3362

Rare Early Mauser Model 1896 Small Ring Broomhandle Pistol with Von Lengerke & Detmold Markings with

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Hand Guns - Pistols Start Price:2,250.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 6,500.00 USD
Rare Early Mauser Model 1896 Small Ring Broomhandle Pistol with Von Lengerke & Detmold Markings with
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.
Rare Early Mauser Model 1896 Small Ring Broomhandle Pistol with Von Lengerke & Detmold Markings with Unique Front Sight and Shoulder Stock with Documentation

This is a beautiful and very unique Mauser Model 1896 small ring Broomhandle pistol as sold through the New York retailer Von Lengerke & Detmold in August 1903. This unique pistol is accompanied by two letters from Griffin & Howe (who now owns all of the VL&D sales records), which provide a copy of the original VL&D incoming/ledger recording from the Mauser factory in 1902 and the eventual sale of this pistol in August 1903. The G&H sales records indicate that this pistol was sold to "J.T. Williams" as a cash sale. The ledge also carried a notation that identified the buyer as John Townsend Williams a very well known NY architect who designed several building in NY in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The unique aspect of this pistol is the custom ivory bead/globe front sight mount on a banded/ramp front sight base on the barrel. This sight was obviously installed sometime in the United States, probably by one of the custom gunsmiths in the NY area that could have included James Howe who later teamed with Seymour Griffin to form "Griffin & Howe" of NY, two of the most famous custom gunsmiths of the 20th century. Their gun shop is also located in NY and produced outstanding work with this example being of the same high quality. In all other respects this is a standard early small ring Mauser pistol. As noted this left center panel of the frame is marked, "VON LENGERKE/ & DETMOLD/NEW-YORK". The chamber area is marked in three lines "WAFFENFABRIK/MAUSER/OBERNDORF/ A/N", with "Crown/U" commercial proof on the left side, with early Mauser antler firing proof on the right. This pistol is fitted with the small ring hammer, with a non-reinforced barrel/chamber area, long extractor, late style two-lug firing pin. It is fitted with a set of walnut grips with 22 grooves on each side. It has the late style tangent rear sight graduated from 50-500, with the noted custom front sight. It is complete with the original lanyard ring on the bottom of the grip frame. This pistol is accompanied by a combination walnut shoulder stock/holster has a cross-cut grain appearance with blued parts and attaching iron, which is unnumbered.

Manufucture: Mauser
Model: 1896
BBL: 5 1/2 inch round
Stock: walnut
Guage: 7.63 mm Mauser auto
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 35896

Excellent with 98% of the custom refurbished blue finish as applied at the time the front sight was installed. The heat treated small parts retained 98% of their original Mauser finish. The walnut grips are also in excellent condition with minimal handling marks and the walnut stock is also excellent with metal parts retaining their blued appearance with the balance having faded and brown out. A very unique early small ring 1896 Mauser pistol.