POTD: Six Shot Variation of the Mauser Model 1896 Broomhandle
Sam.S 02.01.22
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a rare treat in the form of a Mauser Model 1896 Broomhandle six-shot. The most common Mauser Model 1896 Broomhandle pistols used a ten-round internal magazine that would be loaded with a stripper clip. The six-shot models were never in high demand since auto-loading handguns were not super popular and widely considered unreliable. A six-shot option was less desirable for the obvious reason of less capacity.
“This is a rare variation of the 6 shot Mauser Model 1896 Cone Hammer Broomhandle Pistol with the early cone hammer. This was the last variation of the early 6 shot Mauser pistol that features the 4 3/4 inch short barrel and the fixed rear sight, making it a much handier pistol than the earlier models. This example is fitted with the early features such as the long extractor, dovetailed firing pin retainer and the narrow back strap cut for a shoulder stock. The chamber area is marked “WAFFENFABRIK / MAUSER / OBERNDORF A/N”. The left side is restamped with a “Crown over U” proof, with the early “Antler” proofmark from the Ulm proof house in Germany. The underside of the barrel has also been stamped with various Mauser single letter proofmarks. It has the large milled panels on each side of the receiver, with the milled/profiled magazine floorplate with the exposed detent button. It has the standard fixed blade front and rear sights. It is fitted with a set of walnut grips with 23 grooves and a lanyard stud on the underside of the butt with no lanyard ring. It has a blued metal finish with the breech bolt and hammer, in the white with the straw colored trigger. The extractor, bolt stop and firing pin retainer are all heat blued.”
Lot 3457: Mauser 1896 Pistol 7.63 mm Mauser auto. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/66/3457/mauser-1896-pistol-763-mm-mauser-auto.
