The Foundation of Freedom is the Courage of Ordinary People History  On Line |
Mauser C96 7.63mm Parabellum Semiautomatic, 10 round magazine, usable either as a pistol or carbine, firing an 85-grain parabellum bullet at 1,400 fps. the Mauser 7.63 was used from 1896 through the Korean War, but was never an issue weapon. One problem is that the bolt remains locked back by the magazine follower after ejecting the last round, making safe re-load only by the stripper clip. But that clip held ten rounds, which was very useful in close combat.
TM 23-35: Combat Training: Pistols & Revolvers
Mauser C96 9mm Parabellum
Stripper clip charger of 7.63mm (left) and 9mm (right)
Mauser C96 7.63mm 1932 Parabellum Broomhandle
Mauser C96 7.63mm Parabellum, 1936, with 20 round detachable magazine
Westinger-system Schnellfeuerpistole, Selector set at Normal
This gun was sold to China in the late '30s (ideographs read "Made In Germany"). Mausers were popular with the CCF during 1st year of Korean War |
| Known as the Model 1916, this was in fact the 1912 Mauser, chambered and altered to accommodate the 9 mm Luger Service cartridge, the original calibre having been 7.63 mm. Mechanically and in appearance, the 7.63 mm and the 9 mm are the same. As a quick means of identification, the Model 1916 has the figure '9' carved or painted on the grips.
| | Georg Luger originally developed the 9mm Parabellum cartridge in 1902. The cartridges case is rimmed with a slight taper from rim to mouth which enhances feed reliability. It uses a .356-inch diameter bullet. | |
| Mauser C96 | 1915 | 1932 Broomhandle | 1936 | | Caliber | 9mm | 7.63mm | 7.63mm | | Operation | Recoil, Selective | Recoil, Selective | Recoil, Selective | | Length, Overall | 12.25 in | 11.75 in
25.5in w/stock | 11.75 in | | Barrel Length | 5.50 in | 5.63 in | 5.63 in | | Feed Device | 10 round integral box | 10 or 20 round, staggered row, detachable box | 10 or 20 round, staggered row, detachable box | | Sights, Front | Blade | Blade | Blade | | Sights, Rear | Tangent leaf | Tangent leaf | Tangent leaf | | Weight | 2.75 lb (unloaded) | 2.93 lb
3.93 lb w/stock | 2.93 lb | | Muzzle Velocity | 1425 fps | 1575 fps | 1575 fps | Ammo
Parabellum | bullet 115gr, charge 6gr | bullet 85gr, charge 8gr | bullet 85gr, charge 8gr | |
Hand-made from fitted interlocking parts, called the "broomhandle" because of its distinctive grip, the C96 was never any nation's standard issue pistol but was a favorite sidearm around the world. Its effectiveness is measured in that popularity, the pistol being produced from 1896 to 1937, and was used in combat from the 1898 Sudan campaign through the Korean War. When the last round has been ejected, the bolt will remain locked back, being held by the magazine follower. Because the bolt is being held back, you can neither easily nor safely load the magazine singly, but rather must reload by the 10-round stripper clip. Its effectiveness also may be understood from relating its performance capabilities to the throes of chaotic close-range combat: Semiautomatic, 10 round magazine, reloaded by a 10-round stripper clip, usable either as a pistol or carbine, firing an 85-grain bullet at 1,400 fps. | |
Causes of the Korean Tragedy ... Failure of Leadership, Intelligence and Preparation
The Foundations of Freedom are the Courage of Ordinary People and Quality of our Arms
|
