"System Mauser" - The Very First C96 Pistols

[@ihcfn]

C96 fans across the world start to dream...... "there could be one still out there somewhere, lost, lonely, looking for a loving home."

[@Hybris51129]

**In the arms of an angel play in the background**

[@eldsprutandedrake]

@@weedwacker1716 I don't really like Adam Savage though I did enjoy Myth busters back in the day and I can't stand Star wars... But that still made me really happy to hear about for some reason. Rich people spending money on stupid shit and who more or less unknowingly pisses of a whole group of people while doing so is just the best :D Seeing an antique car with a really dumb new paint job and too many speakers in it, an old building renovated to what a 16 year old youtuber with too much money thinks is cool, stuff like that just makes me smile. It's on the same level as that old lady who wanted to fix the jesus painting.

[@Cuptow]

@@weedwacker1716 Replica props that are non firing would be the primary source, not the actual guns which you would have to register and buy at a higher price, (leftist) (nerds), that's two completely different stereotypes you just wanted to mash together

[@Derf360]

It pisses me off to sa something as beautiful as a Mauser C96 and bubbaing them just so someone can feel like Han Solo! It breaks me heart!

[@leef8433]

You wouldn't understand...

[@Arthurzeiro]

When I think Fireplace guy's impressive collection is over Ian is like "And here is his one of a handfull super early C96s"

[@LN997-i8x]

I'm starting to think that Fireplace Guy is buying guns as fast as Ian makes videos about them.

[@stuartburton1167]

The bluing on some of the internals makes me very happy.

[@codymoncrief8478]

Stuart Burton The bright blue, right? It is an old world process known as nitre bluing. Basically the temperature that the parts get the beautiful blue is the same temperature needed to spring-temper the parts. Instead of tempering then bluing, they did both with one step. The results are gorgeous

[@taliesin159]

Ah... i thought you said “blurring”. I was about to crack a surgery joke about how the video was too visceral to show uncensored on youtube, but i’ll save that for another time...

[@worldtraveler930]

This is why Forgotten Weapons exist, to preserve knowledge that might elsewise slip from existence.

[@skepticalbadger]

FW is great and reaches many more people, but all of this information is in printed books as well.

[@LordVader1094]

@@skepticalbadger Those printed books are much harder to find than FW. Therefore, OP is correct that such knowledge can be lost when books are either lost or forgotten.

[@justarandomtechpriest1578]

@@LordVader1094 or degrade

[@krmould]

Ahhhh.... the "Fireplace Collection." You know it's going to be good when Ian sits down in front of that fireplace. A huge thank you to the collector who provides Ian (and the rest of us) a chance to see his (or her!) collection.

[@Hybris51129]

I can only imagine what would happen if that collection was ever auctioned and word gets out that it was the "Fireplace collection". Prices would skyrocket no doubt.

[@mawe42]

Did Ian drop his name there at the end? Fiteplace guy is awesome anyway, thank you!

[@interstellarlapisthecccp4946]

her... right.

[@evil1st]

i think fireplace guy is ian

[@RaiderCat12]

@@Hybris51129 I hope for Len that is never happens soon, but if that were to ever happen I would instantly go nuts, take a toothbrush, clothes and all my money and fly directly to America to start bidding like a madman

[@TheStogie0102]

My god! Wow no. 93. Big thanks to the collector for sharing

[@HerrGesetz]

Man,,, whoever that collector is that Ian visits for these rare pistols must have one of the best private collections in the world! Its astonishing how many rare pistols he presents from that same location with the fire place in the background. I take it the person is an old school collector because Ian never shoots any of them. I'm a "won't buy it if I can't shoot it" sort of small scale pattern collector, so looking at what that guy has is amazing.

[@il6993]

Conehammer C96: I’m rare as heck “System mauser” C96: hold my 7.35 mauser

[@kyleabbott7191]

bert smith It's a crutch for not so clever people so they can pretend to have an original thought

[@TheWilferch]

7.63 Mauser?....you mean?

[@islaymassive1530]

Aaaand fireplace guy strikes again

[@B1rd0fpr3y]

I really wonder how much money that fireplace person has sitting there in their gun collection.

[@Tobascodagama]

It's gotta be somewhere from $1-5 million. Which makes you wonder how rich the guy is if he has that's the kind of disposable income he has just for guns.

[@lucidnonsense942]

80s coke money... Can't bank it, antiques are perfect.

[@Shimpriv]

@@Tobascodagama when the guns are this expensive i think they probably qualify as "investment" akin to expensive paintings and figurines so it's not like he's throwing that money away, more like converting cash into something that won't lose value over the years. Doesn't mean the guy isn't very rich, ofc.

[@noremorsewoodworking2258]

Who cares? S/He is kind enough to let Ian make a video of it.

[@froodefroo]

It's secretly Ian himself maybe? lol

[@EvMund]

I love how Ian can make me so interested in the finer details of an object that I will never see the like of in real life

[@Hawk1966]

Might have been interesting to weigh the System Mauser and compare it to a later, lightened model just to see how much weight was saved. Very cool video, Ian. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

I would like to ask the same question Iain!

[@elektro3000]

I was thinking that as well. Cough up the numbers, Ian!

[@vincentmueller3717]

How long would it take to say "5 ounces ", or what ever it is?

[@starfleethastanks]

I have to say, I love that I can watch new videos from InRange and FW on the same day about Augmented Reality HUDs and and 1890s semiauto pistols.

[@CK-uu7ce]

I’m a simple man, I see C96 and Forgotten Weapons, I click.

[@kenwheeler3637]

Thanks Ian. I might never have know about these early C96 pistols let alone getting to see one in such detail otherwise.

[@user_name_redacted]

Clearly the chequerers made a fuss about being out of work when the handles were changed, hence the chequered button on the stock.

[@ron827]

Hand engraving "SYSTEM MAUSER" 400 times might have been about as tedious as autographing 6000 books. :-)

[@coenisgreat]

Or Markiplier hand-signing 30,000 calendars, by himself

[@ron827]

@@coenisgreat Who the heck is Markiplier?

[@coenisgreat]

Ron now that is a very good question.

[@LordVader1094]

@@ron827 Popular KZbinr.

[@markroark2866]

I have a , c96 s.n 2** , Yes 3 numbers , It is not , engraving is not on the c96 that I have, could there be a reason for that other than it's not a valid gun..??

[@RahamaLaham]

"Ah, the choice of an avid gun collector! It's a nice gun, mate!"

[@LonelySpaceDetective]

best handgun in the game, screw the Blacktail

[@ianfinrir8724]

@@LonelySpaceDetective Blacktail fires faster. Punisher can shoot five enemies lined up. But the Red9 *looks* awesome.

[@TheGM-20XX]

What are ya buying, stranger?

[@SangTheCryptek]

Heh heh heh, thank you

[@ivareskesner2019]

Around 15 kilos of meat I will kill with that gun you sell me.

[@yubos98]

Whot are you selllllin?

[@ivareskesner2019]

@The Infidel And I have the same thing in my dreams. I win.

[@handsinthefire]

It's not about the shooting, it's about the reloading. You'll see what I mean.

[@Clipazine]

Man, the C96 must have been just the coolest new handgun when it came out.

[@silubr1]

Especially since the Borchardt pistol apparently wasn’t (mass) marketed until 1897 (Görtz/Sturgess, p. 130), so there wasn’t much commercial competition besides the Bergmann.

[@Clipazine]

@@silubr1 I doubt the Borchardt would have offered any sort of meaningful competition anyways, given it's highly flawed design.

[@lilwyvern4]

And it's still the coolest old handgun as far as I'm concerned.

[@ThePerfectRed]

4:06 "there are some fairly significant differences" - shows an almost invisible geometry shift and a repositioned serial number. Jesus at his best!

[@AsbestosMuffins]

i mean its also esoteric german machining at its best too. Every subtle change in the machining has seemingly been meticulously documented by collectors and assigned a group

[@rvanhees89]

@@AsbestosMuffins esoteric german machining. Love it

[@sethmoyer]

The locking lugs are a decent change though.

[@ottovonbearsmark8876]

Whenever I see that Imperial Black White and Red in the thumbnail, I know it’s gonna be a cool video

[@stevailo]

The best use of those video is, in my opinion, the possibility for someone who may own one of these without knowing it to check and add it to the records and the general knowledge

[@Derf360]

God, let me just say I love the Mauser C96 as much as I love the M1 Garand and it would make me so happy to hold a Mauser C96! I've held a Garand, and it was such an honor!

[@asmordisfluffbreaker4999]

Ahh!! I got one of these as a hierloom, they're f*cking awesome!

[@Hybris51129]

You can't expect to say something like that and not give us details.

[@asmordisfluffbreaker4999]

@@Hybris51129 Turns out the one we got is a newer version and not the "Very first" :s that was a mistake on my part.

[@Hybris51129]

@@asmordisfluffbreaker4999 No problem I have made the same mistake before. Still congrats on having one of these gems.

[@bdh985]

Wow. That early pistol was in absolutely exquisite condition. What a lovely piece of history.

[@j1st633]

Interesting story. My uncle who was in the CIC US army spoke fluent German. Upon surrender if a German officer to my uncle, he handed him his broom handle C-96. Produced in 1912. Excellent condition. Just had a gunsmith analyze the pistol and appraise it. Since it was passed on to me,it will next to go my son. An absolutely beautiful weapon.

[@randywatson8347]

Nice condition! There is something I love about the chameleon eye looking hammer sidegrips.

[@tedhodge4830]

Just gorgeous machining and fitment to this day, like the Swiss watch of the handgun family. They wouldn't even be able to make these handguns today.

[@zboypiccoro]

As a C96 fan, I want to say thank you. Your C96 videos have been very informative and give trustworthy information.

[@BrigapesNardo]

Literally my favourite gun! Awesome sauce!

[@emmitthelms7045]

If you look through Rock Island Auction Company's Premier auction #79 April 2020 highlights, there is a weird, crude holster-stocked carbine C96 with a stepped barrel and rounded barrel extension marked System Mauser. It will be interesting to learn more about it once the catalogue is available. (Or, maybe a video?)

[@Abby_Normal_1969]

My shame, my shame. I had a chance to buy a boom handle mauser in Scottsdale Az in 1988. I was still on school at the time and thought it too expensive. What a total douche nozzle I am.

[@leemichael2154]

Dammit I feel your pain! Missed opportunity is such sweet sorrow, like the Hitler youth knife I should have bought but let another guy get it, grrrrrr

[@carlread6029]

Don't feel bad, I had both a c96 and bolo that I got from navy arms in the early 90s and ended up selling them both for next to nothing shortly after I got em. I still kick myself for that.

[@henrybucki7813]

back in 1965 i had a chance to buy one for $65 choose a p08 instead. today i own 14 red 9s and one schnellfeuer mg .think c96s are really neat guns to own

[@Abby_Normal_1969]

✋

[@alexmccauley503]

Even more amazing guns from the fireplace guy, I wonder how big his collection truly is...

[@tankadar]

A classic amongst the classics

[@shawnr771]

Nice pistols. Thank the person who owns the fireplace for allowing you to show us their collection.

[@DamplyDoo]

I just got one, serial number 5526! Original finish and matching, with an original but unmatched stock. The bluing is still very bright

[@vicarus2728]

As i saw the scale of serial numbers on "System Mauser" C96 and how much space they are taking on the grip i understood how little faith Mauser have on this gun, being the early automatic pistol and such. Records and documents cannot describe things like that as clear as little details like this

[@alswann2702]

Got me feeling all feeling all Liam Neeson / Micael Collins now... come out ye black 'n tans!

[@stefanodiacci2646]

Sempre eccellente la presentazione di pezzi rarissimi .... da restare a bocca aperta !

[@willglo]

This gun was famous in the movie "Joe Kidd" with Clint Eastwood. I remember the character "Lamar" using one of these quite a bit in the movie!... Very cool!

[@d133710n]

Id imagine being one of the first 100 guns would make that one pretty valuable

[@herrschwarzherz3834]

"What are ya buyin'? "

[@KTo288]

Thank you fireplace person for sharing your collection with us.

[@mattmorrisson9607]

When I saw the notification for this video come through on my phone, I said to myself "I'll bet Ian's at the oak-fireplace-dude's house". Hours later, I watched the video, and wasn't surprised by the backdrop...at all

[@kennethquesenberry2610]

A C96 Mauser was the very first handgun I ever owned and it even had the shoulder stock. It sure wasn't one of the early ones, though. That was over 50 years ago. Although the shoulder stock is, in theory, a good idea, the reality is, if the fit is loose and it wobbles (mean where the holster/stock attaches to the pistol), it isn't as good as it could be.

[@GFMarine]

Arguably the best handgun in Resident Evil 4.

[@Gordonseries385]

Thank You Ian enjoyed the info and the looksie of the C96!

[@silubr1]

2:17 It’s "Oberndorf a./N.", short for "am Neckar" (Oberndorf-on-Neckar)

[@GrindyVine]

*sigh* I love when every gun in Resident evil 4 is actually in real life

[@lazerlake]

I will own a C96 some day in 9mm, preferably with the engraved "RED 9" on it. I love this gun.

[@avp5964]

I love this so much, thank you Ian this minutiae on historical artifacts is why Forgottenweapons is the best

[@MrCouchmen]

Aah a choice of an avid gun collector. Its a nice gun stranger.

[@riomigz1305]

Ahhhh.... A choice of an avid gun collector. It's a nice gun stranger.

[@TheWilferch]

My C96-M30 also (correctly) does NOT have a serial number on the stock tang...and (also proper for a M30) the rear door release button is engraved with a series of different diameter rings instead of a checkered pattern. Hint to spot fakes.....the release button for a true Mauser that uses a checkered release button, has the checkering done vertical/horizontal grooves. The Chinese and maybe even Spanish copies have checkering that is X pattern...not vertical or horizontal but cut at a 45 degree angle.

[@JonatasAdoM]

Who else stops to wonder whether the video you're watching is 2 yewrs old, when in reality it just came out?

[@waxfactory7582]

It would have been amazing to have Ian as my bartender!!

[@misterdoodle3447]

Did they flip the hinge on the stock because officers would be expected to use the pistol left handed with a sword in the right, or is there some other reason?

[@justiceforjoggers2897]

German

[@sanlorenzo7896]

This pistol was also used by Wild Dog from Time Crisis.

[@Americanstruggle]

I'm willing to bet the weight saving relief cuts were to conserve dwindling metal supplies as well.

[@TheWilferch]

Not only solid vs relieved side rails.....but during the relieved side rail production range.....they even made long vs short rail versions. The number of nuanced changes one can find in these guns is amazing. This is a great "single source" reference---> askmisterscience.com/1896mauserbackup/index.html

[@GuyInc0gnit0]

The markings on the newer guns are "Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf a/N", not "n/e". "a/N" stands for "am Neckar" which means at the (river) Neckar.

[@mastershake9551]

Ian: how many c96 do you want to see on my channel Me: yes

[@Dreska_]

Personally I prefer the more historical videos than the collector's guide type videos, I like to hear 'they made x change for y reason', not just 'the profile of the lug is slightly different'. Not a lot of column A in these videos. But I still watch anyway & I don't downvote just because I'm not the target audience. Not sure I've ever downvoted a FW video

[@chanjiayang9595]

Chinese warlords would love this(after Qing dynasty)

[@skoshman1]

And historically... did.

[@chubbycatfish4573]

I prefer the BrowningsBrowningsBrownings model.

[@chanjiayang9595]

@@chubbycatfish4573 based on my great grandpa, he was soldier from one of those infamous warlord, he said most of them equipped with c96 and as it can be used as a submachine gun, larger magazine and good accuracy with the stock. Also, there was a ban on exporting submachine gun to China during the early 1900s so c96 became their favorite babe

[@kkwun4969]

Chan Jiayang which warlord did he fight for?

[@chanjiayang9595]

@@kkwun4969 不太清楚啊 他还没去世时看某部电影时他曾经提起过 不过不太清楚 不过我祖父是客家人 大浦的 大概是岳系的吧 不过就不知道他年轻时有没有去过别的地方就是了

[@MrS22222]

My god, those are beautiful!

[@herrgunlovert]

i wonder how much weight was saved in total from all that milling and hollowing out of the metal

[@AlexandruNicolin]

Chimney man has all the prototypes for every pistol in history, doesn't he?

[@iryairya2008]

Stranger stranger....now that's a weapon

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian .

[@Mdub_actual]

Thank Ian!

[@DAKOTA56777]

It's interesting how guns usually get simpler as the design is refined later on, yet the C96 is the opposite, adding machining complexity for those weight reducing cuts, and the single to dual locking lugs.

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Very interesting an a joy to get to see a peace of history. Thanks gun Jesus !!!!!!!!

[@kenm8376]

That was really interesting. I was looking at my C96 while watching your video. Mine has some of the same things as the earlier version. I think that it may be one of the transition weapons. I'll say this, it's a hoot to shoot.

[@roo99710]

This was like the ar platform of the early 1900s. It could be a carbine handgun machine pistol submachine gun, anything you wanted

[@HarryJamesBooks]

The amount of fannying around that went on between the wars trying to come up with semi-auto rifles and it was all there in these guns for the taking, uncluding the 20 round box mag. It just needed a slightly heavier cartridge and barrel. Strange.

[@jimhenry1262]

I would love to see this gun remanufactured. I might like to do this myself in the future! I love the design of it. I think of British Officers at the turn of the century casually firing at attacking mounted screaming native warriors.

[@Tenchu003]

Ayeeee, the Red9 from RE4

[@limpetarch98k]

Gun Jesus, bring back TFB TV's Friday Field Strip.

[@SgtMjr]

Would this example be one that Winston Churchill used at the Battle of Omdurman? Churchill traded his sabre for a Mauser pistol prior to the battle and subsequently found himself in the midst of a pack of Dervishes after his cavalry troop charged the enemy line. He credited the pistol with aiding in his escape from the melee where a sword would have not been as effective.

[@sogerc1]

Someone really likes Mausers even though they are far from forgotten. But who wouldn't.

[@danieldalessandro96]

The video is based on a mauser fire arm and the length of the video is 7×57...mauser. You're welcome everyone! My work here is done

[@waffleenthusiast1552]

Nice mauser is my favorite gun

[@ivareskesner2019]

Got to love a Mauser. Always classy, always functional and well crafted, always iconic.

[@pacificcoastpiper3949]

German craftsmanship at its best if I do say so myself

[@Joric78]

Nope, I'm afraid I was also unaware of "cone hammer" Mauser models. Always interesting to see the development of iconic models though.

[@alltat]

They've been covered in a previous Forgotten Weapons video. Don't tell me you've skipped some of them?

[@anonymousaccordionist3326]

@@alltat That's like the gun equivalent to skipping the old testament.

[@MrWarwick15]

Very interesting Ian! Thanks. Rich.

[@GunRoastShorts]

Ian: want to see the difference between a C96 and money?

[@jasonwright285]

“...because they are so inscribed.”

[@bitfreakazoid]

"However this stock does not match this gun." And 200 System Mauser owners scramble to check the serial number of their pistol .

[@brittakriep2938]

Oberndorf/Ne simply means Oberndorf / Neckar or Oberndorf am Neckar, the Neckar is a river.

[@michaelb6729]

... hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side . 👌

[@alltat]

A good Mauser at your side, clearly.

[@jeffreywacker3598]

Shame on the idiot armorer that used to ruin these things for that film.

[@staringgasmask]

@@jeffreywacker3598 it probably was a replica

[@JonatasAdoM]

@@jeffreywacker3598 You think they'd buy one just to ruin it?

[@paulshayter1113]

@@jeffreywacker3598, He's British and still alive. He was on the show Pawn Stars a few weeks ago explaining what he did to create the blaster. They also had the original blaster on the show and told Rick (the lawn shop owner) that he could buy it for $1,000,000. Of course he didn't buy it.

[@AdamPerkinsPhD]

Thanks Ian that's fascinating. Do you know if these early System Mauser pistols were the type that Mrs Churchill purchased from Rigby & Co for her son Winston?

[@MrSirHenryMF]

Oh shit, a new C96 video. N I C E

[@bitfreakazoid]

I wonder if the lightening of the later models was done merely for user comfort or if it was too help the reliability of the pistol also.

[@toddnesbitt3113]

The stock, holster matched on the later one, ergonomic

[@thepurpleshade486]

guns not just about shootin, about reloadin too

[@hakimzah]

2:39 why they didn't rotate the font and write it sideway?

[@michaelmarino1420]

I love the C96, and wish I could own one, they are just way too expensive.

[@de1978l]

Good video, keep them coming!

[@JessZomb]

God I fucking love these guns, and if I could own one... DAMN YOU CANADA!!!