Welcome to at the moment’s Photo of the Day! Here we have now a really fascinating stepping stone within the developmental historical past of the Mauser C96. This Photo of the Day follows up with yesterday’s in addition to the Curious Relics article that went reside yesterday. The “Broomhandle” as its nickname goes was developed in a normal configuration at first. Then they manufactured smaller capability fashions in addition to bigger capability fashions. Not lengthy after the race was on to market these weapons to militaries all over the world. One such chunk of the army in each nation which was often first to get the “new stuff” was the cavalry. Before World War One the cavalry was an integral a part of successful most battles. They often could be geared up with swords and/or a brace of single-shot pistols. Mauser manufactured this prototype broomhandle carbine in hopes of wowing the cavalry…Guess they forgot they already principally had a broomhandle carbine because the regular C96 might mount a shoulder inventory.
“This is an extremely rare example of an early production Model 1896 System Mauser Prototype Stocked Carbine serial number “5”. This precise pistol is pictured and briefly mentioned on web page 194-209 of the reference e-book “The Broomhandle Pistols 1896-1936” by Pate & Erickson. These early System Mauser pistols and stocked carbines are all very uncommon with lots of them having distinctive options. The first being probably the most fascinating having all of the early/distinctive options with the System Mauser markings. Starting with serial quantity 1-4, all had the early screw-in barrels that used a very hollowed out shoulder inventory/holster with totally different/distinctive attaching irons. Starting with pistol serial quantity “5”, this precise instance, Mauser modified the design to have an integral barrel and barrel extension all machined as one piece. This pistol has a singular 9 3/8 inch spherical tapered barrel with an early bead entrance sight and an early non-reinforced tangent rear sight graduated 1-10. This particular instance has all of the early distinctive options to incorporate the famous removable, push button decrease pistol grip/buttstock attaching meeting, the deep milled body facet panels, cone hammer, lengthy extractor and the dovetailed firing pin cease. The serial quantity “5” is stamped on the left facet raised space of the body, the follower, journal base plate underside of the rear sight meeting. Internally, it’s numbered “5” on the entire applicable elements. The prime of the chamber is stamped in two strains “SYSTEM/MAUSER”. Included is the unique early inventory/holster with a do-it-yourself, non-function attaching iron. Consequently the decrease rear finish of the body and decrease dovetailed attaching space would require some restoration work to right this space and likewise to manufacture an accurate push-button attaching iron. It nonetheless retains its unique hollowed out inventory that has additionally been barely modified on the very prime of the top piece.”
Lot 3557: Early System Mauser Model 1896 Stocked Carbine Serial Number “5” – Extremely Rare Documented Early Production Antique System Mauser Model 1896 Stocked Semi-Automatic Carbine Single Digit Serial Number “5”. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. {photograph}. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/79/3557/early-system-mauser-model-1896-stocked-carbine-serial-number-5.
