Mauser c96

The Mauser C96 was the first semi-automatic pistol that was a commercial success.  Although introduced at the end of the 19th Century, the C96 was manufactured up until 1939 and over one million were produced by Mauser. 

The C96 was an innovative and elegant design based initially on Mauser’s bolt action rifles. Despite the complexity of the self loading mechanism, the only screw required was to attach the wooden grip panels.  All other components were fitted so that they simply locked together.  The pistol could be field stripped for cleaning using a spare cartridge.

The distinctive shape comes from the integral magazine which was placed in front of the trigger guard.  It was loaded by introducing a ‘charger’ containing 10 rounds of Mauser 7.62 x 25mm ammunition.  Variants with 6 shot and 20 shot capacity were produced in small quantities.

The ‘Broomhandle’ was produced with a wooden holster, which could be fitted into the slot cut in at the rear of the handle to form a stock.

The C96 was used throughout the world.  It was copied extensively, particularly in China.  Although not the main sidearm of the German army, it was widely used in both world wars and continues to be used in numerous conflicts.  I spotted one tucked in the belt of a Ukrainian  
irregular in the war with Russia in 2022.

Much later, in a Galaxy far, far away a rebel and smuggler called Han Solo carried a blaster based on the C-96.   (The prop gun used in the Star Wars film was a real C-96 built up with the addition of a scope and conical flash hider – for the avoidance of doubt – Han fired first!)

Image by Alexander Lesnitsky from Pixabay
Ferguson, Jonathon (2017). The ‘Broomhandle’ Mauser: Osprey Publishing