NOTE: These two guns both sold to a private collector through our brick and mortar store in Parker, CO in summer 2017.

The Mauser C/96 Broomhandle Pistol saw service throughout the world; from the trenches of WWI to The Dublin Easter Uprising, Broomhandles have armed Russian Revolutionaries, Chinese Warlords, and a host of paramilitary groups in between.

Since most Mauser C/96 contracts were filled from standard production guns, it’s hard to trace specific guns to specific countries. (Notable contract examples are the Turkish Conehammer Contract, marked in Farsi in their own serial number range, the Persian Contract, 1000 guns in a specific serial number range and marked with the Persian Crest, or the Italian Naval Contract of 5000 guns in their own serial number range with Italian markings.)

When Mauser started production of the C/96 in 1896, commercial sales were good, but Mauser was hoping for a military contract, so when the Mexican Government under Porfirio Diaz asked for guns, Mauser supplied them.

The guns pictured here are part of a very small and incredibly rare contract of Mauser C/96 pistols supplied to the Mexican Government between approx 1898 and 1900.

They are standard “Conehammer” style guns, the only differences from a standard Conehammer being that the rear sight is only graduated to 500 meters, and that the Mexican Sunburst and “RM” for Republica Mexicana is stamped on the backstrap just above the stock channel. Both guns are in the 8000 serial number range and show evidence of service in the hot and humid Mexican climate. While most observed Mexican Conehammers have been buffed and reblued, these examples are in their original configuration.

Both guns have replaced grips, one set being a proper and closely numbered pair of Conehammer grips, the other being a later replacement from an early 20th century Mauser. Both guns show speckling in the finish typical of guns that have been in humid environments.

Amazingly enough the bores on both of the guns are very nice, considering the limited care that most guns saw during service in Mexico. One gun also has a period of use replaced front sight, made to be a bit more like a Single Action Army front sight.

Interestingly enough, Mexican President Porfirio Diaz owned a personalized and engraved Mauser C/96, serial number 11542, presented to him by the Mauser factory, no doubt in hopes of further contracts.

When Diaz was ousted from power in 1911 by Revolutionary Forces and the country spiraled into an even more fractured state of anarchy, the mad scramble for weapons began anew, and any Broomhandles available were issued. Photos of Mexican Revolutionary Era soldiers are known, and firsthand accounts of Mauser C/96 pistols being used (especially for executions) have turned up in oral histories of the Revolution.

While most people have romantic ideas of Old West revolvers and cowboys populating Mexico, it’s worth remembering that the Mexican Revolution was fought with the most modern technology available, as these exceedingly rare and fascinating pistols prove!

More Images:

Do you have an item like this one that you are interested in selling?
We purchase collectible firearms and military antiques every day at Pony Express Firearms – please contact us today if you would like to sell your item!