C96 Broomhandle

[Greasemonkey]

Although it's a .30 Mauser, this is where the souped up Tokarev round came from. This Broomhandle was built sometime after 1911 and before 1914 based on the serial, it's a pre WWI commercial version. I'm guessing it was an export model as there is no German military acceptance markings. I had to find the grips, it came gripless and all but 1 part number match. This one has lived a rough life, under the grips, it's pitted very bad and the bore is pretty rough. I have shot it several times, but I have to really pay attention not to mix true Tokarev ammo, due to pressure. It's not the greatest accuracy wise, due to the bore, but it's fun to shoot due to it's design. Someone on another board suggested having the barrel bored and a barrel sleeve installed to help with accuracy, but I'm gonna leave it as is, it's pretty much a safe queen.

[Dannyboy53]

Greasemonkey that's a beauty. This is the first time I have seen the rear site of one of these in such detail, it's like a rifle sight! They are a unique and fascinating pistol.

One of the characters in the Clint Eastwood movie Joe Kidd uses one of these with a detachable butt stock, does this one have that capability?

[Greasemonkey]

This one predates the detachable stock, only the M1932 / M712 Schnellfeuer and Spanish Astra 900 or 904 had those, they were select fire weapons as well. Most of those were later and also had detachable magazines.

The rear sight, thats optimism with a rifle, I couldn't even think of a word for a 1000 meter sight setting on a pistol. :D