Mauser Pre-War Commercial C96 Broomhandle 7.63mm/.30 Semi-Automatic Pistol
Archival record: Specifications and condition reflect the firearm as listed at the time of auction.
Final Auction Price: $2,201.00
The Mauser C96 is one of the most recognizable early semi-automatic pistols ever produced, with its integral magazine, distinctive grip profile, and advanced mechanical design making it a landmark firearm of the pre-World War I era. This Standard Pre-War Commercial example, manufactured circa 1911 to 1914, remains matching on its serial-marked parts and retains strong collector appeal as a commercial Broomhandle from Mauser’s classic production period.
Identification
MMA#: 260120DI019
Make: Waffenfabrik Mauser, Oberndorf
Model: Mauser C96, Standard Pre-War Commercial
Serial Number: 179656
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1911 to 1914
Caliber: 7.63x25mm Mauser, .30 Mauser
Action Type: Semi-automatic short-recoil pistol with internal magazine fed by stripper clips
Barrel Length: 5 1/2 inches
Sights / Optics
The front sight is a fixed blade mounted near the muzzle. The rear sight is a tangent leaf graduated from 50 to 1000 meters, marked in 50 meter increments to 500 and then 100 meter increments to 1000.
Stock / Grip Configuration & Condition
The grip panels are two-piece serrated wood with the number “656” marked inside each panel. A lanyard ring is fixed to the buttstrap. The grips show moderate wear with scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. The serrations remain generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall grip condition: Very Good.
Finish & Overall Condition
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
This pistol retains approximately 85 percent of its metal finish. The serial-marked parts are matching. Finish thinning is present along most edges, with handling wear in the grip areas, scattered light nicks, scuffs, scratches, and some faint surface oxidation. The action shows normal operational wear. The screw head is sharp and the markings are generally clear, with some wear but still legible. Overall condition: Very Good.
Bore & Mechanics
Bore Condition: Semi-bright with sharp rifling and scattered light erosion, mostly in the grooves. Bore rated about 7 out of 10.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel extension has minor play to the frame. This pistol was not test fired. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be desired before use.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories
Included are two stripper clips.
Our Assessment
The Mauser C96 was among the earliest successful self-loading pistols and remains one of the most influential handgun designs of the early 20th century. Developed by the Feederle brothers at Mauser’s experimental workshop and introduced in 1896, the C96 was produced in numerous variations over a span of more than forty years. Most were chambered for the high-velocity 7.63x25mm cartridge and fed from a fixed internal magazine loaded by stripper clips, a system that helped distinguish the design from later detachable-magazine pistols.
This example falls into the Standard Pre-War Commercial range and was produced in the years immediately preceding the First World War. It retains matching serial-marked parts and shows the honest wear expected of a commercial Broomhandle that likely saw substantial handling over more than a century. The left side of the frame is marked “1914,” a notation of uncertain significance but one that adds further intrigue to an already collectible pistol. With a better-than-average bore for the type and sound mechanics, this C96 remains an appealing example for collectors of early self-loading pistols and Imperial-era Mauser handguns.
The Mt. McCoy Auctions Difference
At Mt. McCoy Auctions, every firearm is carefully documented and professionally photographed to create a detailed archival record. Our descriptions are written to provide collectors and shooters with a clear understanding of condition, features, and historical context.
