The Mauser C/96 Broomhandle 'Bolo' pistol has been one of my Grail guns for decades. Yesterday I went to an estate auction. There were three Broomhandles up for auction. I checked them out. The Red 9 (WWI make in 9mm for the German Army. Literally has a 9 carved into the grips and painted red so the user know to use 9mm and not 30 Mauser which was the normal caliber for the Broomhandle) was a parts gun. In good shape, but probably an arsenal rebuild. The Model 30 commercial looked as if it had been refinished in the last couple decades and the safety didn't work. The Bolo has all matching serial number parts and is in good mechanical condition. More of the finish is gone and the grips are aftermarket, but it is a genuine Mauser Bolo. I bid on it and got it.

As I stated the grips are aftermarket. I'm not a wealthy man so I buy what I can afford. This one set me back about $800.00 USD which is a lot for me. It isn't pretty , but the pistol is in good mechanical condition and rust free. I took it apart last night (wow the engineering that went into this pistol is incredible) and everything is solid. The safety works like it's supposed to. The magazine spring is a little worn out and I'm going to replace the recoil spring and main spring as well, but I believe there will be no trouble firing it. Incidentally there is only one screw in the whole pistol and that's to hold the grip panels on. Everything else just fits together. Very impressive.

The serial number is 55XXXX putting it in the late 1920's or early 30's at the end of the Bolo manufacturing life. I've have wanted a Mauser Broomhandle ,especially the Bolo variant, since I was literally in sixth grade (1979). It ,along with the Webley Mk VI and the S&W Model 27 with the 3.5" barrel, are my Grail Guns. I now have the Webley and the Mauser. Yes I plan on taking it to the range. It's a very solid and well made pistol. After all it's a Mauser.