C96

arakasan

Their is a listing # 202810655 on gunbroker claiming that they have a C96 with the code "byf" made in 1942 stamped on the pistol. I think it is a false claim. Mauser did not use the byf code until 1941 and they stopped making the C96 in, I think, 1936 or 38. I did research on-line and could find no evidence of Mauser making the C96 in the forties or any record of any other C96 with a manufacturing letter code made in Germany.
I asked the seller to provide pics of the byf,& (42) 1942 and any other acceptance or prof marks or stamps.
What do you do if you see wrong or misleading info posted by a seller?

nmyers

Some folks have guns to sell, but don't know much about them. So, they do their best. Especially so for first time sellers, as in this case. I have gotten some guns at a bargain price when the seller's title had mispelled or inappropriate words that caused collectors doing a search to miss the item.

On the other hand, I see several red flags that would concern me, but don't appear to both you:
--reserve auction
--high price gun by a new seller with little FB
--photos copied from another gun website
--someone who does not collect tax in his own state, but accepts every charge card known to man, as well as personal checks

You did the smart thing --- requesting additional photos. His response may tell you a lot about him.

Neal

rufe-snow

As long as it's his property and in his possession he can concoct any BS fantasy he wants to regarding it. At the BIN price he has it priced at, not likely he will get any takers any time soon.

There has been quite a cottage industry going back at least 40 years in the fabrication of phoney steel marking stamps for use on various kraut firearms. If we want to be charitable we can believe that what happened to his prize, before he got his hands on it.

Spartacus

here's another of his, pics are from a {elsewhere} auction

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=202923648

givette

Gun in question has all the distinguishing features of the Modell 30, or M-30. So, it may have been a gun used by some agency in early WWII?

Scenario: the gun may still have been Mauser inventory at the start of the war, or was assembled from parts in stock.

The gun was made up to the mid '30's. The "byf" may have been a legitimate re-stamping by Mauser, as the authorities may have bought up leftover M-30's to outfit non combat agencies, and wanted the code stamping..something like the 'AA' stamping on our pistols that were armory stored, awaiting further disposition.

Opinion: the timeline is close enough to consider it as a legitimate code-stamping by Mauser, as they cleared their inventory for the war effort. Best, Joe

b0400879

Run from this turd.
Correct re 'byf' code: wasn't utilized 'till 1941 on Oberndorf's products (K98k), & never on C96's.

quote:Originally posted by givette
So, it may have been a gun used by some agency in early WWII?

Correct. We know that DRP was a legit pre-war agency, which translates roughly to "German Empire Railway/Postal Service", iirc. From his krappy pics, I get "DRP?AP" along w/ a COMMERCIAL Oberndorf panel ID stamp.

arakasan

Thanks for all the replies and information. Each has a valid point. I lean towards the leave it alone and I too question the outrageous buy-now price.
Thanks to all

11b6r

Descriptions on his auctions read like a Wikipedia entry on the make and model.

1KYDSTR

Hey, Uh....anybody know about that "flare" launcher? Sure as hell looks like a 40mm grenade launcher to me?! (referring to the auction of the seller that TPlumeri posted)

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=202923648

givette

quote:Originally posted by b0400879
Run from this turd.
Correct re 'byf' code: wasn't utilized 'till 1941 on Oberndorf's products (K98k), & never on C96's.

quote:Originally posted by givette
So, it may have been a gun used by some agency in early WWII?

Correct. We know that DRP was a legit pre-war agency, which translates roughly to "German Empire Railway/Postal Service", iirc. From his krappy pics, I get "DRP?AP" along w/ a COMMERCIAL Oberndorf panel ID stamp.

Actually, it's a Mauser product, and the city of production was Obendorf. Obendorf by the Neckar river. The stamping is D.R.P.u.A.P. But I digress..

The byf may possibly be a stamping, legitimately placed on Mauser stockpiles of leftover M-30's In 1941 when the Nazi gov't audited Mauser's 'stale' inventory. If legitimate, the stamping would have occured only five and one-half years after the gun was manufactured, and the timeline is close, indeed.
No record of a company code-stamping being restricted to fresh, direct off the assembly line products. So, there's no reason that you can't strike (with a wartime code) the code designation of your company prior to release of unsold items to the German government.

Without a louping of the strike-marks, there's no way to tell for sure, as the company records were destroyed in 1945. I'm just saying that the strike needs good, closeup scrutiny prior to being summarily dismissed as bogus. Best again, Joe

lendie

"DRPuaP" Stands for "Deutsches Reich Patent und andere Patente "
just a copie right protection.Dieter