**Mauser C96 "Red 9" Broomhandle Pistol with Holster Stock and Leather Carrier Harness
World War I
9mm Luger. 5.5" barrel. SN: 34738. War time blue finish, bright bolt and hammer, fire blued small parts, 32-groove "Red 9" marked wood grips. Single action semi-automatic pistol with fixed 10-round box magazine and 500-meter tangent rear sight. Right rear of receiver marked WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER/OBERNDORF A NECKAR. Chamber marked WAFFENFABRIK/MAUSER/OBERNDORF A/N. Visible numbers are all matching, including the grips and floor plate. Imperial German {CROWN}/U proof on left of chamber with typical inspection and assembly marks on the barrel. A small Imperial German crowned Gothic letter acceptance stamp is present on the right side of the chamber. The pistol is accompanied by an unnumbered wood holster stock with the leather carrier. The carrier is maker marked on the rear and dated 1917. The wood handled cleaning rod is also present. A solid example of a WWI military C96 in the desirable "Red 9" configuration.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very good. Bore about fine, bright with crisp rifling and some frosting in the grooves. Metal retains most of the war time dull blue finish with some thinning, wear and loss, as well as some freckled surface oxidation and minor roughness, mostly on the backstrap and gripstrap. Bright parts with some mottled surface oxidation and discoloration, particularly the hammer. Trigger, extractor and rear sight elevator all retain much of their fire-blued finish. Grips with some wear and dulling to the Red 9 paint, but with crisp grooves and only some scattered bumps and dings. Holster stock about good, with moderate wear, a small piece of replaced wood in the center of the reverse, and with several repaired cracks on the reverse. Stock sanded and lightly refinished. Stock is not numbered but fits the gun well. Carrying hardness in about good to very good condition with moderate wear and finish loss, showing scuffing and flaking. Maker's mark remains mostly legible and the leather remains in good enough condition for display. Closure button for spare ammunition is missing. Cleaning rod about good with moderate surface rust.