Help: Early Pre-War C96 Mauser

[RedEarth]

Hey guys was wondering if anybody here had any knowledge about this broomhandle a friend of mine has. All he has told me is that it is,

"Early Pre-War Mauser C96 Broomhandle Pistol with early safety and firing pin, large ring hammer, and 1 to 10 tangent sight, with flat side frame."

Theres a few markings ive never seen before, hopefully somebody on here might know

Here are the pics,

[pitfighter]

Wonderful -
it looks like an Astra - I guess it isn't with the German proofs (unless they're Spanish?), but very nice.

I love these variants, sorry not much info. from me, nice.

[Milsurp Collector]

That pistol is interesting. A flatside with that serial number is either from the Italian Navy contract or a small German test purchase. If it was Italian there should be a an AV proof under the barrel and a DV proof on the left side of the chamber (web photo)



but your friend's has the standard German proofs. If it was from the German contract the rear sight should be marked 50-500, but your friend's is marked 1-10 like the Italian contract. Since it doesn't have the Italian proofs I'm going to say it was from the German test contract and for some reason it has the 1-10 rear sight instead of the 50-500 rear sight.

Read more here http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...dle-Serial-368

[Emdawg]

What an odd piece. Doesn't appear to be Italian contract. It sure isn't a '97 Turk.

OP's friend might be luck and it is a late 1898 test pistol.

[Dan_Eastvale]

Does anyone know why they are called broomhandle.
I lived in Germany for three years and never saw a broom with a handle that looked like that.. Heehee


But, mein Gott, I love those all steel pistols and rifles...

[Mike A]

As far as I know, American collectors are the only ones that call them "Broomhandles." The Chinese used to call them "Box Pistols" because of the wooden shoulder stock/holster. I always assumed that the "handle" name was from resemblance to some antique whisk broom handle. Or not.

[RedEarth]

Thanks for all the helpful comments guys! its definitely a weird one, i have never seen anything like this before... ill keep trying to dig up some info on it and ill post what i find. thanks again!