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Mauser C96

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 14:14 Written by Administrator Thursday, 02 July 2009 12:44

The Mauser C96, commonly known as the “Mauser Broomhandle”, is a semi-automatic pistol of German design. It was designed by Mauser in 1895 and manufactured from 1896 to 1937. Copies of the Mauser C96 were also manufactured in Spain and China without license.

The Mauser C96 has a distinctive appearance with a long barrel, the integral box magazine, a broom-handle shaped grip and the wooden stock. The stock also serves as a holster or carrying box. In the English speaking world, the C96 was commonly known as “Broomhandle” because of the shape of its grip. In Chinese copy of the C96 were known as the “box cannon”.

During the years of manufacture, approximately 1 million Mauser C96 pistols were manufactured in Germany. The number of copies manufactured in Spain and China is unknown because of lack of proper production records.

When compared to many other pistols of that era, the Mauser C96 had superior range and high penetration power. This was because of its long barrel and the powerful 7.63x25mm round it used. Within a year of its design, the Mauser C96 saw service in many countries such as the Ottoman Turkish government and Italy. The gun was also popularly used by British Army officers. However, interest in the weapon quickly weaned at the beginning of the First World War.

The C96 saw service in many wars: various colonial conflicts, World War I, Spanish Civil War, the Chinese Civil War and World War II. It was widely employed by the Chinese during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.

The original model of the C96 was chambered for the 7.63x25mm round. However other versions chambered for 9mm Parabellum and 9mm Mauser Export were also manufactured. The Chinese versions of the C96 were designed for the .45ACP round. Though the C96 was well known and widely used in many countries, only China used it as a primary military pistol.

In popular culture, it is commonly depicted as an exotic weapon and is easily recognizable because of its distinct shape. A modified and “sci-fi” variant of the C96 can also be seen in the Star Wars Series. The Mauser C96 is also a highly sought-after collector’s item.