A little while ago, my website’s server had a hiccup (confirmed by Tech Support II) and ate the post that was supposed to be here.
Of course, this happened mid-writing, so it all went bye-bye into the Great Digital Black Hole (no relation to Maxine Waters).
When I get my temper under control, you can read all about my trip to the Third World this past Wednesday. In the meantime, here’s a gratuitous gun pic of a Mauser C96:
Other than as an historical artifact (e.g. as used by Winston Churchill against various fuzzy-wuzzies), I don’t know why people have a thing for this gun. I’ve fired fired one in its original 7.63 Mauser chambering, and it’s almost uncontrollable: that “broomhandle” grip turns in your hand even in when shooting two-handed; gawd knows what it’s like when shooting it old-style:
I bet you couldn’t hit the inside of a barn with the thing, let alone a deserving fuzzy-wuzzy.
Years back I had the opportunity to shoot one with the shoulder stock attached. Ever since then the C96 has been high on my list of win the lottery guns just because it has a great Victorian adventurer look. I remember lots of motion from the action and hammer – gun parts and empty brass flying off in different directions. The parts came back, the action closed, and I was ready to shoot another round at some blighter who deserved it for God, queen and country. If you had one of the Spanish full auto versions aiming would just hinder your efforts. Just point and shoot. I remember Clint Eastwood doing some good work with a C96 in “Joe Kidd”. The gun was probably an anachronism (in this case too new for the date of the movie) but it was fun to see something other than the old single action army Colts in a western.
The time frame of the movie was the early 1900’s. Robert Duvall’s men were all using “modern weapons” the C96, bolt action rifles with scopes, etc. to show the conflict was between the “Old West” and the “New Century”.
I always thought it was neat looking even before Young Winston came out (book then movie). Then I saw ads in various magazines that showed it with the shoulder stock/holster, which made it double neat to me (early to mid-teens).
I’ve never fired one, which might adjust my attitude, but I’d still take one even it became a safe queen.
Thanks for the post
The C96 is an exceptional tool in teaching the concept of leverage. Also: How not to design a firearm.
Had a zinc model to play with as a little kid, a hand me down from an older brother. Does anyone else remember “Terry & the Pirates”?
When it got to the point where the Officers were using their side arm did it really matter if you hit the Fuzzy-Wuzzie you were aiming at or one of the 500 others that were about to overrun your position?
Time to break out some Kipling
When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An’ go to your God like a soldier.
Say, didn’t the Bolshies have an affinity for the old ’96?
And then the ChiComs, or was it the Nationalists, had some made up in .45acp – now that must have been fun.
Had one; they are really finicky with ammunition (7.62×25). Mine never would cycle correctly; I suspect the chamber was a roughed-up mess.
Traded it for a 1942 Luger. It shoots just fine. BTW – it (as well as as K98k Mausers, Enfields, 03 Springfields, Mosins, Carcanos, and Arisakas, assorted pistols, and a Thompson) will be available for the WWII weapons shoot, El Dorado, KS , October 12, 2019. Y’all are still invited; you too, Kim, though I’ll have to explain to the wife who you are and why this cranky old codger made it up from Texas.
Bring cash. It’s fundraiser for the WWII museum. 😉
They had to start somewhere in the late 1800’s designing and producing semi-autos, speaking of autos, look at what passed for an automobile in 1896. Mauser was making some nice bolt actions about that time, great craftsmanship and I would have liked to shoot one of these pistols once. They produced over a million, the Krauts from 1896 to 1937 and these things were in service around the world until 1961, I think with the Chinks at the end. Were I to have one now it wold be and excellent gun to sell or trade for other wonderful stuff I would actually use.
As mentioned, it really was designed to be fired with the shoulder stock. It’s a carbine at heart, not a pistol.
Regarding the server eating your homework – I always recommend writing using notepad++, which is free, open source, and automatically backs up your work as you go. You can open multiple tabs, and I always have it open so I can take notes on the fly while I’m on the phone or talking to someone as needed.
More people probably recognize it as being the firearm that was used to represent Han Solo’s iconic blaster pistol in the Star Wars movies.
That rounded grip does strike me as awfully hard to hold onto. Maybe if you put friction tape on it…
Somebody brought one to our Machinegun And Suppressor Shoot at the range in Albany Oregon.
Easily the loudest firearm I ever heard. Or can imagine. Demonically loud.
We had cannons, a 20mm Lauti, .50 cals by the score. Every time the Mauser popped, everybody turned to look.
Sixty tables, five-hundred Active Shooters©.
I have a grip problem with my Rutger Blackhawk. The recoil causes my hand to slip and the barrel goes straight up.
Don’t know about the C96’s overall effectiveness against fuzzy-wuzzies in Africa , but it can give you first-shot advantage if your are ever in a shootout with a bounty hunter in a cantina on Mos Eiesley.
Just remember to shoot first.