strap. The grip panels have light wear with some scattered small marks. The most notable wear is on the bottom from the lanyard ring. 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: Original, the serial-marked parts are matching. There are two small touch-ups on the left of the frame at the top of the magazine well.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 94% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered light nicks and small scratches. There is a patch of light wear on the left of the frame at the top-rear. There are two small touch-ups on the left of the frame at the top of the magazine well. The grip areas show minor handling wear. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is lightly tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are clear. Overall, the pistol is in Fine condition.

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: None.

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, a number of prominent designs coming from the relatively young nation. Among the most iconic was the Mauser Model 1896, designed by the Feederle brothers who were close associates of Paul Mauser, the owner of the famous German arms manufacturer, and they all worked at Mauser’s experimental workshop. 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 (several other chamberings exist as well, but these are the two most common by far). 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 much more limited degree.

This particular specimen falls into the range of the Standard Pre-War Commercial C96 pistols, made just before the outbreak of the First World War. The gun's parts are all matching and the pistol retains the vast majority of its original finish. The bore is much better than many 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!