Photo examination of C-96 and Red 9

Ok guys, here's a photo comparison between a pre-war (1911) C-96, and wartime Red 9.

The two pistols in question:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...920Small-1.jpg

Red-9 close-up:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...020Small-1.jpg

Same area on the C-96. You can barely see the difference in machining quality, I was quite taken by the noteable difference in person. The Pre-war Commercial was MUCH nicer in it's finish.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...120Small-1.jpg

Red-9

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...220Small-1.jpg

C-96

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...320Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...420Small-1.jpg

Close-ups of the Red-9:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...520Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...620Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...720Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...820Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...920Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...020Small-1.jpg

NOTE THE PROOF/ACCEPTANCE stamp here. It is NOT present on the C-96.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...120Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...220Small-1.jpg

Disassembly of the Red 9:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...320Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...420Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...520Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...620Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...720Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...820Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...920Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...020Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...120Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...220Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...320Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...420Small-1.jpg

Parts on the Red 9 with serial numbers:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...520Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...620Small-1.jpg

Details on the C-96:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...720Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...820Small-1.jpg

Note here, the extractor was damaged and removed, and there's a pile of CLP goop in the extractor recess.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...920Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...020Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...120Small-1.jpg

Note this photo, there is no proof or acceptance stamp here as there was on the Red 9.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...220Small-1.jpg

And here's the pistol disassembled:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...320Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...420Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...520Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...620Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...720Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...820Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...920Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...020Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...120Small-1.jpg

Note, the bolt locking piece here does not match...apparently this is common, as this part is a "weak link."

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...220Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...320Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...420Small-1.jpg

And items notable in difference:

7.63 vs 9mm followers: (7.63 on the left, 9mm on the right)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...520Small-1.jpg

Comparing the actions. 9mm is on the left, 7.63 is on the right (with no extractor)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...620Small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...720Small-1.jpg

And there you are.

Hopefully this has been useful.

I purchased the Red 9 at a local gunshow, and part of the funding for that was the sale of the broken 7.63 Mauser.

I have, effectively, the complete load-out, with repros of: stripper clips, shoulder stock, holster.

The 1911 C-96 came through Century Arms back in the early 90's. It was in POOR shape, and despite the TLC I tried to give it, there's only so much you can do when the rifling is only a hint and a prayer....when fired, the bullets would hit the target side-ways at 10 meters.

Oh, and it appears to me that the Red 9 no longer has it's original sight, and instead has one from a .30 pistol, as it's supposed to be calibrated out to 500m instead of the 1000m that the .30 is.

Enjoy!

NS

Awesome pistols and photo display NavyShooter! :super:

Thank you for putting it together!

~ Harlan

Hey i like the C 96 ! And it is always nice to see that on pre war an early war models every single part has its number. We shoot them at the BDMP and they are very accurate. We made 2 years in a row the first place with it at our championships!!

Great guns, great pics

Regards

Gunner