Low serial C96 (Red-9)

[Beginner]

Hello

I am a completely beginner when it comes to C96's so please have patience
A friend of mine has a C96 which he brought over, he said he wants to sell it (possibly to me).
It is a Oberndorf 9 mm (with the red grips) and in nice shape, all numbers matching + the shoulde stock/holster is also the same serial.
The stock is unfortunately cracked at the bottom, but should be fixable.
But I noticed that the pistol+stock has a quite low serial, and I was wondering hos much this affects its value?

The serial stamped on the parts is 9, which would make it quite early production? So how much does this affect the value?

I really do not want to scam a friend, so I really want to give him a accurate estimate, and if it is too much for me I will help him find a buyer that is willing to pay what the pistol is worth.
My friend knows even less about these guns than me, if possible

Thank you in advance


p.s I can try to get some pics up later

Information

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[jmoore]

S/N 9 would be about the nineth one made. If the pistol is in original condition, and has good finish, the low number ought to help the price, esp. as it matches the caliber! How much? I've no idea! Depends on how frisky the "big" C96 collectors are feeling, and the amount of global exposure it gets.

Lots more detail required.

[Beginner]

S/N 9 would be about the nineth one made. If the pistol is in original condition, and has good finish, the low number ought to help the price, esp. as it matches the caliber! How much? I've no idea! Depends on how frisky the "big" C96 collectors are feeling, and the amount of global exposure it gets.

Lots more detail required.

Yes, I figured I have to give you guys more info. I will get back to you later with pics and more details; just let me know if there is anything special to look for. But I will post a lot more info later. And yes, I found it rather curious and funny that the serial is the same as the big red 9 on the grips
Easy to rember the serial at least
Thanks

[Beginner]

Ok, gots some pics for you. They aren't great, sorry...

I hope you can make out the serial... I dis-assebled it yesterday but didn't take pics; there were numbers on the internal parts as well, like 0 and 1 on the "main" internal part (which all the other parts are connected). Also the part connecting the aforementioned part with the slide/barrel has "9" on it.

Marks:
- On the front of magwell a Prussian (?) eagle, on right side of pistol WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER OBERNDORF A NECKAR
- Left side of barrel crown over an U
- Top of barrel same manufacturers text as above
- Right side of barrel a crown over a J (?)
- Under barrel there is an M
- Sights go 50-500
- On slide-grip serial and crown over U again
- No numbers under grips
- NS on hammer + serial
- X in wood in stock, under the lid
The gun is in OK shape I guess, minor rust (or just cosmo). Some scratches.

[Johnny Peppers]

Quite a find with a very desirable low serial number, plus it still has the matching serial number iron on the stock. Matching numbered stocks on military pistols are much scarcer than commercials with matching numbers.

[jmoore]

The grips are a possible concern. Early 9x19s generally had the "9" added at the field level, often fairly crudely. Some detail shots around the grips would be useful for a potential buyer. Otherwise, it's looking pretty good!

The market may be a bit soft right now, but there needs to be only a very few interested buyers with deep pockets to put this pistol in the big money catagory. For maximum return, though, it'll either require far better photos or a hands-on examination. The devil is in the details.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I really do not want to scam a friend, so I really want to give him a accurate estimate, and if it is too much for me I will help him find a buyer that is willing to pay what the pistol is worth.

I hope that "Rote 9" is genuine. But C96s and Lugers have attracted a lot of fakers and falsifiers - because of the high collector value.

"Red 9 number 9" - that would be a smash hit at one of the serious auction houses. Worth very serious 4 figures. Almost too good to be true. So check it over extremely carefully. For instance the top 9 in the first photo looks like it could be a restamp. The very fact that so many parts are marked has encouraged the remarking of replacement parts.

But if it's all original...wow

"Red 9 number 9" would be a unique piece (because of the number) and will drive some collectors crazy. I think your friend will need to get it checked "hands-on" by a recognized expert. Photos are not enough. Plan on anything up to 10k if you want to buy it.

Patrick

[Beginner]

I hope that "Rote 9" is genuine. But C96s and Lugers have attracted a lot of fakers and falsifiers - because of the high collector value.

"Red 9 number 9" - that would be a smash hit at one of the serious auction houses. Worth very serious 4 figures. Almost too good to be true. So check it over extremely carefully. For instance the top 9 in the first photo looks like it could be a restamp. The very fact that so many parts are marked has encouraged the remarking of replacement parts.

But if it's all original...wow

"Red 9 number 9" would be a unique piece (because of the number) and will drive some collectors crazy. I think your friend will need to get it checked "hands-on" by a recognized expert. Photos are not enough. Plan on anything up to 10k if you want to buy it.

Patrick

Ok, this is very useful info! Thank you, Patrick! I will have to take it to a fellow I know that knows a lot more than me about these... Man, I was going to offer my friend about 1000€ for it, not knowing better. Oh, and in case it is of any help: the part with the stamp that might look restamped has two more stamps on it ( I think the part is called "Lock mechanism frame", all the internal parts are attached to it...). These are only visible when disassembled. The part has a "1" on it in the front and a "0" in the middle. Do these numbers indicate anything? Also, please let me know if you are interested in more pictures of anything special, I will do my best to get good pictures...

[Patrick Chadwick]

Sorry, I can't help further at present. I know just enough to know that you need a real expert!

And if all original, matching, with matching shoulder stock, and operational, then 1000 would be a steal.

Patrick

[1Garand]

Hi Forum,

I have a Chinese C96 that I purchased years ago and had a local dealer broker the deal from IAR, Inc., in San Juan Caprisano, California. An article about these appeared in the September, 1999 issue of GunWorld, written by David M. Fortier. These are written to be original German manufactured, rebuilt somewhere, sometime, in China onto a lower Chinese receiver. It is not bad looking. I was hoping some reader could give more information about these C96's. Mine has a serial number (19106) on the left side of the barrel just in front of the receiver, or chamber. That is the only external mark on it with the exception of "China" on the grip. There appears to be a proof mark on the hammer, but even with a flashlight and magnifying glass I cannot make it out.
I think these are interesting pistols and plan to take mine to the range after all these years. Any information would be appreciated.

D. J. Price
Charlotte, NC