Strange Guns: Mauser C96

(Image source)

The Mauser C96 is a self-loading handgun. It was one of the earliest self-loading handguns developed by German arms maker Mauser and the earliest truly successful one. More than a foot in length and weighing about 2 3/4 pounds loaded, its weight and bulk hardly lends itself to make it unique.

What became known as the C96 pistol was manufactured from 1896 until 1937—with more than a million made. Many more were produced by Spain and China during the first half of the 20th century, most, by the way, were pirated copies. Though a number of countries made some smaller orders for the C96, China was the only one to adopt it as an official military sidearm. What the pistol lacked in terms of military acceptance, it made up in the eyes of many British military officers who used it at the Battle of Omdurman in the Sudan in September 1898. Many British officers purchased a C96 through Westley Richards & Co. Ltd. Though not an official military pistol from its home country, the C96 has been involved in no less than 16 wars or conflicts ranging from the Battle of Omdurman to the Soviet Afghanistan War that ended in 1989.

The profile of the C96 is as iconic as the 1911, Glock or Colt Single Action Army. One look, and there’s no mistaking what it is. From the integral box magazine located forward of the trigger guard to its namesake gripping handle and rather straight hammer—and oh, the detachable shoulder stock that doubles as a carrying case—the C 96 is a unique pistol.

Carrying case attached as shoulder stock to transform pistol into a carbine (Image source)

Initially the C96 was chambered in the 7.63 mm Mauser, but by 1902 it was made in 9 mm Parabellum, usually, but not always, distinguished by a large red “9” burned deeply into its wood grip. A few were chambered in 9x25 mm Mauser Export, and some Chinese knock-offs were chambered in .45 ACP. The pistol operates on the short-recoil system. A curved stripper clip charges the magazine from the top. Magazine capacities ranged from six to 20 rounds, with the 10-rounder being the most popular. Barrel lengths ran from 99 mm (3.89 inches) to 140 mm (5.51 inches) with the 140 mm being the most common. Sights were an inverted “V” front with an adjustable “V” notch tangent rear with graduations out to 1,000 meters—quite a good range for a pistol.

Variants were plenty, and a good C96 collector can get dozens of examples without doubling any one in particular. A few—notably the M1932/M712 “Schnellfeuer” and Brazilian PASAM (Pistola Automática Semi-Automática Mauser)—were made to fire full-auto.

The C96 carried with it a good reputation for accuracy but average reliability—although Churchill credited the pistol with saving his life. It is hopelessly complex and slow in operation, and that complexity, combined with the cost of producing the pistol made it unpopular as more reliable, less costly and more portable semi-automatic pistols were developed. The exotic look of the pistol made it a status symbol and eventually got it featured in classic movies.

Today the C96 is mostly a collector’s gun.

Video by hippo939

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Sources: www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/2/20/a-look-back-at-the-mauser-c96

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