C96 Broomhandle 7.63mm Bolo

1919 C-96 "Bolo" "Broomhandle" PENDING

Genuine German Luger - Largest Variety of Lugers Offered

This is the classic C96 Early Postwar Bolo "Broomhandle" that was produced in 7.63mm for the Soviet Russian Army in 1919. This is a 99mm (3.9") Barrel or "Bolo" length and the large frame with wooden grips made by Mauser. The post war conditions (Treaty of Versailles) required a less then 4" (100mm) barrel with the new extractor and small ring hammer. The Bolshevik revolution had overrun Imperial Russia by then so this gun became known as the Bolo. (1845)

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon. Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Please visit Legal (tabbed) for Conditions of Sale.

Contrary to common belief, the C96 was not invented by Paul Mauser, but by the Feederle brothers (Fidel, Friedrich, and Josef). Fidel Feederle was the Superintendent of the Experimental Work Shop, and it is reported that the C96 (then referred to as P-7.63 or the Feederle Pistol) was designed and prototyped without the knowledge and against the wishes of Paul Mauser in 1895. Production began in 1896, and ended about 1939 with over one million C96 pistols produced.


This is a 7.63mm weapon with all the matching parts marked in the commercial manner with a late model trigger. The barrel is 99mm and it has an adjustable leaf sight marked up to 1000 meters. The frame has the stock lug and the thumb safety. The stock is numbered and proofed to the weapon. The inside of the gun is clean and well cared for.


Technically, the C-96 is a recoil operated, locked breech, semi-automatic pistol. It uses short recoiling barrel with bolt, located inside the large barrel extension. The bolt and barrel are locked by the vertically tilting locking piece with two lugs, that locked into the recesses on the bottom of the bolt. The gun is hammer fired.


With the new safety one first pulled the safety down and then the hammer to fire the gum.

The Broomhandle was unique in that the gun was designed to be carried inside a stock. The gun is loaded with a stripper clip of ammunition (10 rounds) and the slide holds open when the gun is empty. The Early Postwar Bolo are identified by collectors in the range of 444476-500661.

Clear rear view of the markings for the New Safety and the serialization of the C-96. Although slotted for the stock this gun was carried as a smaller pistol with a variety of manufactured holsters.

Here is the New Safety with the Up being safe, (cocked hammer must be pulled back further to engage) and with the identification NS monogram on the hammer. There is no hole through the safety lever knob. Mauser referred to is as the Neue Sicherung. A bullet can be chambered and the hammer lowered with the safety on, but the hammer is held back from the striker to prevent the gun being dropped and firing the gun. To fire you drop the thumb safety and thumb cock the gun for semi-automatic fire.

After the war the institution of the Country of Origin Markings was re-instated and the pronounced Oberndorf a Neckar appears as the only identification of origin on this pistol.

The Imperial Russians fell in love with both the 7.63 Mauser cartridge (aka .30 Mauser) and the Mauser Military Pistol, and were to become one of Mauser's best customers. The October Revolution did not change this fondness for the C96 and the 7.63 Mauser cartridge (it is said a C96 was one of the firearms used in the murder of the Czar and the Royal Family), and both pistol and cartridge remained in general use in the early years of Communist rule.


It is entirely subjective to give any weapon a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.

One of the design flaws in the C96 was that the barrel was fixed and therefore could not be replaced when it was worn out. Old Broomhandle's now tell the tale with the bore smooth and the rest of the gun is great shape bringing the reality of this oversight to home. This C96 has a shiny bore with distinctive lands and grooves present. There is small evidence of minor freckling at the throat of the barrel from the old corrosive primers once used.

Above The grips on the 22 groove wooden grips with the swing if the lanyard ring front to rear. Distinctive for this series which begins in the 444476 and has been found up to 500661 designated an early post-war Bolos (named for the Russian (Bolsheviks). Below The bolt has Crown U (Oberndorf) proof and the last four digits of the serial number on the rear

Reversion to the 1000 meter sights began after the 1916 Prussian military contract and the 500 meter marked leaf spring. We know today that this is beyond the maximum knock down power of the 7.63mm round. This C-96 is very clean and all the proofs are distinctly marked.

One of the distinguishing features that marks the placement of the Broomhandle into the developmental series of C96's that were being changed and modified throughout their production was the logo over the breach and the stamping of Mauser identification on the gun which was continued through the 1930 production.

The development of the C-96 began in 1893 or 1894. Most work had been done by the Federle brothers, who worked for the Mauser company. Final design appeared early in 1895 and had been patented by Paul Mauser. Production began in 1896. The C-96 had been offered for the German Military but failed. However, C-96 has a long and successful story on the civilian market - being offered as a pistol-carbine, it outperformed in effective range most of contemporary pistols and revolvers, being especially popular with travelers and hunters in the areas where big animals are rare or absent at all. C-96 first saw military action during the Boer war in South Africa (1899-1902).

During the First World War C-96 had been acquired by the German Army due to the lack of the standard issue Luger P-08 pistols. It also had been used during the World War Two, by some second line troops of the Reichswehr (German Army). C-96 also had been widely exported - in 1919 to the French Police (1000 recorded), and in the 1920s Soviet Russia purchased large quantities of the short-barreled (99 mm barrels) C-96s in 7.63mm, giving the name "Bolo-Mauser" (from Bolsheviks' Mauser) to all short-barreled C-96s. In 1930s China also purchased lots of the C-96s in 7.63mm, and also manufactured copies of the C-96 but chambered for .45ACP cartridge. Surprisingly, these copies were of quite good quality. Many C-96 clones were manufactured in Spain, mostly without any license, and mostly by the Astra. In the early 1930s Mauser engineers developed a select-fire version of the C-96, which had been used in limited numbers during WW2.


This 95 year old gun has been cared for by other custodians to preserve it for us today in this pristine condition. The inside of the gun is clean and reflects the effort of custodial maintenance over the past 95 years. It is entirely subjective to give any weapon a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.

ABOVE: Pointed out is the correct Mauser Logo for these series C-96 with the serial number on the left breach panel. The addition of the 500 meter site before the change over to the "V" rear sight, the Crown U and last four of the serial number on the bolt, the New Safety all distinct characteristics of the very limited post war production before the imposition of the Treaty of Versailles and the remainder of the inter-war variations before the 1930 changes that began to mark the sunset for the C-96.
Credits: "System Mauser", Breathered & Schrieder Page 136; "The Broomhandle Pistol 1896-1936", Erickson & Pate , "Know Your Broomhadle Mausers", Berger.

The 1/2 cocked mode of the C-96 with the implementation of the New Safety. This 95 year old gun has been cared for by other custodians to preserve it for us today in this pristine condition. The inside of the gun is clean and reflects the effort of custodial maintenance over the past 95 years.

The combination of a Bolo length barrel and large frame with wooden 22 groove grip is unique to this pristine variation.

All of the Mauser production and corporate records retained at the Mauser plant were destroyed in 1945, by order of the U.S. Army officer in command at the captured Mauser plant. This makes identification difficult and only over the years have collectors been able to identify production by the characteristics and sequence of production.

It isn't often that you can reach back into history and purchase a pristine ninety five year old classic C-96 "Bolo" Broomhandle that is all the matching. We reserve the right to sell these guns over the counter, at gun shows, or at auction without notice on the web. Please call or email for availability. $4,495.00

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our "significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

See Credits, Bibliography, Notices and Disclaimers.

3 Day Return Policy

We honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is what you want to see, before you buy it. See Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.

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