Right, I realize that I am going backwards as for chronology here, having already presented the P-16 pistol, but I hope to be forgiven for that, – eventually…
In my previous post I stated that the German army bought commercial C96 pistols before the 1916 contract was made by the Prussians. And, here is one.
It has the standard commercial stamps. As on the other commercial 7,63X25 caliber pistols the rear sight goes to an optimistic 1000 meters, as opposed to the 500 meters of the 9mm parabellum P-16.
Now, the 7,63mm bottle-cartridge was indeed the strongest pistol ammunition of its time, it was not superseded until the Magnum came along post-WWI. And, with the holster stock attached, it was turned into a carbine with effective range of 150-200 meters. 1000 meters, though, is quite a stretch, and I suppose that you would only achieve a hit on days with no wind and no earth rotation. All other days you’d be hard pressed to hit a barn at that range.
This one is the pre-1915 type, with the plain hammer, signifying the old type safety. On the post-1915 pistols the hammer is marked wit intertwined N and S, signifying the Neue Sicherung, the new safety. This one has no such marks and is probably made close to the start of WWI.
According to the Swedish pan-Germanist Sven Hedin, a top rate observer, but a horrible person, he observed the soldiers of munition trains carrying large Mauser pistols as well as swords. The pictures I have seen of soldiers carrying the C96 have been artillery men, but I do not claim they were used only by artillery men, just that that is what I have observed. Feel free to chime in with examples of other use. However, they were definitely used by the artillery.
This one has a customized grip, differing from the standard type. Whether the grips are factory, or carved afterwards by someone, I cannot say. I suppose it has been done after it was supplied to someone, but whoever customized the grips had woodworking skills.
The clincher, so to speak, that this pistol has seen military use, is the 1920 stamp, the Weimar Republic property mark. Could it be a civilian owned pistol confiscated post WWI? Possibly, but then again it is not military caliber, so I suppose it should not be subject to confiscation? Anyway, I lean towards this being a WWI used German army used pistol that went on being used post WWI, then carried to Norway during WWII. So, a veteran of two world wars, and still in great condition.
Anyway, a lovely pistol it is, and I wish it could talk.