Mauser Broomhandle
 

I have started looking at Mauser Broomhandles, but I don't know anything about them. What I want is a 9mm shooter for possible use in Cowboy Action matches. I do not want anything with collector value, and I also don't want to end up with any bolt parts embedded in my skull (i.e. I need something safe to fire).

Anyone know anyhting about these? Market rates?

Thanks!

H

I dont remember the name but I recall a JW movie set around the turn of the century where one the actors had a broom and it seems like I remember Clint knockin somebody in the head and takin one from them.

A couple of years ago I found a nice 30 mauser with a shot out bore for a reasonable price. I sent it to Redmonds to be rebored to 9mm. They do excellent work and it is a blast to shoot!

Gerard Henrotin has an excellent e-book on the C96
Also info here:
http://www.northwest-denture.com/mauser1896/index.htm
http://www.mauserguns.com/gungallery1.asp

I seem to recall the same movie, where one of the bad guys was holding off JW with a stocked broom from the local water tower. TH

The movie was "Joe Kidd" with Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall.

Yep, "Joe Kidd". I like the train action at the end! And I lusted after a Broomhandle for a long time after seeing it for the first time.

One thing I've never heard anyone else mention: the hammer "bites" me when I fire my pard's. Maybe I'm just too dumb to hold it right, but if I don't concentrate on my grip, I get bit.

Hey Rod,

Yer paws are too fat...;-D

I have been told by a number of people about 1911s etc, biting. My hands are fairly large and have never had any pistol bite me. I think it must have to do with the way that some grip a pistol.

Mauser broomhandles turn up in other Cowboy movies as well, as if "Joe Kidd" wasn't enough...

"The Great Silence" (1968)
"Tepepa - Long Live the Revolution" (1968)
http://website.lineone.net/~braithwa...uns/mauser.htm

But here is the real motherload of C96 film appearances, including "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself", which I have not seen:

http://www.g6csy.net/c96/films.html

All of this supports the "Wild Bunch" class in Cowboy Action Shooting, in which auto pistols made in the vicinity of the 1914 Mexican Revolution are permitted. This date seems to be the outer edge of things considered "Cowboy".

H

"And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself"

I saw that site too. The movie was released in 2003.

Pretty remarkable that Pancho Villa played himself, considering he was killed in 1923. I would say he looks pretty good for someone who had been dead for 80 years.

That Pancho Villa flick was pretty lousy, IMO. My wife got it for us to watch at our mountain place where we don't get "reglar" TV. I didn't like it at all.

Ron, you're right about my fat paws! (the rest of me too, BTW) However, no other auto pistol bites me, just the Broomhandle. Curious.

Tac is right:
In the movie, "Big Jake," one of Big Jake's(JW) sons was using a Bergmann. The older son took it over and rigged up a quick-draw holster rig for it.

"And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself"

Interesting picture. . . plent of Maxim machine-gun footage and several broomhandle scenes, including a close-up of a "Villa-ista" who, after capping some poor unfotunate, proceeds to rack the tangent sight (as opposed to the bolt) to chamber a new round. . . complete with the standard Hollywood sound-effect library cut of a Colt Government slide being racked. . . I sort of lost interest after that. . .

John

If I recall correctly, the "Bergmann" used in "Big Jake" was in fact a dummied-up P-38 prop. I'd have to watch the film and look, but I recall that being my impression. Anyone have a copy to check?

H

Heh, "Big Jake" was just on the other night and I was googling around to see what kind of pistol Chris Mitchum was using.

I came to the conclusion that it was in fact a P-38 made up to somewhat resemble a Webley and Scott Automatic pistol.
At least it looked more like a Webley and Scott than a Bergmann.
.

Rod,
Come by and try my pre-S&W Walther PPK. It'll give ya a nice bite.

As to the JW movie, I thought it was a Bergmann too. I have the movie; now I am forced <grin> to watch it again.

David, I'm afraid Utah is a mite far with gas the way it is. Thanks anyway.

Maybe if you listed 40-50 guns I could shoot while there.... :bigbye: