Broom Handle Bolo Mauser

[HBT]

I recently acquired several items from an Americal veteran that fought in the Pacific. Among the items I acquired was this Broom Handle Mauser pistol that the vet took off a Japanese soldier on Bougainville.

The vet told me that he was in a firefight, and his foxhole was trading grenades with a Japanese occupied foxhole. He climbed into the Japanese foxhole to search the bodies and found this pistol but no holster.

I am curious if there is anything significant about this pistol. I am also curious if the Japanese soldier didn't get this bolo off a Chinese soldier because I have read that the Chinese favored this weapon. Comments are welcome. Thanks.

---Chris

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[Von Hoth]

excellent story.

thanks for sharing it and the pistol. that would definitely be a good guess as to where it came from. could you trace by serial date where it may have been distributed or a contract purchase order (large)?

[Bill Grist]

Very nice story and militaria...BILL

[r.blue]

Excellent find and grouping.
The Japanese captured them in China and they also bought them from Germany so..... It was a popular side arm with the Japanese.
You need to get the veteran to write up the story for you or you write it up and let him sign it. Be sure to include the serial number of the gun.


Then sell it to me.
R.Blue

[Ronnie Fry]

Excellent find and grouping.
The Japanese captured them in China and they also bought them from Germany so..... It was a popular side arm with the Japanese.
You need to get the veteran to write up the story for you or you write it up and let him sign it. Be sure to include the serial number of the gun.


Then sell it to me.
R.Blue

NO, ME!!!



Ronnie

Seriously, HBT, quite a nice collection there. Cannot but agree with Roscoe on the letter part. The provenance is very important to the value of the weapon.

r

[HBT]

Thanks for the kind replies.

After interviewing the vet, I typed my notes so that I would not forget the information. I also made copies of his discharge papers and a newspaper clipping regarding an interesting story of the vet. I always do everything I can to preseve the history and provenance of a group. Here are my notes:

"On 04/02/2007, I (Chris Hughes) met with Mr. John J. Revers ASN 37478247 and purchased military items from his service in WWII including: his badged Ike Jacket, a Japanese Arisaka bayonet, a Japanese sword, a WWI “Broom Handle” Bolo Mauser pistol (captured on Bougainville), Japanese mortar pieces, Japanese insignia, and other Japanese personal effects/ephemera.

SSGT Revers served as an Infantry Platoon Leader w/ 164th Inf., Americal Division. He fought in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. Later, he spent a few months on Occupied Japan, where he obtained the Japanese sword.

Revers captured the German Mauser pistol after a skirmish where he threw a concussion grenade into a foxhole that was occupied by Japanese soldiers. The Mauser pistol was on one of the mortally wounded soldiers. Revers claimed that it did not have a holster. He also mentioned that soldiers were only allowed to bring home one firearm, and he chose this Mauser.

One of the responsibilities of SSGT Revers unit was to maintain perimeter defense around an airstrip. He also patrolled the surrounding jungle in search of enemy units. One evening, while guarding the airstrip, Revers and a friend heard a noise in the brush. They simultaneously threw grenades into the direction of the sound. Then SSGT Revers crawled out to investigate and found a Japanese soldier mortally wounded from their grenades. Apparently in the darkness of night, the Japanese soldier had mistakenly loaded a US 30-6 cartridge into his Arisaka and it jammed in the receiver. The sound they heard was the Japanese soldier working the bolt in an attempt to dislodge the jammed round.

When I asked Revers about the Japanese insignia pieces he said that he removed them off dead soldiers in the field.

I also inquired about Revers’ Purple Heart Medal and he said that a Japanese grenade had peppered him. He claimed that there are still pieces in his arms, but that it wasn’t a big deal.

After WWII, Revers worked for Union Pacific Railroad and retired over 20 years ago. He is 83 years old now."

---Chris

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Newspaper article

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Discharge Papers

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Captured bayonet

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Bayonet 2

[MauserKar98k]

...Apparently in the darkness of night, the Japanese soldier had mistakenly loaded a US 30-6 cartridge into his Arisaka and it jammed in the receiver. The sound they heard was the Japanese soldier working the bolt in an attempt to dislodge the jammed round...---Chris

Wow, that is amazing! You don't here about that happening very often!