GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
MAUSER C96, EXQUISITE FACTORY ENGRAVED POSTWAR MAUSER BANNER BOLO WITH SPECIAL GRIPS AND MATCHING BURL WOOD STOCK.MAUSERC-966030197.63MODERN; C&RCal. 7.63mmM Postwar Mauser Banner Bolo with 4" bbl having fixed front sight and slip-in 50-1000 rear sight. Short extractor and two-lug firing pin. Chamber with usual address. Crown/U on left receiver flat. Full SN on left side of bbl extension. Usual two-line address on right side of frame. Wonderfully detailed floral scroll embellishment, deeply engraved with panel highlights, that covers the bbl extension and most of the frame including the floorplate. Similar in pattern and coverage to the engraving on pistols #603004 (pictured on pg 203, System Mauser by John Breathed and Joseph Schroeder) and #601115 (pictured on pg 186, The Mauser Self-Loading Pistol by Belford and Dunlap), both classic references and well known to collectors of C96s. Complementary engraving, lavishly applied, over the crest of the bolt stop, on each side of the "New Safety" pattern hammer, and on each of the subframe lugs. As typical for these special order pistols, grips are finely checkered with MOP, synthetic ivory inlays and silver wire bordering, numbered to match. Major components rust blued. Fire blued extractor, bolt stop, firing pin, floorplate plunger and trigger. Salt blued rear sight assembly and safety. Polished, in-the-white lanyard ring. Detailed disassembly shows all normally numbered parts are matching. Complete with special selection, vibrantly figured burl wood stock, lid and body matched on their mating surfaces with "019", having a rust blued hinge and a matching, salt blued lug, finely freckled under the finish. CONDITION: Over 98% bright original rust blue with only the most minute sharp edge wear in expected areas of contact. Negligible thinning of the gripstraps. Fire blued and salt blued small parts in comparable condition. Grips with slightly blunted checkering and minor staining. Bright bore with sharp rifling. Perfect manual mechanics. Excellent stock with a scattering of handling dings but no cracks. Comparable condition hinge and lug, whose appearance matches the pistol. Although several of the small parts (rear sight assembly, safety, stock lug) have been enhanced with a salt blue, their impact on this absolutely fantastic C96, factory engraved by a true master in a well-recognized pattern and serial range, with matching stock, is minimal. A real gem for the advanced collector! 52558-1 LMA (35,000-65,000)