Historical Document
The Mauser C96 Explained
Illustrated reference on the Mauser C96 — field-stripping, takedown, and mechanism.
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Historical Document
Illustrated reference on the Mauser C96 — field-stripping, takedown, and mechanism.
fl = Ty. p ' O) sal +r The Mauser C96 Explained By Girard Henrotin i No m= r= IN aa | Copyrights 2002 G. Henrolin & H&L Publishing (Belgium) All rights reserved by Girard Henrotin — | p— [(ee— a = I = Field stripping the Mauser C96 - The first four stripping steps - The takedown latch is of paramount importance - Dismounting the firing pin in very early models - The bolt retainer Advanced dismounting the Mauser C96 - The extractor - The rear sight blade and latch - Magazine floorplate plunger and trigger - Dismounting the lock sub-frame - Hammer and safety lever - Sear actuator and sear spring - Mainspring plunger and rocker coupling - Mainspring and guides - When replacing the rocker coupling (tip 1) - To assemble the barrel group (tip 2) - To reassemble the action frame and the barrel group (tip 3) Technical description of the Mauser C96 - The Mauser C96 pistol consists of four main parts - The barrel and extension - The magazine well - When the bolt is drawn rearwards with a empty magazine - The rear and front sight - The bolt stop - The barrel extension - The bolt - The receiver - The lock sub-frame Operation of the Mauser C96 - A "prop-up” type of locking - Hammer and sear relation - Disconnecting work of the forward mainspring plunger - Locking and unlocking of the bolt - The bolt's rear travel - Disconnection in early models - The ejector The safety of the Mauser C96 - Long type safety lever on early models - Late safety of the first type - Late safety of the second type or "NS" safety - Hammer-operated safety lever - Universal safety - Model 1902 safety prototype Prototypes and pre-production Models - A working prototype materialized by the summer of 1894 - German patent (No. 90430) - Six-shot and a twenty-shot model - The final stage for mass production - The spur hammer replaced by a "Cone Hammer" - The twenty-shot version - An experimental 6 mm cartridge - 1896 prototype of a ten-shot carbine Mauser C96 early Models - Last minute changes before the mass production launch - Introduction of the two locking lugs - Improvement of the lock sub-frame - The mainspring front plunger - Minor changes - From about the serial number 360 onward Mauser C96 "Cone Hammer" variations - Modification of the barrel extension - Cone Hammer 10-shot variations described - The left rear milled out side panel modified - Cone Hammer 6-shot variations described - Cone Hammer 20-shot variations described - Cone Hammer resold by Westley Richards - Rear sight with a peep type aperture Mauser C96 "Large ring Hammer" variations - At about serial number 15,000, the "Flat side" variation - Italian Navy contract - Modification of the trigger and rear sight - firing pin with a single locking lug - The "shallow-milled" panel variation - Large ring "Bolo" 10-shot - The "Bolo" variation - The new two-lug firing pin - Large ring 6-shot "Officer Model" Mauser C96 "Small ring Hammer" variations - Small ring Hammer 10-shot - The improved "NS" safety - Shorter extractor - Modification of the barrel extension - The barrel rifling was changed - The Mauser banner trademark - The 9 mm Export - The "Red Nine" variation - Small ring Hammer 6-shot - The reinforced chamber Post-War 1920 Reworks and 1930 Mode! - 1920 Rework 10-shot - Under the new German Republic of Weimar - Mauser pistols out of Germany - French Gendarmerie - The long barreled "Bolo" - Post War regular 10-shot production - Post War special and experimental models - Early 1930 models - The new "Universal Safety" - 1930 model (711) with the frame for the selective fire model The "Schnellfeuer” Model - A selective fire carbine prototype - Joseph Nickl model - Karl Westinger model - Technical description of the Westinger model - Dismounting the Westinger model How the Mauser C96 "Schnellfeuer” works - The lock frame of the "Schnellfeuer” - How act the selecting-fire lever - The second sear - The articulated member of the trigger - A specific area was milled out in the barrel extension - To render the full automatic option inoperative for ever MAUSER - Historic details - The Mauser legacy - Paul and Wilhelm Mauser - The Mauser's bolt action rifle - The Oberndorf Mauser factory - The Mauser zigzag revolver - "Waffenfabrik Mauser A.G" a Ludwig Loewe asset - Mauser semi-auto pistols (C96, Model 1914, Hsc) RERRRRREERRY Field stripping the Mauser C96 In 1896, the Mauser firm produced the first really successful military automatic pistol. While some experimental models had been manufactured prior to that time, it was not until Mauser patented his military automatic pistol that a weapon of reliable design was produced. | pe fo : ® | ( wel | YY al | The patent specification described the invention as follows : " A magazine repeating firearm with a movable barrel, in which the recoil caused by the shock is used to unlock the bolt and open the breech, to eject the empty cartridge case and to work the firing mechanism, as well as to compress a number of springs arranged in such a manner as to effect the loading of a fresh cartridge, the re-closing of the breech and locking of the bolt and the advancing movement of the barrel. Upon these principles which are already partly known, | have devised a magazine firearm in which all previous experiences in respect to this class of arm have been carefully taken into consideration, not only with regard to its ballistic qualities, but especially by the peculiar skillful construction of the component parts, and the manner of connecting them without the aid of screws; it may, therefore, be considered that the improved firearm is in every way well adapted for military purposes.” Producing a pistol in which the parts were made to interlock so that screws and pins were not necessary to assemble it, was then, and still remains as an outstanding achievement in the history of firearms development. The first four stripping steps are shown In the drawing below. r 1 Ui TITS) a ~ | == == —- YY a ppl = 25 a TR 418. dB DC p || ( { aS | oi / TN — | p— ( © pus Using the point of a 7.63 mm cartridge or a tool of non-marring material, depress the magazine plunger and slide the floorplate forward until it can be lifted off. — _ a ~ BD ow. JF — a *" = ‘dl Each end of the flat spring can be easily disengaged from the floorplate and the magazine follower, by just sliding them out of their retaining grooves. = _— : ‘ LET 2 The takedown latch is located at the rear of the receiver, just below the hammer pivot. To be able to push it up and unlock the barrel assembly, you first have to draw the hammer down in the cocked position. | | / : ¥’ — ul Be [| GS | - Wh [ 3 1 cS ~ . BE 6058 Ds | 4 PT | A fm \ Ph “ ) \ ull \ \J IM The hammer body is machined in such a way that it prevents the latch from being raised when the hammer is not cocked. If the trigger is pressed when the hammer is cocked and the latch is unlocked, the caming surfaces of both the latch and the hammer prevent the hammer from reaching the firing pin. N | . (® () 1 - J - The takedown latch is of paramount importance in regard to a shooter's safety. As the action and barrel assembly are mounted from the rear of the pistol, if the latch was unlocked or would fail at the instant of firing, the whole mechanism could fly rearward out of the receiver and strike the shooter. il IR Rl a= aa i ; d_, ; pr N = E 0) sre > . h 9 [ah =e ti | (HE ) = _- \ | - | A 7&5 = EY, CT [ms 1 Ff 9 k ’ The assembly, including the barrel and barrel extension, is drawn rearward out of the receiver. The lock sub-frame is loosely attached onto the underside of the barrel extension. — A | ll F—- re ——— 3 A 8 gE G My - RO Ad 97 == =: _ 3 S EC Tg t | i I | | yr ~ Cd L= | | Y= The sub-frame can be detached by simply lowering it. It is just clawed by the forward hook of the locking block. / : i 3 - ' | 4 | I | {if)] 3 (J rot ee — = — oy Bh ~Xa = - Eo 7, <&, oe -. Sie PA re RL ee - a "1 et Bl - k| Remove the locking block from the retaining stud that hangs below the barrel extension. — —— L = eats. =, | So a q = =) GEE J a 3 To - | With a screw driver, push on the head of the firing pin until it can be given a quarter-turn to the right. Then allow it to spring out of the bolt block. Usually the firing pin spring will come out as well, and it will be attached to the front of the firing pin. \ ps . \ No Bf; = gt. - = ~ \ { NY Ea | i | ID \ JES C | » <4 - vam |) : hb [iN oi —-— \ l . \ — | y ! 3 | Jory a) | “3 =o \ \ | J In very early models, as the one shown below, the firing pin was retained in the bolt by a small flat plate, that was dovetailed into the rear of the bolt. \ £7 / BN $005) 5 SD RA S (Lr a 4 ‘ N / Eo. Pe Nailed 3 Source : System Mauser (Breathed & Schroeder) ~ rr p23) i AR — ie SESS = T 7 \ EN L — i The bolt retainer can be removed through the rectangular opening on the right side of the barrel extension. Push it forward until its internal profile is aligned with the opening, then withdraw it. Ne TT anamemen ~~ — a= eno = EE Li ee Bo AYR) | —— i Pe ac : He | So Hl - a THe =] — — i | WE oe = Rl : n.d wk fs fe EY wey B Na Sal 2 \ ; ; a — Es SiS Remove the bolt from the barrel extension. The recoil spring can be removed either through the lateral slot or the rear hole. This closes the field stripping chapter. - y 2 — 3 ~ Ee —— BER IRS nl = | FE TITITITITI= = = | Jax RY : — aml \ 3 {= i w= ws | i [ I ——— cH x B = 3 — 5 A . fe . pss Advanced dismounting the Mauser C96 Insert a screwdriver under the nose of the extractor, and lift it until its front retaining wings are disengaged from their recesses in the top of the bolt. Then lever the extractor gently forward out of its housing. Caution : Proceed carefully as the extractor can be broken if too much force is applied. \ "Era - Pres i Insert a screwdriver at the front of the rear sight blade, and lever it rearward while pushing down with a non-marring tool on the front area to compress the flat spring on its underside. The lateral axle ends of the blade will disengage from their recesses. — =>" Pe HE EEE - EEE EN Cw'oSEEEEDl § R —t Rs i Classical 1000 m range rear sight for the 7,63 mm Note : Some twenty different rear sights can be found following the caliber's range or the typefaces used (some in foreign language) fo mn - ] pb for f - ot = Fr... == V4 na “NNR BE = = = em 8 LID = ND MN Tks. TV NO Sp mse) i = = | MR EEEEE : ¥ s 4 — Er = — SSeS } Armes erro 1 ———————————————— LT Re —-—. - A og = [==3 [=3 i= i 44 : D086 = = = = 3 : | - — é Ll) as | EERE | mn z= — ~. oN _- : TS ¢ h | " ST —— — 0 & p——— = 1 v 5 SS gid = - I~ a \ ee i 1 wry e=t+ fo wu" When the sight is off, the flat spring can be slid out of its recess and the adjustment bar removed by moving it forward. = a am = ¥ Hi _ —— | - The latch, inside the adjustment bar, can be removed by moving it sideways with its coil spring. A flat spring, located in the bottom of the receiver, retains both the magazine floorplate plunger and the trigger. The front end of the spring is hooked down in a groove in the magazine plunger. A small tool with a hook shaped extremity must be inserted in the hole drilled in the front area of the spring to remove it. Lift the spring, until it disengages from the plunger's groove, and slide it rearward out of its slots in the receiver. The magazine plunger and the trigger then can be removed upward. Bh _A : ¢ i | 3 - 5 : 2) EO — } Remove the takedown-latch by moving it toward the left and by slightly lifting the sear. PN BEE BL ee == a. i 3 EL « Depress the hammer with one hand, and with the other position the safety lever to a point halfway between the two positions marked by machined notches on the frame. Then lift the safety until its pivot goes out of its hole in the block. 2 or .- : oh Br | Re Be =) | PZ E— L20 XX A = ya Rn i : - 4 Depress the sear lever spring, then disengage the rounded head of the lever from the sear, and remove the lever downward. There is a small wing machined on the right side of the lever that prevents it from moving laterally. -_— - Lp fe cd — ~ y | { i | : ££ £ a Ty 4 5S ee ——— NAR. / w Cp De 9 7); f=. 2a d : = Ee § FN = - 3») f=) o— % EN 3 So 3 B @ GEN — Rotate the sear until its small forward lip clears its recess in the frame. Then remove the sear out of its pivot point. — >= LA \ “m\ - = "Ee = . ey = Tr SE Depress the mainspring plunger at the front of the action frame, and let the rocker coupling drop down from the underside. RK . \- Note : The mainspring is under tension even with the hammer at rest. So, is advisable to clamp the frame in a padded vise for this operation. Remove the mainspring and spring guides from the frame by moving them toward the front. Qe ir | a BEE can EY JUURE ih V HEE ES ie) Reassembly tip 1 When replacing the rocker coupling, its "nose" must be pointed forward. Also be sure that the rocker's milled out axle ends are well seated in the bottom of their recesses, and that the rocker's lower edge is flush with the frame. If the coupling rocker is not in the correct position (photo below) and you force the frame into the receiver when reassembling the pistol, the coupling rocker will be trapped in the trigger spring area, and you will have tremendous difficulties in getting the frame back out of the receiver. NS z - ’ - — — ~ - ‘A " _— — Push the hammer pivot - which is also the sear lever spring pivot - toward the right side for removal. = \ \ he i a \ 1 ; g oid a ; Ts NE 0 Ta 2 % aa i a — od 4 fi J «a Reassembly tip 2 To assemble the barrel group, first place the recoil spring into the bolt and insert the bolt in the barrel extension. With a screw-driver or the original cleaning rod inserted into the firing pin hole, compress the recoil spring until it is forward of the bolt stop location. Then the bolt stop can be inserted, with its sleeve to the front, through the rectangular cut on the right side of the barrel extension. Reassembly tip 3 To reassemble the action frame and the barrel group, place the frame up side down on the locking block so the "claw" or "hook" of the block is forward of the coupling rocker. Then press the forward part of the frame until the locking block hook snaps into engagement with the coupling rocker. With the action frame retained by the locking block, the assembly is ready to be placed in the receiver. “N pi Ne Ai N.S = =i] Ea = po ee A ee | oad wa = a » | 1 a =p — Ne = 4 J; ee — e — = Ee LN ® =~ Technical description of the Mauser C96 The Mauser C96 pistol consists of four main parts. Barrel with extension; bolt; receiver; and lock assembly. —— gy ® IN PP) ® - The barrel and extension - The barrel and extension are milled out of one piece. Behind the chamber the extension is slotted on its upper surface, for loading and ejection. a TT. rw Cm ee —— Below that opening hangs the magazine well which is integral with the receiver. In its back the opening has verticle grooves which serve as a guide for the loading clip. Ny = TS dy \ TE. == | yl — {=== DI —— ® Sey — FT = — - The clip with cartridges is pressed down with the thumb into the magazine in the same way as with Mauser rifles. When the clip is removed, the bolt strips the top cartridge in line and pushes it into the chamber. As such, the C96 is automatically chambered when itis loaded. To unload the pistol, each cartridge must be manually ejected by cycling the bolt. When the bolt is drawn rearwards with a empty magazine, the bolt is prevented to close back by the magazine follower. So fo close the action, grip the bolt firmly with one hand, and with a finger of the other hand depress the magazine follower. Then, while holding the follower down, ease the bolt forward over the follower and fet it slide forward. Behind the loading guides, the barrel extension forms a tunnel of squared tunel which houses the bolt. 7 PN rr f= P fr - | \ j 2 - | ET : E BB = | i - d F oo 7 : == ; The rear sight, either fixed or adjustable is machined - or installed - over the tunnel. = p— fC —— ee J A ase x) TH nem a, ( - | Six shot C96 with integral rear sight - Source : Imperial Arms The foresight is a thick blade that is milled out of the solid barrel piece. Y E) J : — At the rear of the barrel extension, on the right side, there is a rectangular slot for inserting-removing the bolt stop. pre Be me a To i 2 = = E | 1 Tm | ” sae / —————————CCSMET The lower edges of two sides of the extension are strengthened and grooved on their internal faces to form guides which slide onto corresponding ribs on the receiver. On the underside of the barrel extension there is a massive rectangular lug onto which the bolt-locking piece is hooked. CARE : B = | | | > F | wl - The bolt - The bolt is square and hollow. It contains the firing pin, with its return spring which is located on its tip, and a recoil spring which surrounds the firing pin and bears against the bolt stop through which the firing pin passes. The upper face of the front end houses the extractor. ER —_— — il Co y —_— 3 _— ee —e — — The bolt stop, shown here for a better understanding of its position in the bolt, passes through - and is maintained by - the wall of the barrel extension. The rear end of the bolt block terminates in a knurled T-shaped piece that provides a grip for opening the breech. At the back end of the bolt and on its under side, there is a flat lug that is bevelled in such way that it can push back and easily ride over the head of the hammer. = Wy In front of the lug there are two machined transverse recesses. The front faces are square, while the rear faces are bevelled. They address corresponding lugs on the bolt lock, which is part of the lock assembly. - a ] Vii | Eop— —— = I [a = There is a central machined groove on the front third of the bolt that accommodates the ejector which projects upwards from the lock sub- frame, and is an integral part of it. Basa — 2 > | Ho _3 Bo |= Ve — A Q), | - The receiver - The receiver is made of one piece. The front part of it forms the fixed magazine. The trigger guard is also an integral part of the frame which continues downward to form the handle onto which the grip plates are screwed. The magazine - except for the 6-shot and 20-shot models - holds 10 cartridges, staggered in two rows. In the rear of the follower, on the left side, there is a stout lug which runs in its guide in the receiver. When the last cartridge is fired, it projects above the level of the platform to form a stop that holds the bolt open. | kdl | 8 3 She Tg Ri BN SEE RE SE - The lock sub-frame - The lock assembly consist of the lock sub-frame, the bolt lock, hammer, sear, sear lever, sear spring, coupling rocker, and safety catch. The main spring with its two plungers is contained in a tunnel inside the sub-frame, and its lock hangs from its underside at the rear. Qf ES mt) A J 562 [ 4 oN = == — 7 wel i Co 3 EE i O | ond | " HIRI The lock sub-frame is designed to slide into the receiver from the rear. The front of the frame is provided with a rounded projection (blue arrow) which fits into a slot in the front wall of the receiver's well. A square cut on the right side (orange arrow) interlocks with a mating cut in the receiver. The upper front of the frame (red arrow) continues upward to form the ejector. a3 \ 2 4] Fi J { fb fi J 3 —— | I IE. ‘Rp EL. . 3 : i CR 2 -E A 550 Ty [ | 4 = SL ] : 41 : i § In the rear, on each side, are two guides which fit into corresponding slots in the rear of the receiver when the lock assembly is pushed home. As a result of this clever arrangement, the front and rear of the lock frame are tightly held in the receiver, but at the same time, it can be easily removed. y NF ~ Sle i HR He ad “i — Cg \ > xX Operation of the Mauser C96 The Mauser C96 action is the classical example of what is known as "prop- up” type of locking. That term means that the bolt or breech is locked to the barrel by one or more lugs which are not an integral part of the barrel, and which can be disengaged from the bolt at just the right time by various means. Among those means, and as choosen for the C96, is barrel recoiling. | I BE Le ef 8 Eg} Pd — - — a fs = & i —— — eof $f o Phantom view of a loaded C96 The hammer is pivoted around the rear of the lock sub-frame. In front of its round body, there is a simple angular cut whose upper edge is engaged by the sear (red arrow). The rear plunger of the mainspring (green arrow) bears on the lower extremity of that cut. f=) A = . WT ) js \ Abs » di | dB N ( Lying along the right side of the lock sub-frame is the sear - a long flat lever, pivoted at the extreme front of the frame (yellow transparent). GE HTH oy @ | =m | BN WF EE | cE . The sear is actuated by a lever (pink transparent), the horizontal foot of which has a flat under surface (green arrow) that projects towards the trigger. The mainspring lies in a tunnel in the frame at an angle of about 30 degrees from the horizontal, and It has two plungers. The front one interlocks with the coupling rocker. CH— [P= D - | ah =p UN ag OP 0 = dl ¢ IEEE HEREIN MAAN ih fol: py i ——— [TE St SRT i When the trigger is pressed, the sear actuator pushes the sear lever upwards. This action raises the nose of the sear out of engagement with the hammer, and allows the latter to fall on the firing pin and fire the cartridge. ) » -— A — A \ | 7 y y! | — . 6 3 : O) Sn } i The explosion of the cartridge drives back the bolt, which is connected to the bolt lock by means of their interlocking lugs and recesses. As a result, the whole barrel assembly will move backward. A i | —TTY | BE — I jens == EE or 1 ! = 1 —bdd db ik AB AEE, F = oe > pr (@ of —Jon oe dN FAN Hl 9 ~~ TREN { Ne EIN i | ! = andl As the barrel recoils, the forward tooth on the bolt lock bears against the rocker, and compresses the mainspring through its forward guide. Its lower rear projection rides over its supporting area on the frame. The tooth in front tends to be forced upwards; and, as the lock can pivot about its loose attachment to the barrel extension, the rear will drop and the bolt lugs will disengaged their recesses in the bolt. The bolt, on account of its momentum, continues to move backward and compresses the bolt spring and cocks the hammer. The bolt's rear travel is stopped by the bolt stop which is maintained by, and passes through, the barrel extension which guides the bolt. The bolt stop also supports the rear end of the recoil spring. The forward end of the recoil spring bears against the closed head of the bolt. \ i a aE = ———— TT — By =, EE a ————————si : & mp - 3 Ti oo 3 — cg ~ 3 = = — Ey oe It is of note that when the forward guide - or plunger - of the mainspring recoils, from the thrust of the coupling rocker, its underside projection bears against the sear actuator, and as a result the trigger is disconnected (red arrow) from the sear mechanism. Then the sear can fall down and re- engage the hammer which has been drawn back by the bolt to the fully cocked position. Note : Early models did not have the projection on the underside of the forward mainspring guide. As such, if the shooter did not depress the trigger energetically, disconnection would not take place and the rest of the cartridges would fire off in machine gun fashion. When the bolt is fully back, the empty case, which has been drawn back by the extractor, strikes the ejector projecting upwards from the lock sub- frame (red arrow) and is ejected. R A \ \ \ At the end of the bolt travel, its return spring drives it forward, feeding the top cartridge from the magazine into the chamber, while the extractor claw slips over the extracting groove in the cartridge case. The slam of the massive knurled T-shaped piece of the bolt against the barrel extension, along with the action of the compressed main spring against the forward tooth of the bolt lock, causes the bolt lock to swing upwards and forwards around its attachment to the barrel extension, so that the latter is both allowed and forced to move forward into battery. With the raising of the bolt lock, its locking lugs reengage their recesses on the under-surface of the bolt. With the release of the trigger, its nose slips under the sear actuator, and it will be ready to fire the next shot. The safety of the Mauser C96 All models of the Mauser C96 have a manual thumb safety located at the left rear of the pistol. This safety can be applied both when the hammer is cocked or uncoked. On early models (until around 1905-1908 and ending with the large ring hammer model), the safety lever was of the long type as shown on the pictures below. To apply the safety, the lever had to be lowered. i ) DO = <Q 7 = p.) "NY QU NEN : JN) ® xX N/ . NZ The red arrows show the location of the safety lever pivot. The green arrows show the place where the safety acts i en 17 aa £ HOR A lL hn Picture source : Imperial Arms The pistol then underwent several technical modifications - many of which were intended to reduce its weight. The safety lever length was shortened and worked in reverse of the earlier one. It had to be pushed up to set the pistol safe. ne J ERs Large ring hammer That modified or late safety is divided in two types. - First type The first type is encountered on all models from the large ring hammer (see picture above) to serial number 280000. Na” CeO + dds Pah J A ¥ a Hg, A ie" (@ \ Yo ed 4 h \ a Vos 3 PR 3 pr / f 3 4 When the hammer is in the uncocked position and the safety is applied, the hammer is slightly rotated out of reach of the firing pin (blue arrow). The rear movement of the hammer is induced - as shown on the drawing below - by the caming of the safety axle profile against the wall of the hammer safety path that is machined in the left side of the hammer body. SEE ® (Ee = (7 ) | When the hammer is in the cocked position, the safety is applied by raising the safety lever whose locking profile enters the front notch of the safety path. The same caming - as explained just above - occurs, and the hammer is slightly lowered. I? C et WoT PT N py) ATES a 7 a ONSF >” (J ) NJ E p78) ) a ¢ Te pe V 4a oz N = No uy Lm > - Second type The modified safety was again changed - around serial number 200,000 - to become the "NS" safety or "New Safety". The two intertwined letters N and S are generally struck on the rear face of the hammer. The peculiarity of the new version is that when the hammer is cocked and a shooter wants to apply the safety, the hammer must first be drawn slightly back with one hand, before the safety lever can be pushed up with the other hand. As shown in the picture on the right below, this necessitated changing only the lower notch of the safety path. It is doubtful that the modification was intended to really improve the safety itself. Most probably, it was to ease the machining of the safety path. — — . =" fe ) ) i Veo Lo { Ae) a hh es i 6 ly = : i A Ragin — ude di Ll 6 A rey ew iin sorts ae | © GE) Fs + I. fl fen | LB Neal) - Hammer-operated safety lever A variation of the safety is the hammer and safety combination depicted below. On a handful of pistols, dating from about 1905, the hammer was modified to interact with the safety lever in such a way that when the hammer is cocked, the safety lever is automatically drawn back into the "off" position. = “ip , Caw, § {O N= = = eel & Courtesy Lyndon Haywood Author of : "The German Submachine Guns" - Ebook To provide for that, the left side of the hammer has a lug on it whose rear face bears against the forward wall of a mating lug which is machined on the inner face of the safety lever. As the two pieces do not have the same pivot, when the hammer is in the cocked position, its lug no longer bears against the safety lug and the safety lever can be freely pushed up into the safe position. Bmp. — Lad OF O Q fe : " ; ll | | if L Ee —— Fy Pictures source : : System Mauser (Breathed & Schroeder) - Universal safety On model 1930 and later (including the full auto "Schnellfeuer" model) these pistols were equipped with an improved universal safety. The safety can be operated by one hand. When the lever is raised into the safe position, the letter "S" shows up. When the lever is lowered and the weapon is ready to fire, the letter "F" may be seen on the lever. i ID) | ity 1 i HLT Pest Y A a 5 IE | Va ic @ — b of iN = 73 hil: ) Ek all H NA re NU ERY K Ly o Universal safety lever and "Schnellfeuer” hammer As shown in the picture on the left above, the inner face of the safety lever has a newly milled area above the pivot to work with an extension added to the sear. The safety path on the left side of the hammer is devoid of any notch. When the safety is applied, the safety lever axle plays the role of a hammer stop, and prevents it from reaching the firing pin. As such, when the safety is engaged, the hammer may be safely dropped by depressing the trigger. Also while the safety lever is moved from one position to the other, the sear is blocked from moving. __ de EE Vo = SL Eo = is far coon ae oh ag wm New sear for the universal safety - - “ws - ; e : = : f s 4 : ARE p= A apse Bs ee Z mm 3 L iE 8 42. BE > Lx 1 | 3 = § Safety not applied - The trigger can be raised - The hammer will reach the firing pin. ® a | Se During the process of moving the safety lever the sear is maintained locked by running inside a narrow milled path. > 4 | ap - &® When the safety lever clicks in a new position, the sear is freed and can be raised again. ® E Eo — . Sa J \ ~ a When the safety lever is raised, the hammer can NEVER reach the firing pin as itis blocked by the profile of safety lever pivot (yellow arrow) Wr m— pra | \ - aT) ~~ “ i ( ig | : a A ° ==3]Y k ; Om) \ _ 4 (@ y | By lowering the safety lever, the profile of the safety pivot is so positioned as to allow the hammer to strike the firing pin. As shown in the picture above, the safety lever pivot did not enter any notch in the safety path milled in the left side of the hammer body. - Model 1902 safety prototype The model 1902 - which is not a factory designation - is a rare variation of the C96. It has an articulated safety lever whose pivot is shared with the hammer. As shown in the drawings, the hammer's head has no striated cocking area. The safety lever spur is used for that. [3 ; & >: / | Ki 7 669 4 [i] & “i § 3 = gm \ ay | ZZ ’ yy | p; ” QQ) {d SY: —\- KL -- 1 © WN) Ns ir 7A =X (=! / 5 =| QA \ 20 / : p () i When the hammer is drawn into its fully cocked position, a reverse pressure on the safety lever spur will drive the safety unit into contact with the rear of the bolt. The flat head of the safety will then prevent the hammer from striking the firing pin, as it is in the way of the lateral lug milled on the left side of the hammer. To set the safety "off" when the hammer is cocked, the safety lever spur must be turned upward to lower its front face and clear the way for the hammer's lateral lug which then can pass over the safety's retaining face. a, i]s= ~~ = —4d iD = J : \ [=] “womens scm j 0 fey] \ ZUR 4 Nh | Ii 2rh Na NY Nd) i — f\ : BR Nes — 7 | =); (®)= =» \ \ Prototypes and pre-production Models Even if it is not documented by factory materials, it is widely accepted that the Mauser C96 pistol came about due to the work of three Mauser employees : The Feederle brothers (Fidel, Friedrich and Josef). The brothers had important positions in the experimental department of the firm. It is said that Fidel was referred to as Mauser's right hand. Friedrich was employed as a master mechanic, and Josef, first associated with the experimental department, was later the Superintendent of the assembly and finishing department. It is also said that Mauser was not happy when he first heard that some of his employees were perfecting a personal project during factory work time. It seems that Mauser, who was mainly rifle-oriented, had little interest in the Feederle's project at first. But when a working prototype materialized by the summer of 1894, Mauser decided to back the project, and provided the brothers with all the factory means needed to bring it to completion. From then on, Mauser was closely involved in the development work, and it can be assumed that he personally influenced the design. As a result of his involvement and backing, a weapon was ready for firing on March 15th, 1895. 54 . JIN 5) 22% AE Friedrich Frederle ZH —— VW = A ; 5 \ rh m— Ely AO: oN A | \ Bias AAA (\L 3 pe | WR je =r | WN Courtesy Lyndon Haywood The cartridge used in the first Mauser prototype was a 7.65 mm. It was designed and produced by DWM - which was the owner of the Mauser firm -, and used in the Borchardt pistol. The Borchardt pistol of 1893 was the first effective semi-automatic handgun ever produced, and the 7.65 mm Borchardt was the only cartridge available at the time for that class of weapon. So, the classic "bottleneck" Mauser cartridge of 7.63 mm, was no doubt an adaptation of the Borchardt cartridge design (its diameter was reduced, and the power increased). On December 11th, 1895, Paul Mauser applied for a German patent (No. 90430). The patent drawings show a 10-shot pistol with a fixed rear sight, and a semi-circular front sight. Lm - — = ee A. ELA) VEIN CC ene © Ne a 7 nd -M- lf] \ ES 7d Noa ~~ 7 ¥ 5% A < ¢ Ge is NG Us, I Er 2 a ~ gy) >) Prototype 7.65 mm (© L. Haywood) The first prototype had remained in a constant state of revision until the patent was application was filed. Then the design was stabilized prior to launching the mass production of the pistol. Also, in addition to the 10-shot model, a six-shot and a 20-shot model were produced. 3 =e aD) oe He > V Prototype 7.63 mm - six-shot version (© L. Haywood) TE Jeb J i Jee — Ye SN | J Prototype 7.63 mm - twenty-shot version (© L. Haywood) Throughout the year 1896, the pistol was fine tuned and brought to its final stage for production. One principal external change was the form of the hammer. From a spur type; it evolved into one having a circular profile. In order to provide the shooter with a better grip, the spur was replaced by a series of concentric rings, which increased in width as the diameter decreased. The effect was a cone like shape on each side of the hammer grasping area. That is why those pistols are called "Cone Hammer" models by collectors. Also, a carbine version was designed during the startup time. Ce rH a NL = " ] 2 J 0 ®)a— _ Pre-production serial 47 - six-shot - fixed sight - cone hammer (© L. Haywood) The early models have a stepped barrel (red arrow), wood checkered grip plates (blue arrow), and the engagement of the breechblock by the locking block is performed by a single locking lug entering a square cut on the underside of the breechblock (green arrow). = | — a FX | 8 ER) ER i | NRT : eas I raed 2® ==) lo ) 7 a Pre-production -ten-shot - adjustable rear sight - cone hammer (© L. Haywood) The twenty-shot version, was similar in every respect to the ten-shot model except for its elongated magazine housing capable of accepting 20 cartridges, and being fitted with a floor plate retainer housed in an enlarged portion of the magazine body, was similar in every respects to the ten-shot model. Though it was primilarly intended for military use, it was also offered on the commercial market. It met little success in either market, and its production was discontinued after 1898. gr © gies aC’ 1 4 ESE a | (| BD) i RRR | RRR | RARE NR Pre-production -twenty-shot - adjustable rear sight - cone hammer (© L. Haywood) 1 (RE : | We . ~ . - ~ = =] a® | = | > g All of the Mauser pistols were slotted on the back strap of the handle so that they would accept a removable stock. The stocks, which were hollow, could be used very conveniently as a holster. The 20-shot model required a larger holster-stock. \ i > > : § Twenty-shot cone hammer - later version - Source : Imperial Arms Fd ig EE Rs 1896 prototype of a ten-shot carbine - adjustable sight - detachable stock - cone hammer - (© L. Haywood) Also of note, is the fact that among the varieties of pistols tested during the pre- production period, one was chambered in an experimental 6 mm cartridge of straight cylindrical shape (hot necked down). DWM specifications Case number 414 Bullet number 236 A 10-shot version of the pistol was presented to and fired by Emperor Wilhelm Il in August 1896. More than likely that model accounted for the largest quantity of the pre- production. The rifling of the barrel had four grooves and a right twist. It remained the same until the appearance of the large ring hammer model with smooth sided receiver. RC TY YY TT se 3 fF I =0 ; pag _— ' - l J EER - ; 0 = ge TE : = ag | i | [Ce Satses | aii SD | Er. [ V i = aq P| EERE = En — | << i — \ : > Jit i. a TE ————— re ] : — J. Jeg \ - p— 57 \ NT y Mauser C 96 "Step-Barrel Cone Hammer - System Mauser" - serial #231 Sold in auction by Hermann Historika for 30,000 Euros on 04/20/2009 Sample of the end of 1896 pre-series. Cal 7.63 mm serial #251. Matching numbers. Almost bright bore. Barrel length 140 mm with uncommonly dovetailed and blued front sight. Proof mark: double crown "U". On chamber marked "SYSTEM MAUSER". Sliding rear sight scaled 1 - 10. Long extractor. Complete original bluing with only light detachable stock marks back on grip. Lanyard ring and loop spotted but no rust whatsoever underneath grip panels. Small parts blued including safety. Chamber polished white. Small parts strawed including trigger. Op wn = : E ; | == » =O i i |G = (4 \ ; ¢ 5 4 1 \ ¥ = Ei w — = a ~~ iH oa & —" a —- r 7 \& = Sa sa \ | Matching numbered walnut grip panels, both with hardly noticeable blemishes on top. A rarity in almost new overall condition. Complete with matching-numbered detachable stock made of walnut with storage marks, no cracks. Not numbered on collar, but still inside lid and outside on lid hinge. Blued fittings spotted, collar strongly spotted. Leaf spring in lid broken in the middle, other half missing. Easily replaceable. Detachable stock can be improved by careful cleaning. Accessories: an original cleaning rod and three loading clips. Mauser C96 early Models After the successful demonstration before and by Kaiser Wilhelm in August 1896, it can be assumed that Paul Mauser thought that his pistol had reached its final technical form and that it was ready for mass production. But, as the Mauser firm was an asset of the Ludwig Loewe group (DWM), he had to first convince the board of the Ludwig Loewe that his model was worthy of the investment required for mass production. By chance, the Loewe management was facing commercial difficulties with their awkward Borchardt auto pistol, while interest in that type of weapon was rapidly spreading among military circles. As such, Mauser was authorized to produce his pistol and also to create a special department to do that. It took several months to gather all the elements and bring the new entity into full scale operation. From September 1896 until April 1897, small quantities (approx. 270 pieces) of the pistol - which can be classified as "transitional" - were produced to test the process, and make any last minute changes before the mass production launch. Those pistols were serialized after the last number of the pre-production, starting at about 90 and going to about 360. In the pre-mass production period and during the early stage of the regular production, the pistol underwent more modifications. Some of the changes were of more or less importance, with some of them being retained and others discarded. Based on drawings and surviving examples of pieces numbered below 360, it appears that three important changes and a number of revisions of lesser importance were evaluated. - Important changes - Introduction of the two locking lugs on the locking block and locking notches in the underside of the boit. or B—— @® Zz * b3 A RRA NC — B22 IN, Yn /! 7 \ 7 y ¢ Z°% | NAS / : A Wes 5 3 - In the pre-production models, the lock sub-frame, which slid into the receiver, was merely supported at the rear by its dismounting lever (red color above). With this arrangement, the forward end of the sub-frame was prone to twist