C96 Conundrum?

nukem556 · 07-03-2014, 08:47 PM

Here's a deep philosophical question for you guys....when is a pistol a matching numbers pistol? This gorgeous C96 just sold on Simpsons for 5K, with different serial numbers on the frame and barreled receiver, which appear to be a factory stamping mistake. So, it sold at a matching numbers price, for an unmatched gun that was supposed to be a matching gun so maybe its worth more than a mixed gun but its not a matching gun ...my head hurts!

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...ducts_id=34029

var99 · 07-03-2014, 09:04 PM

That one puzzled me as well that it sold for what it did, aside from the serial number issue, it's an early small hammer, but the supposedly matching stock has non-loop hinge of the later military contract type along with looking like it was sanded and refinished??

Edward Tinker · 07-03-2014, 10:28 PM

I know so little about C96's.

A friend of mine has a commercial that was a bring back, but its hard for me to know what is rare or not. I would think a mismatch like this seems to be a bit higher priced

MikeP · 07-05-2014, 05:33 PM

They are not known for low prices, but this seems pretty high.

sheepherder · 07-05-2014, 06:32 PM

Alvin knows a good deal about C96 Mausers, but he hasn't posted in a while...

Neither has padredan or chris in minneapolis...All three still have frequent Random Album Pics show up...

Sergio Natali · 07-06-2014, 07:41 AM

They are gorgeous collectibles always on the expensive side, probably this one being a "factory stamping mistake" is rarer still which would somehow explain such a high price.

Sergio

Vlim · 07-06-2014, 08:18 AM

Number mix-ups are not uncommon on early C96 pistols. But these mix-ups are usually restricted to swapping numbers, like 96 instead of 69, as a result of the use of unskilled (read: illiterate) work forces in the early days. With the improvement of the education system and internal quality control, this problem gradually went away and I would be very weary of a later C96 with more elaborate mismatched numbers

Mauser never really bothered to keep track of serial numbers anyway. They just numbered batches for contracts or commercial sales and moved on to the next batch, without keeping track of serial numbers they had already used. The sales books only recorded the quantities, never the serial numbers of the C96 pistols.

So anomalies can be expected.

Thor · 07-09-2014, 12:24 PM

07-03-2014, 08:47 PM	#1
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	C96 Conundrum? Here's a deep philosophical question for you guys....when is a pistol a matching numbers pistol? This gorgeous C96 just sold on Simpsons for 5K, with different serial numbers on the frame and barreled receiver, which appear to be a factory stamping mistake. So, it sold at a matching numbers price, for an unmatched gun that was supposed to be a matching gun so maybe its worth more than a mixed gun but its not a matching gun ...my head hurts! http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...ducts_id=34029 Last edited by nukem556; 07-03-2014 at 08:48 PM. Reason: add link

07-03-2014, 09:04 PM	#2
var99 User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: FL Posts: 114 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	That one puzzled me as well that it sold for what it did, aside from the serial number issue, it's an early small hammer, but the supposedly matching stock has non-loop hinge of the later military contract type along with looking like it was sanded and refinished?? Last edited by var99; 07-03-2014 at 10:36 PM.

07-05-2014, 06:32 PM	#5
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	Alvin knows a good deal about C96 Mausers, but he hasn't posted in a while... Neither has padredan or chris in minneapolis...All three still have frequent Random Album Pics show up... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

07-06-2014, 07:41 AM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	They are gorgeous collectibles always on the expensive side, probably this one being a "factory stamping mistake" is rarer still which would somehow explain such a high price. Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

07-09-2014, 12:24 PM	#8
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	__________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

07-03-2014, 10:28 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	I know so little about C96's. A friend of mine has a commercial that was a bring back, but its hard for me to know what is rare or not. I would think a mismatch like this seems to be a bit higher priced

07-05-2014, 05:33 PM	#4
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	They are not known for low prices, but this seems pretty high.

07-06-2014, 08:18 AM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Number mix-ups are not uncommon on early C96 pistols. But these mix-ups are usually restricted to swapping numbers, like 96 instead of 69, as a result of the use of unskilled (read: illiterate) work forces in the early days. With the improvement of the education system and internal quality control, this problem gradually went away and I would be very weary of a later C96 with more elaborate mismatched numbers Mauser never really bothered to keep track of serial numbers anyway. They just numbered batches for contracts or commercial sales and moved on to the next batch, without keeping track of serial numbers they had already used. The sales books only recorded the quantities, never the serial numbers of the C96 pistols. So anomalies can be expected.