An unfired Broomhandle Mauser.

[tark]

I picked up this beauty a couple of years ago. I have finally learned how to post pics so here it is.

It is, from all appearances , a pistol that was never fired after proof testing. The insides if the gun are gooped in cosmoline, or whatever the Germans in 1930 used. The gun has been appraised by the RIA Auction company at 99% and it is their opinion that it has never been fired after proof testing. The buttstock is matching.

There are some small issues. The only finish wear is from the Stock being assembled to the gun a couple of times. There are two tiny scratches on the right side if the gun. The lanyard loop is missing. This one is my "collector grade" Broomie. My "Shooter grade" gun is in the last picture. I have referred to this gun many times in the forum It is the Broomhandle that had digested over 4000 rounds of 7.62X25 Tokarev ammo.

I have a Broomhandle Mauser that is impossible to upgrade. It will never be fired, and the grease covering the insides will never be removed. It is frozen in time, dating back to the day it left the factory. It will stay that way.

If anyone is interested I gave $2,000 for the gun. It is worth a bit more than that, now, but not greatly so. The missing Lanyard loop knocks it down a bit, as does the finish wear on the Stock lug. That, and the two scratches keep it from a 99+% rating. Just that extra 1/2 % would almost double the value of the piece.

But that's not why I bought it. It will go to my best friend when I am gone.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Magnificent! Even more so than the P-08 Luger, the Broomhandle due to unique lines and contours creates a sinister appearance that draws the attention of the human eye more than any other pistol ever created. Tark thank you for sharing photos of yours so we can all turn green with envy.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Yup, I'm jealous. I foolishly passed on a shooter grade Red 9 a few years back that was priced under $500.

That's one sweet looking '96.

 

[bannockburn]

tark

That Broomhandle Mauser, along with it's matching stock, is truly a work of gunmaker's art from a bygone era. Thanks for posting photos of it.

 

[Dframe]

Thanks for the pix. Beautiful pistol you have there.

 

[DMK]

That is very nice. I'm envious.

What is the legality of that stock. Is it grandfathered or something?

 

[tark]

I'm not 100% sure, DMK , but i thing the ATF ruled a few years back that the stock was OK if on the gun. Same for the Lugers and others. I think (hope).

Here are a couple more pics.

 

[bannockburn]

tark

It's amazing how much handwork and craftsmanship went into the making of those guns. Like so many other manufactured goods these days, they sure don't make like that anymore, nor could anyone afford to!

 

[DMK]

Even the shooter is drool worthy!

 

[rsrocket1]

...so how does it shoot?

 

[tark]

Certainly true. In the last two pics I sent you can see, in the left one, some of the grease seeping out at the base of the hammer. The entire gun is gooped with it internally. It will stay there. In the right pic you can see the two tiny scratches that conspire, along with the missing lanyard loop and the wear on the stock lug on the frame, to keep the gun from a 99+ grading. A gun will get a 100% rating if it is new in every way that can be ascertained, And a N.I.B. rating if you have the original box it came in. I am told that when you are talking really high end collectables, each percentage point over 97% can double the value of the gun.

Not sure if a broomhandle falls into that catagory. Think engraved, cased, percussion colts!

 

[tark]

Rsrocket1...You make joke, comrade....Yes? LOL I assume you mean the SHOOTER grade gun in the fourth picture of my OP. It shoots into minute of orange an 25 yards. The bore is a bit rough. I will reline it someday and then I will probably stop shooting rotgut Tokarev ammo out of. Or not.

It would be abuse of an historical artifact to shoot the other one. Would you use a priceless Roman Vase to serve wine today? I don't think so.

There are shooters and then there are safe queens. This gun is far above the latter. It is a historical artifact that has been frozen in time, going back to the day it was born. You don't shoot something like that.

You cherish it, admire it, drool on (around, not too close) it and you pass it on to future generations.

So they will know what a REAL gun is made like, and what it is made out of.

 

[Fishbed77]

Han Solo would be proud.

 

[bannockburn]

tark

Are you ever concerned that the Cosmoline-like "goop" inside the gun might dry out and harden? I had a Walther P38 that I couldn't get the magazine out of. When I finally got it removed it appeared some sort of preservative grease had been on the magazine, had dried up, and turned into glue, essentially cementing it in place in the magazine well.

 

[rsrocket1]

There was a lady who was on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. She was showing off her collection of potato chips with "patterns of the Virgin Mary" on them. While she was looking away, Carson grabbed a plain potato chip from a bag and when she turned back to him, he put the chip in his mouth and ate it. You should have seen the look on her face.

Obviously you wouldn't shoot it. Yes it was a joke.

 

[Nom de Forum]

tark

Are you ever concerned that the Cosmoline-like "goop" inside the gun might dry out and harden? I had a Walther P38 that I couldn't get the magazine out of. When I finally got it removed it appeared some sort of preservative grease had been on the magazine, had dried up, and turned into glue, essentially cementing it in place in the magazine well.

Tark I'll bet you a dollar you cannot eject the magazine on your Broomhandle.

bannockburn has a good point though about some types of grease when old turning into the equivalent of glue.

 

[oneounceload]

No, seriously, why NOT shoot it? You said you are leaving it to a friend, so why not enjoy it while you are still alive?

If you aren't buying to hold and sell, then enjoy it..........

 

[Jim K]

Some years ago, BATFE removed from the purview of the NFA, and reclassified as a curios and relics shoulder stocked pistols that have the original shoulder stock. In practice, "original" means contemporary with the gun, since many stocks were not numbered to the gun. Pistols with reproduction stocks are still classified as short barrel rifles and must be registered to be legal.

Jim

 

[Panzerschwein]

Very nice guns.

I think with modern CNC, investment casting, MIM etc a repro would be possible, if still pricey. I'd buy one.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Beautiful Broomhandle.

 

[tark]

bannockburn, a legitimate concern, but the grease (or whatever it is) in the gun is very soft and has not hardened at all.

Nom de Forum, it doesn't have a detachable mag, it it fixed. And the follower moves very freely. Loads with stripper clips, wish I had some. Anyone know where to get stripper clips for the gun that I will never fire.!! LOL.

oneounceload, You can talk my ears off, LOL, I will NEVER fire that gun. For reasons I have stated. Why would I? I have a shooter grade Broomhandle that I can shoot, without degrading its value. Why take a multi-thousand dollar gun and shoot it, which would degrade its value by half in the first hundred rounds, from finish wear. If it goes from 99% to 95% half of its value is gone. That's how the collector marked works. Let the beaters get shot, and the pristine examples be preserved and collected.

 

[CajunBass]

WOW!!

Now that is different.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Radagast]

Beautiful!

 

[Route 66]

That's an awesome Broomhandle! That kind of condition for its age is truly remarkable.

I have a few broomhandles myself (1930, pre-war commercial, VL&D retailer marked in both small ring and large ring and Siamese contract). Would you mind sharing the s/n range of the pistol and also some detail about chamber markings, etc.? It appears that your pistol is older than the year 1930 that you mentioned.

Many thanks for sharing!

 

[StrawHat]

No, seriously, why NOT shoot it? You said you are leaving it to a friend, so why not enjoy it while you are still alive?

If you aren't buying to hold and sell, then enjoy it..........

Sure, they are making unfired broomhandles all the time! Same thing with the unfired Garands offered by the CMP. Or any other unfired antique firearm.

I am willing to bet tark IS enjoying it while he is alive.

Kevin