www.MG42.us

Local shop has a nice mauser for sale. Not sure what to be aware of or looking for. Not sure I want it but I like Surplus weapons. Any hints?

Ed

Ed,
I was close to buying one about 8 months ago, but didn't know enough about them to drop 450 on it.
I know now that Matching numbers are important (Guess all collec. pieces are right?)
and original grips. Both of those things are externally obvious during a quick exam. The bore--since
These things are old, pitting inside can be more common. Pass up the fuzzy, or the smooth. Get somthing
with rifiling so you shoot it once in awhile, as well as have resale value. The original mauser cartridge to me
is the only way to go, since it is THE gun it was born from, but 9mm--(those have had conversions usually early
in their life) can fetch an assload if they have markings to prove they were in service....these pistols were also made
for the public/civilians....markings will determine. Check the back of the grip frame, and see if a slot resides there for
a stock. This was an awesome feature, as you know the wood stock is also where the pistol can go. It would be
neat for you to shoot like this if you desired. The Germans experimented w/this pistol, and made a F/A !!!
From what I read, It dumped the mag in one trigger pull or something. It was fast.
I believe Tom, and Abwher both have these things. Maybe they'll add something here.
Good luck in your decision. These are getting rare

Ed,

Unless you know the variation, it is very difficult to put a price or value of one being offered. First, if it has an import mark, the price should be in the $500 range IF most parts match and the bore is good. One without an import mark can go up into the thousands easy. Take a look at http://www.checkpointcharlies.com and go to the section "other military pistols". He has some import marked ones in the $500 range and others in the 2-3K range.

If you do buy one, MAKE SURE the Locking Block is installed correctly. It can be installed backward and the Bolt could blow out the back. Before you fire, check the assembly. I am out of town and don't have my books on the Broomhandle with so, so I am limited in help, but they are very nice pistols. If by chance you see something at "checkpointcharlies", Charlie Justman is an honest dealer. I have bought many Lugers and P-38 from him in the past.

For what you want, an inport marked pistol should be fine for you, just buy the best one you can for the dollars to spend.

I hope this helps a little.

Thanks, that is what I was interested in knowing. I am not looking for a collector piece. A shooter to have fun with is what I want. Great Grandfather brought one back from the first one and an artillery Luger too. The Luger has a wooden stock and a snail drum. I think it is the artillery one. Long barrel and stock/holster. Haven't seen them in 20 years but his eldest son has them safely locked away. He is a firearms collector himself but is out of the country on vacation right now.

Missed out on asking Grampa about the war. Was a jar-head at Belleau Wood and Chateau Thierry. It is a shame when you have history on tap and don't realise it until it was gone. He talked to the other family members about it but I was just a kid at the time and WWI wasn't my cup of tea. Now I get to hear second hand all the 'Crazy Hillbilly' stuff he used to do. Died in his late 80's. SOB always fit in his uniform too.

Back to the original subject. Look for matching numbers and good bore.

If you ever shoot a broom handle, make sure you hold the bottom of the grip. Don't choke up on it and get your skin near the hammer. That sucker will pinch the crap out of the skin between your index finger and thumb.

Regarding the Schnellfeuer (select fire) broom handles, I have a picture somewhere of me shooting one with 5 empty brass above it. It's like playing with a Mac 10 on full auto. Super fast, uncotrollable, but fun. A 20 round magazine is gone in under 2 seconds. And if you have your hand too high on the grip, it'll bite you 5 times before you can release the trigger. That's a fact, it happened to me.

Yeah grabing an automatic high is bad. Was drawing and shooting my PPK and had my hand high on the strap. SOB bit me really good. Felt nice shooting the rest of the day with blood dripping off my hand. Have a slight scar from it still.

I have found broomhandles are interesting to shoot. They feel quite different in your hand. If you get it I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I still need a saftey for mine

Great to shoot; unfortunately they must be checked-- If you can pull the bolt straight back The gun is probably unsafe. Most need to be reallty checked out before you shoot them The top recievr should have to be pushed to the rear about 5/16 of an inch before the bolt unlocks. Unfortunately If it doesn't it is probably due to weak springs or worn out parts. The danger is that a gun that doesn't fully lock up can fire out of battery-- 7.63 MM guns are great 9mm is even better !! Check those old brooms out they are almost all nearly 100 years; the last standard ones made in germany were made around 1935 the reinforced chamber model--

If you are really into it; find a Chinese 720 model in 9mm-- they use a schnell furer magazine; and you can put a Chinese stock on them to shoot-- You have no idea what a superb weapon this is until you shoot it!!

I'd love to get one but I'd probably rechamber it. Make it a little easier to shoot on a college student budget.

I just thought that this thread needed a picture of a C96.


I got this one for $250 and put new Wollf springs in it. It is not in the best of shape and there is not much rifling left. But it is a bit fun to shoot and looks great on the wall with the other German stuff. It's a Bolo. Was it a bolo or a broomhandle that they made Han Solo's Blaster from?