Wwi / wwii broomhandle pistol

[Ty Smith]

I was hoping I could get some help identifing and determining a value of the following.

This was a direct vet bring home that I could buy from the son of the vet. I don't know much about TR firearms.

It's my understanding that these were pre-WWI manufacture and this was converted to 9MM for WWII use? Looks like good shape.

thanks for your help.

[Ty Smith]

Another photo

[Ty Smith]

Another photo.... .

[Ty Smith]

Another photo.. .

[Ty Smith]

Last photo..

[Ty Smith]

Thanks guys. I appreciate all your help.

[GWA]

It was manufactured by Mauser for the Imperial German army in 1917 in 9mm Parabellum.

[Ty Smith]

GWA,
Thanks for your help. I see we are neighbors !<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o></o>
For what you see, what kind of value do you think?

[GWA]

Depending upon condition, $1000 - $2500.

[Douglas Jr.]

Mausers C96 "Red Nines" had some distintive caracteristics that set them apart from the commercial Broomhandles.

The Red Nines were part of a contract executed between the German Army and the Mauser Waffenfabrik in 1916 for 150,000 pistols chambered to 9mm Luger. A completely separated serial number was set up for this contract but the war ended before the deliveries had been finished and the highest known number for these pistols is around 141000.

As they were virtually identical as the guns chambered to .30 Mauser (a.k.a. 7,63mm Mauser) already in use, the German High Command requested that its grips had carved a big "9" which should be painted in red - hence the collector's designation "Red Nine".

In addition, the Red Nines C96s must have a Sütterlin crowned letter stamped on the right side of the receiver (some also have a Prussian eagle marked in front the magazine) and the tangent sights from 50m to 500m.

Hope this helps.

Douglas

[Ty Smith]

Very helpful ! Any more comments on value before I try to snag it?

[Ty Smith]

Based on these photos would anyone here be concerned that this might be a fake?

[rajko84]

being fake as a pistol in general or a being fake 9 mm? Gun I do not think is fake if you want to be sure you can try to ask him if you can take it a part and then you will see for sure if it is good. But being 9 mm I he allows you take the grips apart it should have a numbers on the back side.
I hope this helps.
regards Rajko

[Ty Smith]

I mean just a complete fake in general. thanks for your help !

[Douglas Jr.]

Ty,

I don't think that there are any issues from the pictures you provided.
As said above you need to check if the gun is matching number (including the wooden grips), if it is in the serial number mentioned above and if the sights are marked to 500 meters. The finish seems to be original (with some of the rust blue still in the trigger and safety lever). Check the bore to see how the rifling is (WWI era ammo was highly corrosive).

Good luck!

Douglas