C96 question
 

So, I've always wanted one and I saw this one at cabelas.

I think its military but I'm not sure?

No year, so figure it out from the serial? Any idea?

Good price? I've seen them close to 4 grand

Thanks in advanced!

It's a Bolo. And it's assembled incorrectly.

What's a bolo and how so, for assembly? Can it be fixed?

Bolo is a shortened version. I'll let others who know more fill in the details, but for me, at least, the bolo lacks the pizzazz of the C-96.
There are a lot of variations of the C96 and I would highly recommend that you "learn up" on them before you reach for your money. There are specialists who hang out here and no doubt forums dedicated to the C96 that will help you along.
But I share your fascination with them, they are an important part of world history. I had a great re-worked shooter for many years until my son decided he wanted it worse.

dju

A Bolo yes. Assembled incorrectly I don't think so.

Luke Skywalker's blaster was based on a Bolo.:D

For the OP.
I think that Bolo was made somewhere around 1910-1912, or if the barrel has six grooves, around 1912-1914.

Here is a regular size C96 to compare.

Attachment 74091
Attachment 74092

ok. :)

Some info. here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser_C96

dju

Sky Zero

Just for your information, but you probably already know about it, have a look at this interesting site:

http://askmisterscience.com/1896mauserbackup/


Best regards.

Just one more thing. "Bolo" is just a nickmame for the shorter barrel smaller grip variation of ghe C96 pistol. It was never an "oficcial" designation.

Thanks guys! I decided to pass up on the deal

Once question I still have is that were these all commercial produced and sold separately or were there actual military contracts for these?

I woudn't. If it was on sale my side of the pond provided it had a decent bore.

Major military contracts were something the C96 failed to secure.

But they sold 1000 to the Turkish Army in 1897. The numbers in the tangent sight are not Arabic. And they were numbered 1 to 1000.

They sold 5000 to the Italian Navy in 1899. They are from the slab sided variant (no milling in the frame). I find this variation somewhat ugly.

And a 1000 were sold to Persia in 1910 they are msrked with "The Lion And The Sun.
Attachment 74190

Of course during WWI and WWII Germans made contracts for anything that could shoot.:rolleyes: the C96 was no exception. They would be of the 1912 pattern with 6 groove barrels instead of the original 4 and have the "New Safety" (you needed to pull the hammer back from the cocked position to engage the safety). And of course there was the 1916 Prussian contract for 150.000 9 Luger chambered C96s the infamous red nines. The WWII ones are of the 1930 variation with the step barrel.

Cool, thanks for the info. You think this one is pre or post war? Ww1, I mean.

I think it's pre war

Dear All,
Sorry to correct a previous post but I think it is important to provide the correct figure for the early Mauser C96 contracts.
The risk is that we continue propagating the errors.
As you know, the early contracts are available in the Paul Mauser Archive (www.paul-mauser-archive.com) as well as the sale documents. This allows a clear and correct evaluation of the sale figures for the Turkish, Italian and Persian contracts.
Here the data as for the original Mauser Archive:

1) Turkish: 1000 pistols with stock acquired in December 1897. The sale book report 31st December 1897.
2) Italian: 5003 pistols with stock. The contract was finalized by Paul Mauser himself in Venice on the 17th of August 1898.
3) Persian: Initial contract for 1100 pistol without stock. All pistols were produced by Mauser but Persia paid and received only 600 pistols without stock on January 1914. The other 500 pistols were sold to the German forces, they received a numbered stock and some were re-chambered to the 9mm caliber.

Kind regards,
Mauro

Maybe I'll head over to the store and check it out