[alvin]

There are three types of firing pins on typical c96. Those pre 1899 antique guns have no-lug firing pin, the pin is locked in place by a U-shaped wedge mounted on the bolt. Starting from late transitional large rings (those are very similar to the early ones, but they are not counted as antique in the US), to early small rings, they have single lug firing pin. After that, C96 applied two lug firing pins.

Of course, there are finish and marking difference among those pins across production, but most obvious difference is their structures.

 

[alvin]

Serial under 15000. Under s/n 12000, I have only seen cone hammers. Above 12000 up to 15000, it's a mixture of conehammers and early transitional large ring. Those two are considered being earlier than 1899 Italian Navy variation and categoried as antique in the US.

 

[alvin]

I sold my C96 collection five years ago, so could not easily provide you a photo. Joe Schroeder's book System Mauser has a parts diagram of conehammer, the drawings are accurate, you can look it up.

 

[alvin]

Alvin, I just saw this, you sold your Mauser Broomhandle collection!? Over the years I've read all your interesting, informative posts on the subject with fascination and watched as
you grew your collection. Did you find another more engaging interest or? I just added a Mauser to my collection that I've wanted for years but I still think about getting out of arms altogether and
devoting all my focus on my large scale military vehicle model hobby....

Jerry

Hi, Jerry. Yes, I had sold my collection before 2018. The timing was exact, because I almost lost my life in 2018, doctors saved me. I had not expected being so sick that year, but God always has his own schedule which I have no control. 2018 was the darkest year in my life so far. Since then, I stopped working, health slowly improves and no emergency in 2024. I expect 2025 being stable too. So, I still acquire a few guns nowadays to fill in my time, on smaller scale though. Totally 10 guns now, I feel that I have energy to handle this size. I almost lost vision of my left eye last year due to virus infection, but doctors saved me again. The vision was kept but it is poor now. I am a left hand shooter, poor vision on left side is very inconvenient, I found that I couldn't see gun sights at all in range.

Originally, I thought I would spend some time to live abroad. But that thought has to be abandoned due to health insurance coverage issue. I have lots of spare time nowadays, but dare not going out often due to my poor immunity system. I am thinking about what to do next....

 

[alvin]

Jerry, PM sent