The Elusive and Mysterious 9mm Export Broomhandle
Everyone is familiar with the “Red 9” 9mm Luger Broomhandle, but very few people know about its earlier cousin, the 9mm Export Broomhandle.
The Mauser C/96 “Broomhandle” Pistol was manufactured from 1896 until approximately 1936. During those years the pistols remained basically the same, going through some internal and external changes, but nothing that changed the basic premise of how the gun worked. C/96 pistols were primarily chambered for the 7.63mm Mauser cartridge, although a notable run were made for the German Military in 9mm Luger during WWI.
Beginning in the years prior to WWI, Mauser realized that a more powerful cartridge might be of interest to some of its foreign customers, so they designed a 9×25 cartridge, called the 9mm Mauser Export. This is a straight walled 9mm shell, with a 25mm long casing. In contrast, the 9mm Luger is a 9mm cartridge with a 19mm long casing.
The first Mauser C/96 pistols chambered for the cartridge appears in the 50000 serial number range, and appear to be for a military contract, as they lack the standard Mauser markings over the chamber. Other Mauser pistols in this serial number range that are in standard 7.63mm Mauser do have chamber markings, lending credence to the idea that whichever entity bought the first 9mm Export guns specifically asked for no chamber markings.
Pictured here is an example of a very early 9mm Export pistol without chamber marking. Unfortunately, no documentation as to which country they might have been for has ever surfaced. The only tantalizing clue to emerge is that some of these pistols were imported into the United States in the 1960s from an unknown country in the “Near East.”
9mm Export C/96 without the grooved follower.
9mm Export C/96 pistols do not have any identifying marks denoting their caliber, and are virtually identical to a regular 7.63mm C/96. The main difference internally is that sometimes the magazine follower will be grooved to help feed the straight 9mm case. We should note that this is also found on some Red 9 C/96 pistols, but here again, not ALL guns will have the grooved follower. The example pictured here (to the right) does not have the grooved follower. Since this part is numbered to the gun, it is obviously not a later replacement, and left the factory without the groove.
9mm Export C/96 with the grooved follower and Mauser banner.
9mm Export C/96s can appear in any serial number range of Pre-WWI guns. Here is an example (to the left) of a Mauser C/96 in 9mm Export made for the commercial market, during a period of 10,000 guns that had the Mauser logo on the chamber flat. This gun appears unfired, and has its original matched holster stock as well.
C/96 pistols in 9mm Export continued to be made in extremely limited numbers until WWI. They are generally found in standard full size configurations, although some short barrel (Bolo) examples are known.
The cartridge outlasted the C/96 pistol, with the 9mm Export being adopted for limited use in some submachine guns by the Austrians, Swiss, and Hungarians between about 1930 and 1945. Ammunition continued in sporadic production, ceasing in about 1960.
Today, Mauser C/96 pistols in 9mm Export are highly sought after on the collector market, and will bring a premium depending on condition and configuration.
More Images:
9mm Export – Military
9mm Export – Commercial
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