Mauser Schnellfeuer: The Official Full Auto C96 Broomhandle

[@JonathanFergusonRoyalArmouries]

Mauser was actually the first to design a Schnellfeuer. We at the Royal Armouries have a 1926-dated prototype and a patent was granted. But it was never put into production and chances are that the Chinese never even knew it existed. But a very interesting footnote.

[@superharuhifan]

well now we gotta seeeeee it

[@Buzterer]

People can say what they want, still one of the coolest looking pistols out there

[@danhubert-hx4ss]

True, nothing beats the C96 on charisma.

[@lancerevell5979]

And no German archvillain is complete without his C96! 😎👍

[@daviddegeorge2667]

​@@danhubert-hx4ssHan Solo agreed.

[@thatdudeinasuit5422]

Agreed honestly if I were to move the US first thing I'm doing is getting myself a C96

[@saiberunato]

@@lancerevell5979 A Luger comes close.

[@abones900]

When you want a Glock 18, but it's the early 20th century...

[@ismarwinkelman5648]

This comment is incredibly cool on so many levels 😂👏🏾😆

[@handlesarekindadumb]

WESTSIIIIIIDE *loads stripper clip* *gets hammer bite*

[@Mygg_Jeager]

I've always thought that lol.

[@gaminggamer9698]

Mid ish 20th

[@Mygg_Jeager]

@@gaminggamer9698 late 19th, actually. The first C96's were produced in 1896. That's the 19th century. ;)

[@johntimothyrola1025]

" Ahhh... A choice of an avid gun collector. It's a nice gun Stranger " - Some merchant

[@BeaperMcCrawdad]

Hands down best handgun in that game

[@antonkirilenko3116]

@@BeaperMcCrawdad Too bad it's not full auto in the game

[@Placentasaur]

Best conceivable comment.

[@ScriptCatz]

What game is this from?

[@dopeboyfresh55]

RED 9

[@TheFanatical1]

What an ingenious little bolt-magazine-hammer setup.

[@TimperialBroadcastingAgency]

Yeah! It's really quite clever and almost outlandishly simple given how otherwise there's no technical solution too complex for a C96.

[@G-Mastah-Fash]

I love suprising people with this gun in Red Orchestra 2. They never expect the AT gunner to have a submachine gun as his secondary.

[@kekene719]

I remember loving it in Day of Defeat

[@itsapittie]

I suspect it was often thought of much like a PDW which is a very reasonable niche for an artillery or AT gunner's backup weapon.

[@saiberunato]

As a kid, I first noticed the Mauser Schnellfeuer in the pages of Jon Sable comics by Mike Grell. Grell himself stated that he chose the Mauser Schnellfeuer as the primary gun for his character not because it's the best gun, but because "it looks cool" 😅

[@anthonyhayes1267]

I worked up a belgian spy character with one for that exact reason.

[@c.s.p.schofield2202]

Before Jon Sable, the C96 in full auto was part of the arsenal of the revival of the Manhunter character in the back of ‘Detective Comics’ by Archie Goodwin and Paul Simonson.

[@saiberunato]

@@c.s.p.schofield2202 Dominic Fortune too in Marvel Comics. But it was within the pages of Jon Sable that the Mauser really became imprinted in my mind. Mike Grell was something of a firearms enthusiast and had a keen eye for drawing firearms. The Mauser was featured very prominently in Jon Sable. It was clearly drawn and very detailed with lots of closeups. There was even an issue where Jon Sable discussed the background of his particular Mauser with his on-and-off love interest, Maggie The Cat. His is a combination of a Chinese Mauser upper chambered in .45 ACP with a German Mauser lower for select fire capability.

[@DuaneThomas1963]

@@saiberunato Which, if you know anything about the guns in question (the parts for the Chinese Broomhandle in .45 ACP are all considerably larger than the medium-bore C96), actually makes about as much sense as saying you put a Peterbilt engine into your Volkwagen Bug, but Hey, Kids, Comics!

[@noahdoyle6780]

Man, I haven't thought about John Sable in a loooong time. Thanks for a pleasant nostalgia trip! I wonder if I still have the TPBs...

[@Brigand231]

We all know that the elusive Wauser version was far superior.

[@andrewallason4530]

Brevete Brevete Brevete.

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

Enfield Enfield Enfield Enfield Enfield Enfield

[@Double512]

it comes set to Wumbo by default, increasing wumbology by 300%

[@mk-ew9il]

Wauser

[@Mygg_Jeager]

What

[@RichardCranium321]

Was at a competition once and met a guy who actually brought a schnellfeuer complete with numbers matching stock with him to shoot after the competition and I got the privilege to run one box through it. I'm pretty sure his was a Chinese version, but I was just in awe with the operating mechanism and nerding out. While awkward to grip with stock attached, it was extremely pleasant to shoot single rounds and sketchy to shoot in auto. He had the 10rd 7.63mauser version and it was a treat. I couldn't imagine trying to ride the lightning of a 9x19 version. I bet that was probably unpleasant but fun, and absolutely needs 20rd mags

[@Reijack]

Not only a genuine Mauser Schnellfeuer, but in 9mm parabellum as well? One can only imagine the bidding war this thing is going to spark.

[@samuelclayton4405]

You ain't going to believe this. My Grandson and were talking about this very piece a couple of days ago. I will share this with him. Thanks Ian.

[@zulubunsen9067]

14:42 "cause Mauser had them in stock." Of course it's in stock, that's where you're supposed to store them.

[@AJadedLizard]

*With a Russian accent:* Yes, have Mauser pistols in stock...and with stock.

[@kutter_ttl6786]

Dad jokes.

[@dark2023-1lovesoni]

​​@@AJadedLizard"and even *_within_* stock".

[@keaixiaomeinv]

Underrated comment.

[@joshyoder871]

The weapon of choice for Dirk Pitt in Clive Cussler's earlier novels, along with a Thompson submachine gun. Classic cars weren't the only thing Pitt collected.

[@narrowpath9491]

I am always amazed at the level of engineering a 100 years ago in Germany

[@stefanmolnapor910]

0:08 RIA's heart has left the comments.... lol

[@jameslawrie3807]

I have a large interest in 1920s China, especially Shanghai and its underworld and the intersection between criminality and the various militaries (1925 is a fun year). At the time in Shanghai ballistic vests were often sold and they essentially came in two sorts: "Bullet Proof" and "Mauser Proof", the Mauser-Proof being more protective.

[@PointMan8000]

The Bandit shooting technique Ian mentions of the Chinese C96 enjoyers shooting the gun sideways was pretty commonly done with specifically Type 17s, which were "Box Cannons" in .45 ACP. I'm not sure how big of a difference it made, but SUPPOSEDLY due to the bigger heft of the gun (the Type 17 was like a third larger than a regular C96) and a less zippy cartridge it was more manageable than a regular Schnellfeuer.

[@ianfinrir8724]

The reason they were rechambered to .45ACP is because there was a lot of .45ACP laying around. The reason Bandit Shooting took off is because the .45 moves a lot slower than the original Mauser round and there was a problem with empty cartridges not being ejected.

[@randymagnum143]

​@@ianfinrir8724a:you can't rechamber a .30 or even a 9mm to .45. There is not enough material. They were purpose built and scaled up 2: the c96 is recoil operated. .45 ACP has measurably *more* recoil than .30 or 9mm.

[@georgesears2916]

Somebody's been listening to their MGS3 Sigint gun chats 😅

[@its_clean]

​@@randymagnum143Thank you for providing a technically valid and verifiable rebuttal to the previous commenter's fudd lore. The gun community gives way too much reverence to nonsensical stories whose only source is "I heard it from a guy".

[@yetanother9127]

@@ianfinrir8724 The Type 17s weren't rechambers; they were purpose-built in .45 ACP, because the warlord who ordered them, Yan Xishan, was also using Thompson copies and wanted to simplify logistics by issuing a handgun in the same caliber.

[@gi0ele1]

I've been hoping to see a video about the 712 for years, and it arrived today, my birthday. Simply perfect. 😁 Thank you!

[@nakidka.]

Using the hammer to lock the bolt on an empty magazine is ingenious.

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

not really, it seems like a mechanism that would wear badly and stop working relatively quickly because it's rubbing a long distance under substantial pressure over the same surfaces that are supposed to lock just barely. seems like the sort of thing that should have a tension adjustment screw.

[@notahotshot]

​@@Ass_of_Amalekthey said it's ingenious, not infallible.

[@Tunkkis]

​@@notahotshot "Ingenious" sort of implies that the solution is good, no? Not just somewhat workable.

[@virtualwastrel]

​@@Tunkkisingenious means that its clever and original as a base adjective. Not good. If it is used as a description then it can mean its clever and suited for it's purpose. That in no way means its the most optimal or best.

[@someonesdad5986]

Ah, gun guys.... among whom all arguments eventually become reduced to nomenclature and semantics.😅😂😊

[@ashtrayminer330]

4:50 Naked Snake: You held it sideways and used the muzzle jump to create a horizontal sweep - That was impressive EVA: I bet you never scene that technique in the west

[@tommyt8998]

I imagine it might be easier finding a unicorn than detachable magazines for the Schnellfeuer.

[@evanmorris1178]

Close. I found a real Mauser marked 20 rounder at a British seller on-line a couple of years ago. Between his price, VAT and shipping, it cost me around 300.00. Alas it doesn’t quite fit in my Mentor Arms mid ‘90’s Chinese made copy that was converted to semi on import. I’d been looking on and off for over 20 years. The internet really helps!

[@NullStaticVoid]

When I was in HS my mom's boss had a C96 (or a similar Broomhandle Mauser) on the wall in his office next to a few Schuetzen rifles. Ever since Ive always wanted one of those C96 with the stock attachment. Sadly I never pulled the trigger on one back when they were still affordable.

[@badasstasticusbadass4908]

4:50 So... wow, that's actually something that appears in MGS3, Eva uses a chinese made C96 and she actually fires the gun sideways too. Whoever did the gun research for the game did a really good job.

[@nothankyou4859]

Snake even comments on her technique in the game! It's also an early subtle hint that she is a double-agent who will eventually betray Snake.

[@rupertbaskerville]

The SS couldn't get their hands on as many automatic weapons as they wanted so early war 39/40 these helped bolster the firepower of their frontline units. Have seen photos of NCOs carrying rifles but with a C96 stock holster on their webbing equipment.

[@sergemaster]

Especially once Operation Barbarossa was launched on the ostfront..

[@Ared1lb1535]

I really missed the auction house videos! I'm glad they're back.

[@JohnDoe-qw4gc]

An iconic firearm that I've always coveted.

[@Miner-dyne]

I forgot that the lock assembly most resembles a combination lock from a safe... or a very lock-like lock. Thanks for sharing this treasure that most will never see in person.

[@christophercripps7639]

A true Machine Pistol. Possibly the prototype concept PDW with 20 rounder mag? 1410 ft/sec initial velocity faster than any mass produced firearm until perhaps the .357 S&W Magnum; the Mod 27 was a handful & only 6 shots.

[@pj551016]

As a Chinese, I can confirm that the C96 is indeed called the “box canon” over here, and was widely used up until after the Korean War. It’s a very well respected and loved historic pistol.

[@dobridjordje]

Watched an interview with a Chinese soldier that killed 2 US soldiers at Chosin reservoir with a C96 , he was mentally broken afterwards and wrote some poems about th cruelty of war.

[@theheadbangguy5985]

Please Ian, give us a comprehensive breakdown and disassembly of the c96 please 🙏🏻 I can't find it anywhere else

[@USSEnterpriseA1701]

A few of these came in from China as parts kits, I think in the 70's or 80's and were rebuilt as semi-only with new frames and certain critical parts removed. I have some experience with one that I suspect was bored out to 9mm to salvage what was almost certainly a rotted out bore. It had a 20 rnd mag and the replacement frame was a bit rough, but it worked mostly alright. That big mag makes it darn awkward to hold as a pistol and the replacement frame makes it illegal to use the stock (new frame=new gun in the ATF's eyes) even if the slot was actually complete. I had to get darn good at stripping and reassembling the internal lock work one time when one of the springs broke and I had to hand fit a replacement intended for an M30 C96 that didn't quite fit. I doubt I'll ever be able to forget how to do that process I had to do it so many times to get it properly fitted. It's not quite as complex as it looks, but it's still infinitely more complex than a modern pistol.

[@hanktorrance6855]

Spray and pray but in the coolest way possible....this and the luger with carbine set up are classic 🤩

[@Solnoric]

I've long wanted a dedicated carbine version of the c96 in the classic 7.62 chambering. It would be a superb small game plinking gun, and if you took the stock in the direction the AR7 went...

[@RichardGalli-r6i]

have fired a few 4x mags through one of these, lots of fun,,, fast, but with practice, 3x rd bursts. My friend said "never 7.62 Tokarev as I had a ton. Knew a rancher in the Transvaal who carried one of these under his seat "uncle brought it back from European War WW2" Picked up more ammo later on for him in Cape Town 1990

[@akiko009]

Many moons and snows ago, this was the second machine gun I shot in my life. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Speaking of China, the gun is even featured on the statue outside of Mao's tomb.

[@ChristopherKlepel]

This was so cool. I look forward to part two where you go more in depth into that firing mechanism.

[@RichardBlaine-e2y]

Thank you very much for the history lesson next to all the technical details. It provides the context to the success of the product itself.

[@LOVEMUFFIN_official]

How has it been THIS LONG before we finally covered the Schnellfeuer? Man, time flies when you’re having fun…

[@gertgilich3508]

Got to hand it to Ian (pardon the pun), what a gift you are Sir.

[@YoChocolate]

Babe wake up Forgotten Weapons dropped another vid about my favorite gun!

[@jonHErickson]

This channel has been bringing heat last couple weeks

[@fredford7642]

Once again Ian, you have a really great review on a seldom seen firearm. In years gone by, I had the opportunity to acquire some of these pistols, but foolishly went on to something else. I regret it today, and now even more so here in Canada, where owning pistols like these are out of the question. The mistakes we make come back and bite us. Thank you again for a well regarded review.

[@robertdragoff6909]

I always thought the reason the Chinese liked the Broom handle was because of the ban on importing rifles into China, that the Broom Handle and its detachable holster stock was a work around of this ban….

[@TheTimebroker]

I would guess both things at the same time, it's big and bulky showing off at the belt as a status weapon and also could be used as a rifle too

[@panzerkampfwagenviiimaus9571]

My Favorite version of the C96.

[@danny_lee1337]

Oh my, it's the Dolch 96 Precision!

[@pakkazull8370]

Except this one is full auto. Kinda glad we don't have that in Hunt, lol.

[@bobhill3941]

This is a new video, yes, Ian doesn't look younger, also, I've seen all the C96 videos, he's never reviewed a 9mm Schnellfeuer before. As always, I love the history and inner workings. I'd love to see a comparison to illustrate how the Spanish simplified them. I've also never seen one with a detachable double feed magazine.

[@corvetteguy1980]

My dad found one in Vietnam in mid ‘60s, brought it back and had it rechambered for 9mm

[@tomw.6511]

I've done a lot of research on the C96 and have most of the printed literature available on it. Many of the extant registered Schnellfeuer pistols in the US came from Yugoslavia pre-1968. I do not know if these were Yugo contract ones (yes, there was a Yugo contract for Schnellfeuers, I believe in 9mm) or captured German ones. Tons of German equipment was left behind or captured by the Partisans. If you visit the Military Museum in Belgrade you can see Tito's own C96 and the Schnellfeuer that was allegedly used to assassinate Alexander I in France. They also have tons of Austrian MP34s on display among a real treasure trove of other weapons.

[@dobridjordje]

Ah yes our Military museum of Belgrade, too bad they don't take care of those weapons well at all.

[@precisedime1377]

Ian: "Legally speaking there only exists 20rnd magazines for the C96 and there definitely is not any produced larger than that." * winks to camera *

[@graemethorne677]

Winston Churchills choice of sidearm in his younger years I believe. A fine design I've always thought.

[@fredbloggs5902]

He had a shoulder injury making use a sabre difficult. It was (and still is!) common practice for British Army officers to buy their own equipment. He used it at the battle of Omdurman which featured one of the last full cavalry charges.

[@JACKSONLEWISOFCANADA]

Its out of date but lets face it even today the c96 looks bad ass

[@fainterdot]

Pistol carbines/machine pistols are so uselessly cool! I wished more early magazine forward pistols had full auto stocked versions.

[@yomama3622]

Me: “ya know, why hasn’t anyone made a semi authentic reproduction of the C96? It’d probably sell like gangbusters, everyone wants a Han Solo gun *Ian takes it apart, showing the lock mechanism assembly “Oh yeah that’s why”

[@DGneoseeker1]

There have been a lot of foreign clones of it though if I recall correctly.

[@michaeldunn7716]

Very interesting! I dont remember the names, but i do recall these in full auto in movies as a boy. Such a cool weapon! I recall my dad having one in semi-auto when i was a boy. It seems i got to shoot it as well. God bless all here!

[@Joker-tu5uy]

Its a shame that everything has to be censored on youtube nowadays

[@precisedime1377]

'circus of sedition'

[@wraithcadmus]

As a kid I remember C96s being a common toy gun, after watching this I wonder if part of that was manufacturers in China going "What's a cool as heck gun? C96 of course!".

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

I have seen and handled a cap firing toy chrome plated one that a rich kid had as his toy.....early 1960's...

[@dobridjordje]

It's literally their national pride gun, they absolutely loved and used it pretty much until the end of the Korean war and even shipped some to North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in the 60s.

[@AlexN2022]

it is very desirable today as well. So much so that they're completely out of my price range

[@ww2historyandreenacting]

Very nice presentation Sir. What a wonderful example of a Mauser pistol in great condition! As always I learn something new from watching your videos Ian. Thanks for sharing and keep the videos coming! Best regards from a WW2 militaria collector and fellow KZbinr from Norway! 😊

[@Sal_283]

Ciao mi piace molto la 1911 norvegese qua in Italia costa circa 3000 euro con punzonatura nazista

[@joshwells3782]

Most of the time I watch this channel i only plan on watching 1 video but end up bingeing

[@stuartburton1167]

I prefer the Wauser which fires full auto wether you want it to or not

[@goliaths_foe2666]

Just imaging if Han Solo's blaster was based on THIS version of the C96 Mauser... Han would have shot first, and second, and third, and fourth, and the table, and the ceiling, and the cantina band yikes

[@timothybayliss6680]

Its like 1000rpm. Thats why you need the 20 round mags

[@ElmCreekSmith]

That's why it has a selector switch. It's rude to take out the band.

[@chanman819]

The cultural cachet part reminds me of how many major gunmakers in the US end up making 1911s or ARs even if they have their own, newer designs, or weren't even operating in a particular market segment before.

[@markyoung2981]

Very interesting pistol, thank you for your time and effort posting these explorations into history.

[@Nooziterp1]

The hold-open mechanism reduces the rate of fire but it is still 1100rpm. Jeez! What would it be without it?

[@miniblasan5717]

This pistol with/without its wrist support and snaploader whose ammunition was the typical 9mm, used to be in the computer game DayZ Standalone until the game creators needed to rework the entire system of how firearms worked in DayZ which is also the nickname of the game. Most often as a player you used to find the gun in both civilian and military areas, while the wrist support was only in military areas and the ammunition itself could be found anywhere, even in dead Zombies.

[@thescatologistcopromancer3936]

That lock assembly is scary

[@denniscima2418]

Loved the video. Great analysis of a classic Mauser.

[@EricTheOld]

Thanks Ian

[@danielboudreau8404]

I know that Mauser knew how cool that name sounded.

[@StressmanFIN]

"Ahh, the choice of an avid gun collector! It's a *nice* gun, stranger." -Travelling Spanish merchant

[@mrgold714]

His accent sure sounds British

[@JR-tl2ym]

This would make a perfect Bonnie and Clyde style "whippet gun". Just need a short butt stock and a shoulder loop on it and you can wear it under a jacket.

[@HootOwl513]

Clyde liked BARs. Full power .30-'06. Available at any National Guard armory, and for a professional criminal, easily broken into. He cut down the buttstock, and shortened a leather belt for a shoulder loop. While it might be a cute arm for Bonnie, the C96 was scarce in Depression Era America.

[@stumpythedwarf8712]

Thank you Ian, as always.

[@ianfinrir8724]

Last time I was this early, this weapon was still in production.

[@Neon-Covenanter]

My absolute favorite Mauser!

[@kennyhazlie5440]

As always an interesting and informative video.

[@kimkingsun7315]

Always giggle at the optimistic range graduations on old pistols

[@lurtzy_]

Definitely not a forgotten weapon.

[@escott3829]

I've Got A Couple3 of The C96... My First Detachable Stock Pistols.. My Lugers Are Only 9mm, A Navy 6 INCH And My Artillery Model Both Have Stock Lug.. Detachable Magazine Just 8 +1 Single Stack But A Modern Magazine System.

[@cliffwharn4599]

Has Ian been talking to Bloke too much? That was an almost perfect Swiss-German pronunciation of Pistole, or "Pischtolä". :)

[@brittakriep2938]

Not only Swiss German. Also in Swabian dialect a Pistole is a Bischdool. Both Swiss German and Swabian dialect has Alemannic roots.

[@GraveDigger78]

Prepare yourself to be a guest star on Matt's off-road recovery

[@ScreamingSturmovik]

is it really "obsolete"? in a time where smgs are 10lbs and have 20-30 rounds having a 2-3lbs full auto weapon sounds great for close in fighting or as a PDW for vehicle crews

[@dustinwestbrooks-rp8ru]

Isn't this an old video?

[@VL125]

I think yes?

[@Buzzard-wq1bw]

I don’t think so most of the videos he done on these have been literally every other c96 clone and this is one of the newer rooms he’s recorded in.

[@michaelwhite9199]

I think old videos are being edited and reloaded to meet YT retroactively applied standards.

[@VL125]

I might have a deja vu

[@bobbylee2853]

He’s running out of old guns to talk about.

[@tombogan03884]

I think it's hilarious that Star, and Astra stole the C-96 design, and did it better.

[@srrrb5953]

Can't wait to see this version of c96 in a videogame

[@DGneoseeker1]

I must say I'm curious why we haven't seen this version in a game. It would have been a very obvious upgrade in RE4...

[@srrrb5953]

@@DGneoseeker1 maybe it'll be too broken and the player will feel "less" scared wielding this gun. and also this could technically take the SMG role perhaps

[@DGneoseeker1]

@@srrrb5953 Shouldn't be all that broken considering the TMP exists. Also RE2 and RE Code Veronica both have burst fire machine pistols as upgrades to the basic pistols.

[@abnurtharn2927]

The C96 is still the best looking pistol.

[@St.GRo0VIYE]

Such a beautiful looking firearm I really want one

[@iandulmage1410]

There is actually several differences on the barrel extension among other things

[@charlessalmond7076]

Always loved the broomhandle used in the Clint Eastwood spaghetti western.

[@StevenE-xt5sk]

The plunger is missing on the end of the auto sear lever spring which will effect automatic fire.

[@ML-762]

"Slightly less totally ineffective" Chinese: sign me up 😂

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺 Loupis Canis .

[@Lord_Ralph]

Yeah, a 1911 seems closer to the KISS principle.

[@sl319]

I recall having Seen one in a Bruce Lee movie for the First time. Maybe Fist of Fury. I was just in my teens and It looked somewhat awkward to me. Learned about It later. Now i know the linkage between China and the Nazi-icon in the movies. Thanks Ian

[@AlexN2022]

today though, we're kinda coming full circle and back to this kind of thing with all the pistol braces. Mauser had a forward grip handle, so it should have been decently controllable with a stock, given the correct technique.

[@すどにむ]

This looks like an 80% but in different direction

[@ElNinja1987]

Kingdom of Yugoslavia wanted to equip its elite units with these as primary weapon. There are several examples of those Yugoslavian models. I can't remember what exactly went wrong, so that the gun did not get adopted.

[@basedury]

broomhandle wit da switch

[@owen1079]

1am forgotten weapons! And early. Edit. Swear I watched this back in the day. Re-upload?

[@LuGer212]

"Slightly less totally ineffective" - *you had me at slightly*

[@LucioFercho]

A classic, your other Schnellfeuer video was one of the first of yours I saw.

[@zen6455]

Feels good to be this early on an upload