Veerrry Old C96 Mauser Conehammer Value?
Hi,
I have a C96 Mauser Broomhandle (Conehammer model), serial# 234X, which my dad obtained in Germany during the Occupation. I inherited the pistol about 10 yrs ago. All parts bear above SN#, wood case metal strap also. The piece is in very good to excellent condition, although I'm not sure if bluing is original. Inside barrel and breech bright and clear, no pitting; frame sides are immaculate. All original Mauser markings, including Ulm and Crown markings. Case looks like made yesterday.
Question is, what's it really worth? I've gotten some informal opinions from C&R collectors and gun dealers ranging from $1800 to over $5000, mostly over the web from pics. How best to obtain an accurate and formal appraisal, that would hold up in an auction or straight sale situation? I dont have access to any of the gun value books (Blue Book, Fjestad(?), etc) normally used. I live in GA, and am trying to locate someone who knows the Broomhandles, their history, etc, who can give an authoritative appraisal of this pistol.
Thanks,
Ray D.
Edited by - captkirk3@earthlink.net on 11/05/2002 17:25:03
I have a C96 Mauser Broomhandle (Conehammer model), serial# 234X, which my dad obtained in Germany during the Occupation. I inherited the pistol about 10 yrs ago. All parts bear above SN#, wood case metal strap also. The piece is in very good to excellent condition, although I'm not sure if bluing is original. Inside barrel and breech bright and clear, no pitting; frame sides are immaculate. All original Mauser markings, including Ulm and Crown markings. Case looks like made yesterday.
Question is, what's it really worth? I've gotten some informal opinions from C&R collectors and gun dealers ranging from $1800 to over $5000, mostly over the web from pics. How best to obtain an accurate and formal appraisal, that would hold up in an auction or straight sale situation? I dont have access to any of the gun value books (Blue Book, Fjestad(?), etc) normally used. I live in GA, and am trying to locate someone who knows the Broomhandles, their history, etc, who can give an authoritative appraisal of this pistol.
Thanks,
Ray D.
Edited by - captkirk3@earthlink.net on 11/05/2002 17:25:03
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Since no one has tried to answer your question in the last two days,I thought that I would give it a try. One of the things to remember when discussing 'Broomhandles' is that the information is chaotic at best. Whole blocks of serial numbers were skipped or used later out of sequence. Also, special orders were often numbered in their own serial number range. Add to this the fact that after two world wars and internal upheaveal, most of the production records have been destroyed and I think you will see just how difficult this can get. I would hope that we can start with the assumption that your pistol is a standard 'cone hammer' with a 51/4 inch barrel, 10 shot magazine, the rear sight stamped 1-10 and the caliber should be 7.63X25 (30 Mauser). On a pistol this early there should not be any milled panals over the trigger or the grips,but, this is one of those gray areas. Most collectors feel that the cone shaped hammer had been fazed out by 1900. But Mauser liked to use up all left over parts, even when a newer part was in production, it is possible that some cone hammers were made after this date. In any case, without seeing your pistol, I would hazard a guess that your pistol was made sometime in late 1898 or early 1899. As to value, it is somewhat subjective, I recently bought a like new 1915 commercial 'broom handle' for $1200. I think your pistol is worth more then this. I feel that $1800 is a little low, but $5000 is a bit to much. I feel that your pistol would be more in the $3000-$3500 range. Hope that this is of some help to you. Scout 0 -
Ray....here are a couple of good sites to visit:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~gcaselton/shooting/shot-txt.html
http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IIIC2m1.html0 -
quote:Originally posted by Iroquois Scout
Since no one has tried to answer your question in the last two days,I thought that I would give it a try. One of the things to remember when discussing 'Broomhandles' is that the information is chaotic at best. Whole blocks of serial numbers were skipped or used later out of sequence. Also, special orders were often numbered in their own serial number range. Add to this the fact that after two world wars and internal upheaveal, most of the production records have been destroyed and I think you will see just how difficult this can get. I would hope that we can start with the assumption that your pistol is a standard 'cone hammer' with a 51/4 inch barrel, 10 shot magazine, the rear sight stamped 1-10 and the caliber should be 7.63X25 (30 Mauser). On a pistol this early there should not be any milled panals over the trigger or the grips,but, this is one of those gray areas. Most collectors feel that the cone shaped hammer had been fazed out by 1900. But Mauser liked to use up all left over parts, even when a newer part was in production, it is possible that some cone hammers were made after this date. In any case, without seeing your pistol, I would hazard a guess that your pistol was made sometime in late 1898 or early 1899. As to value, it is somewhat subjective, I recently bought a like new 1915 commercial 'broom handle' for $1200. I think your pistol is worth more then this. I feel that $1800 is a little low, but $5000 is a bit to much. I feel that your pistol would be more in the $3000-$3500 range. Hope that this is of some help to you. Scout0 -
I am so sorry!!! I was trying to send a E-mail to Iraqui scout and messed it up. I have a Mauser c96 SN# 2548 and would like some info on it. My post is in here and has more info. If you would please respond to me I will try not to mess up and sign my name to your quote again... Again I'm sorry about that.
Fireman[/quote]0
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