Was the Mauser C96 a full auto pistol?

[HENRY B]

the one in the middle is full auto m712 9mm

[WarPig1976]

Look at all those spare barrels.

[Eaglelord17]

Someone really should come up with a business manufacturing new uppers for C96s so people could shoot the worn out ones (which there are tons out there). I imagine you wouldn't even need a large shop to do it, just a couple guys with some lathes, and milling machines. If you really wanted to you could make it so the barrel threads off, and that way you don't have to even manufacture the barrel, just make it so it takes a common thread type.

[Sentryduty]

In addition to the M712 posted by Henry B above, it should be noted that Spanish Astra MM31 is a full auto unlicensed copy of the C96 design. I would never have known about their existence had it not been for observing unusual markings on one of the dozen and a half "Broomhandles" held in the Calgary Museum. Some time spent on research revealed the whole Eibar Spain firearms industry copyright fraud, and the origin of pieces like the MM31.

The receiver side and FCS should look something like this:


Other FA examples might be encountered from locally built Asian copies, but the only true full auto C96 Mauser should be the M712.

[Colonel Enfield]

Someone really should come up with a business manufacturing new uppers for C96s so people could shoot the worn out ones (which there are tons out there). I imagine you wouldn't even need a large shop to do it, just a couple guys with some lathes, and milling machines. If you really wanted to you could make it so the barrel threads off, and that way you don't have to even manufacture the barrel, just make it so it takes a common thread type.

I agree completely and have been saying something like this for years - the C96 is one of the most iconic pistols of all time but they haven't made any new ones since the 1930s and most of the surviving examples are either completely worn out, in a "weird" calibre, or both. It astounds me there's a market for modern reproductions of obscure mid-19th century percussion-cartridge transition model revolvers, but not the C96. As you say, making the uppers for them would suffice and mean people could put the worn out C96s back into commission and keep enjoying them.

[Eaglelord17]

The biggest part that sucks about the C96 was the barrel being made as part of the upper assembly. I am sure there is a market for new uppers, as most people who own C96s also tend to have a bit more money than the average person as well.

[breakeyp]

The biggest part that sucks about the C96 was the barrel being made as part of the upper assembly. I am sure there is a market for new uppers, as most people who own C96s also tend to have a bit more money than the average person as well.

Period repair measures for the C96 was to cut the barrel off at the receiver and thread a new luger barrel in.

[Peter Laidler]

If you could screw a Luger barrel in, then by definition, you could make a new/repro C'96 barrel and screw that in. Not original but.........