C96 Bolo Mauser Broomhandle Commercial Pistol

My Christmas present, half anyway, my wife agreed to the purchase before I took off for the show.

Mike made me an offer I couldn't refuse on this. Always wanted one but price has been a huge setback on the few I've seen.

It's rough. Some pitting on exterior obviously and the original finish has been replaced by worn patina. The bore is smooth but shiny for all the good that does. Hammer wouldn't stay back when I picked it up.

Got it home, took it apart. Had a very hard time getting the firing pin out. It was deformed on the hammer end and wouldn't fit out the opening like it was supposed to. Had to get the built-up metal scraped off and then it finally came out. Tip was bent fairly significantly, and it straightened easily enough but then just fell off so have a new one on the way. As badly as it was worn, probably for the best.

Interior is rust and pitting free. Only worn part besides the firing pin was the sear arm which I filed down a little and now the hammer and action work correctly.

Mike thought it came from China and I suspect this is correct as its import marked, not from China but Germany but they usually mark the origination, not where it ultimately came from. Not positive on that. The barrel wear is why I suspect it.

I had to get all the toys for it. New grips are coming, I don't think these are original to it as the "grooves" aren't really grooves but cuts and there are way too many of them. New firing pin hasn't arrived yet either. Leather holster and cleaning rod set are coming from India. I got some 8 round loading clips. This is a 10 round magazine but no sense loading it to the max. The lanyard ring is actually a 5/8th inch key ring. It will do until I can locate a correct one. Seems to be about the right size but not quite as thick and not as form fitted as the originals.

The stock surprised me by arriving two weeks early before Christmas. This is a US made one, not Chinese. It looks a lot closer to the originals and its good quality. The Chinese don't look right, and they use Phillips's head screws. Cost a fair amount more but I think it was worth it. Fitting took about 45 minutes. The mounting bracket was a little wider than the slot on the pistol and took some filing. Has a surprisingly good feel at the shoulder although it puts it right at the distance my eyes don't want to focus anymore.

Now I just need to locate some ammo and see if it works. If all is well, I'm thinking of getting the barrel relined.

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

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

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

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

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

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../6eLS2wq-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Vlil6Zg-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../at0no92-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../C6ACKqq-1.jpg

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

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../qTM7NYY-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../rR6TumQ-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Te3YfaW-1.jpg

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

Steve,
Nice piece regardless mate, seen some service in its time.

Big fun to shoot with the stock. I picked up a batch of Com Bloc ammo many years back (either 9X18 or 7.62X25, can't recall which) on stripper clips. These clips work like a charm in the Mauser.

My son rebuilt a few of these Mauser Model 96 pistols a few ago when they were being imported. Yours looks like
a Bolo with the shorter barrel. A complete spring kit was always used on the rebuilds.

The Soviet 7,62x25 will damage your Mauser, I had original Remington 30 Mauser factory ammo and also bought
empty brass from Midway. You can make 7,63 Mauser from 223/5,56mm but have to be careful about the extractor
groove is a perfect fit as new extractors are difficult to find.

My advice, buy loading dies and quality empty brass with Unique powder will be safer and provide enough ammo to
shoot. Wear good ear protection when shooting with the stock

Nice piece, one of the few I've not shot. Of the common pistols...that is.

So if there is no rifling and the bullet will likely drop through the barrel, what happens when it is fired? A lot of flame and a reduced velocity bullet that starts tumbling as soon as it leaves the barrel? Will it hurt the pistol? Will it cycle the action?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aragorn243

So if there is no rifling and the bullet will likely drop through the barrel, what happens when it is fired?

---

The bullet will keyhole at the muzzle and no accuracy but it won't hurt the gun. Yes, line the barrel if you can or perhaps have it bored to 9mm? It's 7.62 Mauser right now?

Yes, it is 7.62 Mauser right now. I don't have any ammo for it but put a tokarev round in to test size it. Fits perfectly but no tightness of bullet at muzzle area. I have looked at relining, not prohibitively expensive, $250-$300 just don't know which company to use. Only found two, Lugerman and one other, Lugerman was the more expensive of the two. I'm sure there are more out there, these two just popped up in a quick search. They both bore out both the barrel and chamber and put in a liner with a shoulder at the chamber to hold it all in place. I think I'd prefer sticking with original round even though 9mm would be easier to find. I never shoot my stuff often.

Not sure if you found these guys: Mauser Broomhandle Barrel Restoration Redmans Rifling and Reboring

Never used them, just aware of them.

That looks alot better in the pictures than when I sold it to you. Might have some ammo floating around down in the dungeon. Will let you know. Glad you are happy with it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Garandy

Not sure if you found these guys: Mauser Broomhandle Barrel Restoration Redmans Rifling and Reboring

Never used them, just aware of them.

---

Yes, thank you, that's the second outfit I found. They seem to be a little cheaper than Lugerman. There appeared to once be a third, Broom closet/gun rack in Florida that was a lot cheaper but also didn't do as nice a job from several reviews I read. But all links to them that I have tried are dead and end up going to another site. With the reviews, I don't think I would use them anyway. But Lugerman and Redmans both look like good options.

---------- Post added at 11:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mmppres

That looks alot better in the pictures than when I sold it to you. Might have some ammo floating around down in the dungeon. Will let you know. Glad you are happy with it.

---

All I did was wipe it down with oil and a little steel wool. It's probably just the lighting. I love it. I haven't gotten this excited about a firearm purchase in quite a while but the cool factor with this is just awesome.

Somehow, I always envisioned them to be larger than they actually are and awkward to hold but this is not the case with me anyway. Fits my hand perfectly and balances well. With the stock it's really nice. A friend of mine with smaller hands told me he thought it would be uncomfortable to shoot and he showed me why with his hand fitting deep under the trigger guard. I didn't see how that would really be a problem, but it definitely was a different hold than what I have.

Redman was the outfit that did a liner in my 1886 Winchester barrel in 45-70. It was perfect. That was years ago but still...perfect.

Keep your eye on the left side of the upper barrel extension for a noticeable bulge or bump to appear after a diet of
shooting the hi pressure Soviet & Chinese 7,62x25mm, these Mausers were designed to shoot the lower pressure
7,63x25mm. These Chinese imports have had thousands of rounds fired through them and if you want to keep them
shooting use the lower pressure 7,63 or reloads otherwise you going to have a nice paperweight

Not to mention breaking the locking block and getting a face full of Mauser bolt.

Not planning on running any tokarev ammo through it. Just used one to confirm caliber. No bulges or cracks that I can see, just a very worn out barrel.

Did some quick research, not exhaustive.

Seems there is a lack of facts of C96 being blown up or destroyed by the cartridges used.
Seems the velocity and bullet weight of both cartridges are similar.

Might be we are perpetualising a myth.

Having said that, I wouldn't want to shoot a well-worn firearm with doubtful cartridges and would probably reload up to where the gun functions satisfactory and leave it there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daan Kemp

Did some quick research, not exhaustive.

Seems there is a lack of facts of C96 being blown up or destroyed by the cartridges used.
Seems the velocity and bullet weight of both cartridges are similar.

Might be we are perpetualising a myth.

Having said that, I wouldn't want to shoot a well-worn firearm with doubtful cartridges and would probably reload up to where the gun functions satisfactory and leave it there.

---

You may have something there but the cautions go along the lines of who made it and when. As with other cartridges, some are loaded hot and others are not. They say the Chinese manufactured their Tokarev ammo with the C96 in mind as they had so many of them.

I've read things like the 30 Mauser is anemic compared to 9mm which is why the Germans chambered theirs in 9mm. Then Tokarev ammo is advertised as being designed to go through body armor so which is it? I don't want to chance it in a worn gun.

My grips and firing pin arrived today. The grips look great, the firing pin not so much. Looks like a completely different type. For it to work, I'll need to file it down but it looks like it's slightly too short even if I get it to fit. I had looked at these before ordering and it seemed like they all took the same type but maybe not.

there is a cartridge collector by the name of JohnnyC who main interest is the 7,63x25 cartridge. he often posts on milsurps,

I am sure he could provide some information

After research I've come to the conclusion that the firing pin that came with this was homemade. I wondered about it as it appeared it would drive right through a primer and it sticks out of the rear about an 8th inch when the new one is almost flush with the rear of the block. The one book I have says they were all the same after serial number 35,000. So I have a little fitting work to do. Much tighter tolerance than the old one.

Here it is in place. Looks a lot better than the last one.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../6z3F9lL-1.jpg

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

Here it is all outfitted with new accessories:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../pQ9uXWV-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../iCZ0MEo-1.jpg

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

Very nice...

Looks a whole lot better than the last time I saw it, good going. I would not use the 7.62x25 ammo in this pistol or any like it as it might not blow up but it will in time stretch out the receiver an associate parts. Being that there is age an heavy use on most of these its not a good idea to use any heavy loaded ammo.

Redman did my Bolo 1921 barrel it shoots good. New Wolf spring set too. Put a fine dark parkerize on her. She looks and shoots good. I got about $500 into it.