Identifying a Refinished or Reblued Mauser C/96 Broomhandle The Mauser C/96 Broomhandle pistol was manufactured between 1896 until about 1936, and over a million examples were made. In the subsequent years, a myriad of fates befell these pistols. A small handful survive in essentially new condition, while others have seen long years of hard service and barely function. Over time, many C/96 pistols were refinished – either by arsenals or private individuals. In this post, we’re going to examine some of the ways to tell if a C/96 has been refinished or otherwise tampered with. Keep in mind that this is just a guide, and that nothing can be a substitute for years of looking at C/96 pistols and being familiar with what looks right. These are just the basics for a beginner contemplating a purchase. First, know what is the proper C/96 finish for a given time period. C/96 pistols got two different kinds of blue … Read More
The “Other” 9mm Mauser Broomhandle
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 … Read More
Remington Double Derringer .41 Short Revolver
NOTE: This revolver is currently for sale in our store and on our website. No representation of the “Old West Saloon” is complete without a vest clad gambler sitting at a card table, armed with his Remington Derringer. These iconic guns were made, relatively unchanged, from 1866 until 1935. They shoot a low powered rimfire 41 Short cartridge, with an estimated muzzle velocity of 425 feet per second. We recently acquired the gun pictured here on one of our buying trips through the Western US. Coming out of Reno, NV, it came from the family of a pawn shop owner who kept under the counter as the store defense gun from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. After that, it was dropped in a drawer and only saw the light of day recently. When we purchased it, it even had what appears to be the original ammunition chambered! Operation is single … Read More