Take a guess on this one. Wrongly installed coupling?

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

I wonder if he's tried taking out the mag spring and follower?

... ...

Alvin - That seems to be an M30. I made up one of Wood's unlocking tools years ago, and then tried to put my M30 together with the coupling backwards...there was no way it would go back together with it backwards...maybe the early C96's would, but my M30 wouldn't...

In any event, it is not hard to unlock it without drilling holes; you just need a donor screwdriver ground down and bent, and a soft jawed vise to hold the pistol in...It does take a lot of strength - that spring is strong!!!

I have the original article in my "Gunsmithing: The Tricks Of The Trade" book by J. B. Wood if you buy the gun and need a copy (the tool is actually shown on the cover)...Or you can copy the article from the 1896mauser site, too...

I'd say this one was just stiff, or maybe dirty...I would have no problem buying it...(except that I already have one!)...

$45 for shipping; 8 1/4% NY sales tax, plus FFL fee puts it out of my interest...