Mauser C96 with Austrian Military proofs

[Douglas Jr.]

Hello forum mates,

Let me take some of your time to present you one of my dearest items: a Commercial Wartime Mauser C96, issued to the Austrian Army during the World War I, where it made its way through a military aviation unit.

Edited October 4, 2005 by Douglas Jr.

[Douglas Jr.]

The Wartime Commercial Mauser Broom(termed 1896/12) was manufactured by Waffenfabrik Mauser at Oberndorf from 1915-1918 for the German Army. These bear a NS (Neue Sichrung, New Safety) on the back of the hammer, a 1000 meter tangent rear sight. These are found in the 280000 to 430000 serial range. A NS safety was added in November 1915, at serial number 280000, which marks the start of the Wartime Commercial serial range. Interspersed in this serial range are pistols that bear a C/scriptic letter German Army acceptance stamp.

Almost all these pistols (with or without the Army acceptance stamp) were intended for Army service or for officer self purchase. In August 1917 the Prussian Army Arsenal offered the Wartime Commercial Mauser Broom for sale to officers.

[Douglas Jr.]

A few of these Wartime Commercial pistols, mostly in the 360000 to 430000 serial range, bear Austrian military acceptance stamps in the form of a W-n Austrian Eagle and a date.

Mine is a serial number 405026 (with matching stock), which was issued to the Austrian Army during the WWI (1917), bearing the inspector mark on the right side of the chamber (W-n Eagle/17). The gun also has the unit?s mark in its grip, LFA527, which mean Luftfahrt Abteilung (Air Corp Batalion) #527.

[Douglas Jr.]

After the war this gun was probably kept in an Arsenal until the Austrian ocupation by the Germans in 1938, when it was reworked to chamber the 9mm Luger (as happened with most of the Steyr Hahn 1912 pistols), and served again during the WWII, probably with a second line unit. This statement is made because this particular gun was bought directly from the American GI who owned it as a bring back souvenir from the last war.

Well folks, that?s it. Hope you enjoy this short presentation. Feel free to make any further comments or questions.

Thanks for looking.

Douglas.

[Paul R]

Douglas,

You have some great stuff! Very nice and rare piece!! I have never seen a better and more complete example!

Best regards

Paul

[Rendsburg]

Hi Douglas,

great Mauser!

Nice to see you here.

TTO

[Douglas Jr.]

Paul and Otto,

Thanks for your comments.

I?ll try to show some more items in the near future.

Douglas.