New weapons - Mauser pistol series (various)
Today, I’m going to talk about our legendary pistol - the Mauser pistol.
In fact, the Mauser pistol has numerous variations and derivative models.
However, this is rarely reflected in our game.
It’s not just a suggestion. You can view it as a piece of popular science writing.
1、 Early 6-shot carbine version
By 1897, based on the original Mauser C96 model, a compact version was developed. The most significant change was reducing the magazine capacity from 10 rounds to 6 rounds. The magazine structure was the same as that of the previous 6-round prototype gun.
2、Early 6-shot carbine version (short)
In the same year, a second compact version was developed. Compared to the previous compact model, it had few changes. The original 140mm barrel was shortened to 102mm, and a headband was added at the front end of the muzzle, making it indeed much smaller than the original Mauser C96 pistol.
3、Early Officer Type （10-shot）
Also during the year 1897, an officer version was further developed.
The most significant change in this model is the removal of the scale on the top of the gun body, and the reduction of the original 140mm gun barrel to 120mm. Additionally, a headband is also present at the front end of the barrel.
4、Early Officer Type (Carbine Version) （10-shot）
Based on the previous model, a compact version for officers has been further improved. The barrel length is still 120 millimeters. The biggest change is that the 10-round capacity has been reduced to 6 rounds.
However, the so-called officer-type Mauser pistol was not adopted as the official military issue pistol of Germany; instead, it was a personal sidearm for the officers.
5、Early 20-round fixed magazine version
Around 1898, based on the original C96 model, a 20-round capacity version was further developed. Again, it used the same 20-round fixed magazine, the caliber remained unchanged, still firing 7.63×25mm Mauser pistol rounds. The barrel length was 140 millimeters, and it could only be semi-automatic; it did not have the fully automatic function.
This model was even jokingly referred to as the “big-bellied box” back then.
6、Early 20-round fixed magazine version（short）
Based on the previous large-capacity case, a short-barreled model was further developed. The length of the barrel is approximately 102 millimeters, and all other aspects are the same as the previous model.
7、Early 20-round fixed magazine version (simplified)
Between 1897 and 1899, a simplified version with a fixed 20-round magazine was introduced, which is what we often refer to as the “large mirror” model.
The barrel length of this model is also 140 millimeters. It can only be semi-automatic, just like the previous Mauser pistols. The most distinctive feature is that the surface of the gun body is extremely smooth, without any weight-reducing grooves.
8、Mid-term C96 6-shot carbine version
Based on the mid-sized Mauser C96, a compact model was further developed. The barrel was shortened from 140 millimeters to 120 millimeters, the ammunition capacity was reduced from 10 rounds to 6 rounds, and the grip was also made smaller in total.
9、Medium C96 Officer Model (Carbine Version) （6-shot）
In the mid-version of the C96 pistol, there was also an officer compact model. It was basically the same in appearance and overall structure, except that the officer compact model did not have a scale on it.
10、Italian Navy Type C96（10-shot）
By 1899, Mauser received an order from the Italian Navy to customize 5,000 naval versions of the Mauser C96 pistol for the Italian Navy.
The Italian Navy version of C96 is characterized by its extremely smooth gun barrel surface, resembling a mirror. After being delivered to the Italian Navy, Germany continued to produce this gun until 1902, producing approximately 25,000 more units. Most of these guns were also sold to China. The Tianjin Dagu Military Factory in those days also replicated it and called it the “Mirror Gun”.
11、Mirror-like officer type（6-shot）
Based on the previous model, another variant was developed, known as the “Mirror Officer Model”. It also lacks a scale, and the grip design is different from that of other Mauser pistols, presenting a curved shape. The overall design is also somewhat slender.
12、Persian military version of C96
Also during the period from 1902 to 1905, the later model of the Mauser C96 was favored by the Persian Empire. Therefore, the Mauser company customized a batch of Persian military versions of the Mauser C96 pistols for them.
This is exactly the same as the later version of the original. The only difference is that a symbol of the Persian Empire is engraved on the barrel of this one, while the other specifications such as the caliber and the length of the barrel are the same as the original.
13、M1917 Carbine Rifle（40-shot）
Apart from the 9-millimeter Mauser C96 pistol, the German army during World War I also equipped a derivative of this gun, the Mauser M1917 carbine. It was also an improved version based on the structure of the 9-millimeter C96.
The most distinctive feature is that it is equipped with 40 detachable magazines, and it is also equipped with a stock and a pistol grip. Additionally, the barrel has been lengthened. However, this gun can only be fired in semi-automatic mode and does not have the function of fully automatic firing.
14、M1920 French Police Version
By 1920, German Mauser had custom-made a batch of Mauser pistols for the French police. They were also based on the later model C96 and were improved upon. The most notable feature was that the barrel was relatively short, and the wooden grip was replaced with a plastic one. The rest were the same as the regular Mauser pistols.
However, after the Germans occupied Paris, these guns were once again returned to the hands of the Germans.
15、Post-war improved version
From 1920 to 1925, due to the fact that Germany had to abide by the Versailles Treaty after its defeat in World War I and was not allowed to equip its military with pistols with barrel lengths exceeding 100 millimeters, the Mauser C96 from the morning was modified. The 140-millimeter barrel was shortened to 99 millimeters, the scale was removed, only the sight and notch were retained, and the word “1920” was engraved on the back of the barrel.
The caliber remains 7.63 millimeters, and it continues to use a 10-round fixed magazine.
16、Improved 9mm model after the war
During the same period, the remaining 9mm military version of the Mauser C96 was also modified. The 9mm caliber was changed to the original 7.63mm, and the scale was removed while only the notch was retained. The barrel was also changed to 99mm, but the large red 9 on the grip was not removed.
The difference between it and the one above is that the former is originally produced with a 7.63mm caliber, while this one is transformed from a 9mm caliber to a 7.63mm caliber.
(This is probably the German way of being meticulous and rigid.)
17、BOLO Police Utility Suit
From 1921 to 1930, in this series, the BOLO police model C96 pistol was introduced again. However, in order to comply with the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, this model also adopted a 99-millimeter short barrel, with a headband at the front end of the barrel, and the grip was shortened and reduced in size. The caliber remained 7.63 millimeters, and the magazine capacity was 10 rounds.
The production volume of this gun was also quite large, with approximately 345,000 units produced. It was exported to many countries around the world, including Eastern Europe, Europe, and Asia. During the Republic of China era, China also imported this model. In the civilian sector, it was also known as the “Type 3 Revolver” or “Three-Box Pistol”.
18、M1926 9mm Prototype（30-shot）
By 1926, Mauser Company had designed a prototype M1926 9mm pistol, which was also based on the C96 framework. The most distinctive feature was that it was equipped with a 30-round detachable magazine.
But it was ultimately a prototype model and was not mass-produced. Only a few sample guns were manufactured for testing purposes.
19、M1930 Fully Automatic Model
Also in the 1930s, as Spain copied its later model C96 and was able to fire automatically, Mauser Company couldn’t stand it anymore and began to try to develop an automatic firing version of the C96. Thus, the M1930 fully automatic pistol was born.
The M1930 fully automatic pistol still uses a 132mm long barrel, and the slide rail has returned to a two-section weight-reduction groove. This time, a detachable double-row magazine with 10 or 20 rounds can be selected. During combat, it can be adjusted to single-shot semi-automatic firing or fully automatic firing. The caliber is also 7.63mm. This model can be regarded as the prototype of the later Mauser M712.
20、Mauser M1930 Fully Automatic Pistol
After the introduction of the Mauser M1930 fully automatic pistol, an improved version capable of using a 24-round magazine was developed based on it. It also fired 7.63×25mm ammunition, but this 24-round version was quite rare at that time.
21、M1932/M712 Fully Automatic Type
By 1932, a more refined M1932 fully automatic pistol was developed, which could also be called the M712 selector.
The M1932 model restored the barrel to a length of 140 millimeters and inherited the slide rail of the later model of M1930. The surface was smooth and did not have the two-stage weight-reduction slots.
The caliber of this gun was also 7.63 millimeters. It could be loaded with either 10 or 20 detachable double-row magazines, and the trigger mechanism was redesigned, which was significantly different from the previous M1930 model.
This model was produced approximately 98,000 units in the 1930s, and most of them were sold to China.
22、Yugoslav version of the M1932 type
Also in the 1930s, Mauser custom-made a batch of Mauser M1932 fully automatic pistols for Yugoslavia.
However, the model used by Yugoslavia was different from the original M1932. The connection and shape of the barrel section were very similar to the earlier prototype gun, and an ear strap was added to the front end of the barrel. The length was also slightly shorter than that of the original M1932. The production volume of this model was also not large.
The entire Mauser series of revolvers were produced from 1895 until 1939. Since then, the Mauser factory has not designed or produced any more Mauser revolvers. The M1932 is considered to be the final model of this series.
23、Spanish MM31 Mauser pistol（10/20-shot）
Around 1927, the BH (Beistegui Hermanos) company founded by the (Beistegui) brothers, with authorization from the Mauser factory, launched the (ROYAL) brand of knockoff box guns.
Unlike the precise and detailed design of the original Mauser pistol, the Royal pistol had its pins exposed, giving it a disadvantage in appearance. This pistol was available in different types such as 140 and 180 millimeter lengths based on the length of the barrel. However, the knockoff box guns produced by the Spanish BH company were not merely a simple copy. Their greatest innovation was installing a trigger mechanism on the box gun, giving it a fully automatic burst firing function. This design was five years earlier than the M1932 assault pistol launched by the Mauser factory with this feature.
24、MM3 1Mauser pistol （Gilding）（20-shot）
25、MM3 1Mauser pistol（Thread）
Almost every MM31 revolver is equipped with a trigger mechanism. The position of the trigger mechanism is similar to that of the later Mauser M1932 submachine gun, located on the left side of the gun body, in the form of a sheet. Moreover, to prevent the barrel from overheating due to continuous firing and thus affecting its service life, the outer part of the barrel of some MM31 pistols is designed in a spiral shape, giving it a unique appearance.
26、Chinese imitation of Mauser pistol (long model)
In China at that time, although the German-made Mauser box gun was the preferred choice for the Chinese military, the Spanish-made box gun was also quite popular. Although the quality of the Spanish-made box gun was inferior to that of the Mauser, compared to various box guns copied by various domestic armories, it was still a relatively sophisticated combat weapon.
The Chinese-imitated models included modifications to the barrel, which were made longer to increase range and power.
27、Chinese imitation of Mauser pistol (11.43mm)
Around 1920, the Military Training Factory in Shanxi Province of China, based on the C96 Mauser military pistol, produced a revolver that could fire 11.43mm caliber bullets. It can be said that this was the only Mauser military pistol in the world with a.45ACP caliber, and thus it was called the “Big Eye Box”.
28、over
Although several weapons were agreed upon
But essentially, they are all the same type of gun, with only some minor differences in details.
Everyone hopes that these strange and peculiar pistols can be included in our game.
Will this addition enhance our collection and make this legendary weapon even more outstanding?
(Of course, their practical value is not very significant. Rather, they are more of a collection item.)
- Yes
- No
