Just back from range... had a new finding regarding ammo... but let's address that later.
The two most significant features on most Chinese C96 that I have met are these two:
1) On C96 magazine well design, the front of magazine is narrower. But the two rails on top of grip frame are parallel. To make the magazine well front narrower, Chinese copy is usually (but not always) different from that of German's.
2) Maybe it's not obvious on this particular picture, but Chinese C96 usually has either smaller grip (but bigger than German Bolo), or thinner grip panels. Asian's hand is smaller, holding a big grip is not comfortable.
Applying those two, you can tell most copies. Of course, there are other delta. But those are more variation specific. Use Large Ring as an example,
3) German Large Ring Hammer had short receiver rails. Chinese copy usually had long rails. Chinese actually copied German standard C96, but changed the hammer to a Large Ring Hammer.
4) The most copied safety lever functions like a German Standard C96. It's relatively rare to see Chinese copy has early safety, or M1930 style safety.
Of course, if apply s/n and feature correspondence, then, there are numerous minor detail difference. But by applying 1) and 2), you can tell at least 90% copies.
Finally, below German picture "borrowed" from gunbroker.com, it's a reblued gun with replaced grip panels. Probably a nice shooter. The Chinese picture "borrowed" from Morphy Auction, it's also a reblued gun (Morphy mis-identified it as Spanish). On small parts side, it not very rare to find German parts on Chinese copies.
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