C96
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:Commons The C96, or Broomhandle Mauser, or "Boxed Cannon" in China, was the first semi-automatic pistol to see widespread use. It was manufactured from 1896 to 1936 in Germany, as well as being manufactured in direct or modified, and often unlicensed, form in countries such as Spain and especially China.
The main characteristics that distinguish this pistol are the magazine forward of the trigger, the long and protruding barrel, and the handle shaped like the end of a broom handle, hence the nickname of "Broomhandle."
There were many variants, including versions with detachable magazines instead of the permanently-mounted magazine seen on most versions, and models such as the M1932/M712 that could be used as machine pistols, with a setting to fire full-automatic. All versions were made to use detachable shoulder-stocks that doubled as holsters. The C96 were usually made in 7.63 x 25 mm Mauser, but many were also made in 9 x 19 mm Parabellum (Luger), and versions in .45 ACP caliber were produced by China. The Mauser C/96 was also manufactured on a limited or experimental basis in 7.65 mm Borchart, 9 mm Mauser, 7.65 mm Parabellum, 9 mm Largo (Bergmann), and 8.15 mm Mauser. A small number of carbine models were also manufactured.
During the Great War the Imperial German Army contracted with Mauser for 150,000 C96 pistols, chambered for the 9 mm Parabellum. This variant was named the "Red 9" and had a large, red-painted number "9" debossed on the handle, to prevent the pistols' users from loading them with 7.63mm ammunition by mistake. Of this 150,000, approximately 135,000 were delivered before the War's end. This was the only time in which the C96 was ever used officially by the German military.
The Mauser C96 was sold commercially worldwide; Winston Churchill favored it, and used one at the Battle of Omdurman and during the Second Boer War. The pistols saw service in colonial wars, World War One, the Spanish Civil War, the Chaco War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II, and the Chinese Civil War, among other places. Many were sold to Russia during the Revolution, mostly in a short-barrelled variant, giving that version the nickname "Bolo" (short for "Bolshevik") Mauser.
Despite the pistols' worldwide popularity and fame, the Broomhandle Mauser never became the official & standard sidearm with any military or police of any nation, except China.
Because of the machine pistol variants' difficult recoil, the Chinese invented a special way of using full-automatic models of this gun, by holding the gun sideways while clearing rooms during urban warfare which proved to be effective against the Japanese invaders. The Japanese called it "Bandit Shooting" due to bandits and warlords in China tending to own these types of guns.
Today the Broomhandle Mauser is a popular collector's gun; many have come on to the US civilian market after being exported from China.
Cultural reference
See List of appearances of C96 in popular culture
Due to the fact that C96 was a German weapon and very popular on the international market, the gun featured in many movies that dealt with World War I or with world events from the 1900s to the 1930s (but rarely in World War II movies). It also became a favourite in spy movies and TV-shows as late as the 1970s. Since the shape of the gun is very distinctive, the gun wielder would be immediately identified as an "enemy" or a "villain". But the C96 is very seldom associated with specifically German characters, even in movies of either World Wars. Germans in movies are typically shown wielding the Luger pistol.
However, as war movies and spy movies became less popular, the gun phased out of the screen only to be rediscovered later due to its unusual look and unfamiliarity to many young people. It often serves as a "cool" weapon in the video games and anime, quite often completely out of context.
Using this gun in other cultures bears different stereotypes. In China, this is the gun of choice of street gangs and nationalists. Russians see this gun as a weapon primarily used by Cheka and NKVD officers.