A few Std C96 went through my hands, this is the best
 

Received this morning.

Collectors call this "Prewar Commercial", or "Standard C96". Large volume of them were made, it's this variation made C96 world famous. A few instances in excellent shape went through my collection, but this one is the best, coming with original matching stock in excellent shape. This condition is comparable with the one recently sold from Sturgess collection in October...of course, no Simpson LTD importer stamp, and cost much lower.

It's another instance that magazine floor latch frozen there. It has not been disassembled for long time.

Very nice! :thumbup:

You should submit pic to moderator for inclusion in 2015 LugerForum calender! :cheers:

How do you plan to free up frozen floorplate latch??? :confused:

Question: Do you think split-ring ("keyring") lanyard loop is original Mauser??? Or did Mauser install solid ring originally???

(My apologies for being so rude as to hijack your thread...) :rolleyes:

Alvin

Congratulations it's really beautiful!!!
If I'm not wrong about 240,000 of them were made between 1905- 1914 I've got one in my collection too with its original "gutta-percha" grips.

Sergio

Comparing with 1930, free up floor is easy on this variation: applying a little bit KrOil into the latch hole, waited 15 minutes, used short round head bamboo stick, on end putting on that latch, anther end against the table top, then punched the gun down a few times, the latch starts moving inward. The floor was easily moved forward after that -- much easier than 1930. On 1930, with that latch down, the floor still does not move. This one is way easier.

From wearing, it has been fired probably one clip in the past 100 years. Minor cartridge scratching sign on follower, and light impact marks on receiver rear end. Firing pin and bore are in perfect shape. I will leave this one alone without test firing it :) Cost me $3k,,,, roughly a super nice byf's cost.

Alvin, I always marvel every time I see one of your C-96s! Mine are all shooters but your posts remind me of how much joy I get out of mine! This example is truly beautiful.

Michael

I pick up C96 based on variation. Standard C96 is relative easy to come, so requires 98%+mint bore+matching stock. If it's Turkish, I would accept fair condition without stock. Depends on how hard to find one.

Here is Joe Schroeder summarized C96 value, based on old data. Nowadays, very hard to find C96 at this price level. Market price almost doubled on some variations. We can consider the table being Joe's cost on these.

The last one from "holiday season" arrived (2nd one from the left). Many days have passed that season, seller was fast on $$, but slow on shipping, so it just arrived today. It's not as good as I assumed, but it's still acceptable.

There is some numbering difference between this one and its sister (M1912). Not sure how people classifying this, M1908, maybe.

The rear sight leaf, sear arm, and safety lever are numbered parts on this one, #80721. Other parts are numbered just like later M1912. Since the safety lever is fragile on C96, I give up test firing this one. If this lever is broken, there is no remedy.

One gun lover visited a military museum in Paris. Two pictures on museum's LP08 and C96/1912.

Note the number "50" on LP08. And the interesting C96 stock carrier band.

A DWM 1902 Fat Barrel (?)

A World famous 75mm gun

and, a baby tank

The Luger is a 1906 9mm.

1902 should have different type of toggle, and toggle lock. This one must be 1906. Thanks for the correction.