Red 9 Question
 

This is currently on Gun Broker. Just looks to good to be true! Any opinions from you experts? I'd be interested to see what this sells for - if it does sell.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=61701909

It's listed at $3,500 over the counter and this seller's reserve price is usually pretty close to his counter price. It looks okay to me, except for the cleaning rod which may or may not be a reproduction. The case is currently available through IMI. the Crown U proof is, as the seller claims, a commercial proof, and would lend credibility to it's overall excellent and unissued condition. Though I didn't see it in the pictures, there is probably a Prussian proof on the front of the magazine. I am somewhat suprised that it isn't stamped "Germany", as most of these ended up in the US and Great Britain after the war.

It is true that matching stocks for any C96 are somewhat rare. They are fragile and tend to crack and break. Many were mutilated in the last century before the BATF once again permitted the attaching lug on C&R examples.

Over all a pretty nice piece, if somewhat pricey. With the original harness leather this would be high-end range.