C96 Receiver Question & Answer

[alvin]

OK. I take it as a quiz.

First things first, looking at this shape, #5585 cannot be Spanish. And looking at this making quality, it cannot be a Chinese copy. It's German for sure.

#5585, not on chamber, but numbered on the receiver's locking lug, then it's before 1899 Italian Navy. Why? Starting from Italian Navy, receiver number was moved to chamber.

What's before Italian Navy? Conehammers were before Italian, Early Large Rings were before Italian too. A few German Test Large Rings were also before Italian. But German Test ones were separately numbered, low s/n stuffs, it could not go as high as #5585, so that possibility can be phased out easily. Early Large Rings were after s/n 12000, they could not have #5585 on receiver. So the only possibility is Conehammer #5585. Then, checking the cutout at the under rear end of the receiver, looking at that sight leaf installation holes... yeah, it's a Conehammer receiver fitting 1-10 sight leaf. From s/n, to s/n location, to features, everything matches conehammer's pattern, then it's conehammer.

The year.... Mauser sold 2375 C96 pistols in 1897. Could #5585 be made in 1897?? Not impossible, but unlikely. Why? Those Turkish C96 were delivered in early 1898. This one should be made after the Turkish. Another 7975 pistols were sold in 1898. Most likely, #5585 was one of them.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

OK. I take it as a quiz.

From s/n, to s/n location, to features, everything matches conehammer's pattern, then it's conehammer.

The year...7975 pistols were sold in 1898. Most likely, #5585 was one of them.

Not quite a quiz, as I do not know answer. But Thank You! for detailed analysis.

Was there an Argentine contract for 1898 Conehammer???

More pics...It is a pity that it is a Mauser C96 that I will never own...I really am getting good at re-barreling...

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Was there an Argentine contract for 1898 Conehammer???

Never heard of. If an order was small, say, fifty or a hundred pistols, I would think customer (retailer) could simply order that. Factory's inventory could fill small orders easily. If someone wanted a few guns, probably buying from retailer was the easiest way -- no Paypal.com at that time, I bet it's hard for an individual to do "international business" at that time

Some conehammers had "R.M." on the back of the grip, I heard those came from Republic of Mexico. But that R.M. stamp was applied by user as property mark, not by factory.

Any special mark on gun with Argentine provenance?

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

Any special mark on gun with Argentine provenance?

The leaf maybe??? I know I have seen it before, but don't recall where...

This receiver/barrel extension came from Argentina...

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

This receiver/barrel extension came from Argentina...

Bought from Argentina directly?? How??

Was it from this guy?

http://www.bronzecannons.net/mausercollection.html

He got #4591, #5122, and #5766, serial is not far away from #5585.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

Bought from Argentina directly?? How??

By purchase from M1896 forum member disposing of C96 collection/spare parts.