GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
EXTRAORDINARY MAUSER M1917 TRENCH CARBINE WITH 10-SHOT AND 20-SHOT DETACHABLE MAGAZINES.MAUSERC96 CARBINE59MMMODERN; C&R; IMPORTCal. 9mm Parabellum. Mauser made only a small quantity of M1917 trench carbines, reportedly about 40, that were numbered in their own serial range starting with #1. They were produced late in WWI and offered to the German Army to compete with the lP.08 with its 32 round drum magazine for trench raiding and assault parties, but rejected as being too expensive. This example has a 12" bbl with a fixed front sight and a slip-in rear sight marked "50-500". Short extractor, 2-lug firing pin, small ring hammer. Top of the chamber is blank. In fact, there are no externally visible markings on the gun except the SN "5" that was applied by the importer at the bottom of the mag well along with the "NS" that appears at the back of the hammer. To prevent hammer "bite", the rear frame was made with a longer than usual extension, horizontally serrated along its back face, to keep the web of the hand away from the hammer. Inside the trigger guard is a broad serrated plunger, in-the-white, for disassembly. Pulling the plunger down unlocks the action to allow the bbl assembly and sub-frame to come off the frame. Inspection of one of the bbl flats shows the marking "8,82. 9,06. 300." that is very similar to notation that appears under the bbl on the M1906-08 pistols. The subframe of this example is blued. As one might expect, the subframe and locking block are very different from most carbines and the bolt stop is significantly shorter. At the bottom of the trigger guard is a serrated tab that is pushed forward to remove the magazine. Both the 10 and 20-shot magazines have an internal spacer in front of the follower and a body very similar to a M1906-08 magazine. The 10-shot magazine has a flat detachable floorplate, the 20-shot magazine has a floorplate similar to the M1906-08. The fixed buttstock is secured to the receiver by two screws – one under the pistol grip, the other further back. The short forend, measuring 5-3/4", and buttstock, each fitted with a sling swivel, are smoothly surfaced with the buttstock having broad serrations in lieu of a buttplate. PROVENANCE: The Friedrich-Wilhelm Dauphin Collection, Germany. CONDITION: Generally excellent with approximately 80% orig rust blue. In the middle of the bore is a bulge ring. As a cosmetic repair, the exterior of the bbl was lathed down to present a uniform taper. The repaired area was subsequently blued, explaining the lathe marks and extensive discoloration. The internal parts are in near excellent condition with minor spotting and pitting, particularly as concerns the locking block, transfer bar, and sear. Wood furniture in VG-excellent condition, with oil staining and scattered dings, though the buttstock is cracked just behind the receiver with the crack extending into the recess for the top lug. Excellent, orig condition magazine. Dark bore with moderate oxidation, previously noted bulge ring, and shallow rifling. Perfect manual mechanics. 49828-1 LMA (30,000-60,000)