A General Question for Those Who Know

[Kyrie]

Hi Tom,


â??Toggle headsâ?� - I like that


On the subject of well traveled pistols (and this is a bit off-topic) I once came across a C96 that quite interesting. It was in the Wartime Commercial serial number range, had Imperial German acceptance stamp, a Russian Tula proof, and an inscription in a language I didnâ??t recognize. At one point I showed the pistol to a fellow collector (who was a naturalized US citizen, having been a refugee from Tibet) and he recognized and translated the inscription. It was a presentation inscription in a Tibetan dialect.


Apparently this C96 had been originally purchased for use by a soldier in the Imperial German Army, had been captured or stolen by the Russians, who had proofed it for some reason. It had then made its way to Tibet (a White Russian fleeing the Reds?), had then been seized by Maoâ??s people, and was finally exported to the US in the late 1980â??s.


This is another one I wish could speak. But if it could we would need at least five different languages to understand its tale!


Best regards,


Kyrie