[alvin]

Large pistols like C96 and LP08 had filled in the gap between machine gun (fast firing but bulky and heavy, which was almost a fixed position facility), and bolt action rifle (slow firing), before submachine gun became popular. With effective range of 100-150 meters, they were "assault pistols" in that era. In contrast, regular 4" Lugers, 1911, and revolvers were more 5-10 meter self-defense oriented in action.

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And, C96's feature is more like a mini-rifle than a pistol: a rifle like bolt, detachable stock, magazine in the front, and loading from a clip etc. LP08 is more like a pistol. Say, C96 was designed by rifle masters, not very surprising.

The magazine feeding style of this pistol is like that of Mauser rifle as well. Not only cartridges are arranged in two columns, they also feed from both sides, alternatively. Not many pistols feed this way.

On rifle, it's common to see stock having hallow space to store accessaries, e.g. cleaning kit. If the gun was small, why not store the whole gun in the stock.... Could this be the reason this pistol's stock playing two roles in design? God knows. It's a guesstimation.