Mauser - Turkish Relationship

[mauro]

Dear All,
Several topics have been opened with regard to the Mauser productions for the Ottoman Empire, mainly for the fascinating Turkish C96 pistols.

In our recent book (Paul Mauser - His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838 - 1914), for the first time, we provide a very detailed history of the Turkish – Mauser relationship based upon historical documents available in the Paul Mauser and early Mauser archive.

We describe this relationship from 1886 until April 1911. In fact, we complete our analysis in 1911, showing for the first time the original letters exchanged between Paul Mauser and his nephew Paul Mauser II that was in Turkey to follow comparative tests between Luger, C96 and Browning pistols. These documents will be of interest also for Luger and Browning collectors interested in this history.

Mauser collectors have a unique opportunity to access original historical documents never published before.

You will discover the Paul’s happiness for the first rifle contract and his disappointment for the C96 contract…

Paul Mauser himself was aware that the first Turkish contract for rifle and carbine signed on the 12th of February 1887 changed forever the history of the Mauser Company.

For Paul Mauser the first Turkish contract was so important that a specific celebration was done for the 25th anniversary of the contract and a special note is available in his 1912 diary as reported at page 155 of the book (see the page of the 1912 Paul Mauser diary below).

The translation, from Gerben, says: "Monday The 12th of Febr. 1887 Saturday have signed contract for 500,000 Infantry rifles and 50,000 carbines in Constantinople. 100 Million rifle rounds."

This morning I was busy reorganizing material about the Turkish C96 contracts and I have decided to take this picture showing some unique items in the Paul Mauser archive that I think collectors will appreciate - more photos of different documents are available in the book.

It shows some very interesting object together with a Turkish C96 pistol.

The booklet in the center, written in German and old Turkish, has been offered to Paul Mauser for his 70th birthday in 1908 by Husny Bey, President of the Imperial Ottoman Commission in Karlsruhe and very good friend of Paul. Husny Bey is the Turkish person in the middle of the photo and on the left, Mr. Doll, Mr. Schmid – Mauser managers. The photo shows also 1893 rifles and it has been taken most probably when an “active” contract was amended to incorporate the improved design.

The complete translation made by Gerben of the booklet is available at page 163 of the book.

The medal in the center is a rare one offered to Paul Mauser, Feederle and others Mauser representatives by the Turkish committee in Oberndorf on the 31st of August 1894 to celebrate the 18th years of the reign of the Sultan Abdul Hamid II. For this celebration, there was also a shooting competition in Oberndorf. The entire story at page 153-165 of the book.

I am sure collectors will appreciate the Turkish – Mauser history available in the book.

Regards,

Mauro