Austria-Hungary Airforce C96 - How rare?

[MisterGreen]

I have never seen one of these contract Mausers. How rare are they? Does anyone have a reference for the unit markings? Looks interesting.

Mauser C96 - Austria / Hungary Contract Air Force : Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com

Information

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[Frank LE]

The Austrian contract C96 are quite rare. The Austrian Military Museum in Vienna owns about a dozen in varios states.
The unit marking is for a Luftfahrt Arsenal (Air Force Arsenal). The Air force Arsenal was the central depot for maintainance and supply of all related material, from planes to weapons. It was based in Fischamend near Vienna.
These guns were in Air Force and Army service, the gun in the auction has acceptance markings from the Vienna Arsenal 1916.

Regards from Vienna

[MisterGreen]

It will be interesting to see what this one sells for. I love c96's but can rarely have an opportunity that I can afford for them.

[Promo]

I might complement Frank in the regard that indeed nearly all are LFA ("LuftFahrtAbteilung", would translate as "AirServiceDepartment") marked, however they were only the ones who received and accepted those. But they didn't use them, because they were way too small for such a huge number of pistols.

There were three years for those pistols, which divide as follows (according to the book of Mötz & Schuy):
1915: 3000 pistols
1916: 10.000 pistols, delivered partially also in 1917

The most interesting variants are those which also have the "HV" for HeeresVerwaltung marking of the inter-war period. These pistols also feature a reinforcement steel ring for the shoulder stock.

I own one of those pistols with matching numbers shoulder stock which I'm looking to sell for quite some time now for € 2000 - however, there seems to be very little interest in those, only if they are in absolutely mint condition. Not sure if this also applies for the US market?

[MisterGreen]

What is the significance of the star of David stamp under the barrel? Did they all have this? What does € 2000 translate into USD?

[Promo]

No idea, I assume some sub-inspection mark at Mauser - like the others aside this marking.

[gtodan]

Restored item. Interested to see what the hammer price will be.

Six pointed star is a Mauser acceptance proof stamp. Commonly seen on other Mauser firearms as well.

[boltaction]

Looks like it went for $3125 USD.

Ed