C96 Mauser M-30?

[M37]

I stumbled across this M-30 C96 that is for sale. I believe it has some issues and I assume the barrel was bored out to 9mm, because it is now sporting red 9 grips, of the M-30 12 groove variant. I haven’t seen it in person yet, but I do have a few poor quality pictures. The finish looks great and at the very least it could be a beautiful shooter. What would the ball park fair price be if it has been bored to 9mm, but a clean shooter?

Thanks in advance!

 

[M37]

Can any more knowledgeable collectors advise if there were any factory built M-30 Mauser’s in 9mm? Contract guns for China?

Thanks!

 

[Hambone]

Straight away I can tell you it's been reblued and messed with. There are no 9mm M.30s to my knowledge, which is limited, but enough to probably be right about that. I can tell you that thing is a fantasy shooter that was put together for that purpose by a gunsmith or someone with skillz. It's not a collector piece. I don't know that I'd shoot anything but very low end 9mm in it, such as that Wolf cr@p. Personally, I'd rather have a Glock 19 Gen. 5 (with night sights, plastic sights suck) and put the leftover $500-1500 into ammunition and spare mags.

 

[KSH67]

Yep, someone's gunsmith project. It looks great, might shoot great too but not period. The only 9mm C96 post WWI are the 1920 refurbs as fr as I know, which are WWI era pistols typically with shortened barrels and removed ramp sites replaced with a fixed blade. That said, I already have a Glock 19 with night sights and have a soft spot for broom handles so If I ran across this setup and it was a good shooter and done as well as it looks in the pics I would pay up to $700 probably. Hell, it you broke it apart and sold the 9mm upper you would probably get that from the Gunbrokerites.

 

[Mr. Barnes]

Whoever refinished it kind of knew what they were doing: they left the bolt, hammer, and lock frame pickle gray.

If that cleaning rod is original, which is unlikely, it's quite valuable. The stock is surely reproduction.

 

[GEM]

Back in the late 1980s a boat load of C96 and M1930 style pistols were imported from China. People Liberation Army was dumping junk to generate foreign currency. Long barrels and Bolos from Mauser, Astra and Shansi were available. Some came through almost new but most were pretty beat up and some were truly terrible roached out, rusted junk. Calibers included 7.63, 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Mauser Export and .45 ACP. They were somewhat common at shows at the time. (I still have a matching Bolo with no lands and grooves and several Chinese made leather and wooden holsters.)

I dug around in my files and found brochures from three importers/rebuilders: Antique Arms Arsenal, Mentor Arms Co. and Oyster Bay. There may have been others involved. These three suppliers sold "as is" pistols, parts, and accessories such as holsters, fitted cases, cleaning rods, new wooden grips as well as offering services to re-barrel, re-line, re-build, re-finish/re-blue and engrave to suit. Antique Arms brochure shows new made custom length barrels up to 16" and offered a Mauser Carbine made up from parts. Workmanship wasn't bad but definitely not original quality.

I can't tell for sure from the pictures but I think this example is one of the refurbished Chinese imports. More pictures would help. Recommend checking for import marks and any commercial marks.

 

[M37]

I would like to say thank you to all of you who weighed in! I am going to be looking at this C96 in person soon. From what I could see I suspected what you have all said, total rework and not original caliber. I would love to get a shooter and this one may just fit the bill. The owner is not a gun person and wants it gone soon, so maybe the price will be right for what it is. If I get it I’ll post pictures for all of you to see.

Take care and thank you!

 

[GEM]

If you want to shoot one get it thoroughly inspected, particularly the locking lugs and the block that retains the firing pin and bolt. When stationed in Germany in the '70s I met a local veteran. He had a deep depression in his skull above his right eye. He told me that his C96 had an unplanned disassembly and he took a hit from the bolt. The bolt locking block on the side of the barrel extension cracked and let the bolt fly out. For shooting I replace mine with a modern part.

 

[M37]

GEM,

I must have read an old post of yours recently about that same gentleman! Good advice! Any C96 I get will get a wolf spring kit and a new locking block for shooting. I do a lot of gunsmithing and that is good common sense. I am sure most don’t know this though, if they are casual gun owners, so thank you for the info!

 

[GEM]

GEM,

I must have read an old post of yours recently about that same gentleman! Good advice! Any C96 I get will get a wolf spring kit and a new locking block for shooting. I do a lot of gunsmithing and that is good common sense. I am sure most don’t know this though, if they are casual gun owners, so thank you for the info!

Agree with your recommendation to install new springs. I believe that I did post that story before. I still think is makes a good point about knowing and understanding what you are shooting and taking prudent precautions.