The Mauser Model 1896 Broomhandle

Mauser Pistol Chinese Variations

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This section of the site is devoted to the MULTITUDE of Chinese Mauser copies that exist The representation of the Chinese flag is PRE-COMMUNIST (Thanks Wayne Lam for the Chinese help)

First off there are 2 Basic types of Chinese Mauser the first would be direct copies and the 2nd would be the Chinese only creation.

DIRECT COPIES
These are recreations of the standard c96, M712, Carbine and Model 1930. Some were made years ago and some are recent recreations. The quality on these VARY WIDELY from Excellent to "Birdcage liner" the materials used to make the poorer quality ones CAN BE DEADLY Bolt stops and Barrels should be CAREFULLY inspected if in doubt get a gunsmith to check it out for you.

CHINESE CREATIONS
This is a gun that MAUSER did not make but it is based on the original design. This gun is refered to as a Shansei, Shanxi or Shanzi (Chinese is Ideographical it "Sounds like this") Arsenal model in 45ACP Calibre (45 Automatic Colt Pistol Calibre). Models of this design are generally of good material quality but again if you are unsure get it checked out.
History of the Shansei....
The Chinese Nationalists came to power in 1911 from this date the people of China dated items in the number of "Years" that the Chinese Nationalists were in power. Chinese Nationalist Year 2 would be 1912, Year 18 would be 1929 and Year 19 would be 1930. The Nationalists were overthrown in 1949 so the late 20's early 30's is the approximate timeframe that the original Shansei was created. I say "original" as there have been imports of "New" Shansei's or "Arsenal refinished" ones. Think about it this way...

Is a Chinese copy of a
Chinese copy a fake? Especially if it is identical to the
original? If it is identical to the original, does it matter in
what year it was manufactured? Interesting questions.....

Well, my .45 Broomhandle arrived today. It is 100% new, not "very
good to excellent finish" as advertised in SGN.
I have been collecting military arms close to 40 years. I know
what old military arms look like. I know what arsenal reworks
look like. I know what new Chinese pistols look like, having sold
many Navy Arms TU-90s and Norinco 213s (both Tokarevs). My best
estimate is that this pistol is not 70 years old but is recently
made.
I feel that the pistol I received is a modern Chinese copy of a
c.1930 Chinese copy of a Mauser.
I would also admit that I have no way to prove that my pistol was
not made around 1929 - 1932.

-These comments were made by Bill Uterback

With that being said a nice "Example" of this gun can be obtained for $800 to $1000 from at least 2 suppliers IAR and CDNN. Now if you are about to drop down $5000 I'd insist on all documentation for the weapon Caveo Emptor (Buyer Beware).

The following Shansei photos were provided by Kyrie Ellis

A book that Kyrie has states this says "First Type" The left most character is indeed the symbol for type 19291929 19301930 19311931

	[MIN2] the people; a person of a certain occupation; civilian.
	[GOU2] country; state; nation; of the state; national; of our country; Chinese; a surname.
	[SHI2] the number 10
	[BA1] the number 8
	[SHI4] a type; a model; a style
	[ER4] This has been suggested that this is a variation in the formal writing of the number 2 Thanks to Richard Tai
	Unknown #2 If you can Identify this in PinYin or Unicode or any method that is reproducable Email joeyd@northwest-denture.com
	Unknown #3 If you can Identify this in PinYin or Unicode or any method that is reproducable Email joeyd@northwest-denture.com
	Unknown #4 If you can Identify this in PinYin or Unicode or any method that is reproducable Email joeyd@northwest-denture.com
	Unknown #5 If you can Identify this in PinYin or Unicode or any method that is reproducable Email joeyd@northwest-denture.com I received and Email that proved interesting Unknown #4 and #5 may be a variation of DI4 but Drawn BACKWARDS like a mirror this is DI4this is it backwards notice it looks similar DI4 is an Ordinal prefix our english equivalent woud be the difference between 1 (one) and 1st (first). This explination would fit the translation given in Kyrie's Book.
	[JIU3] The number 9 Thanks to Richard Tai
	Kyrie's and Bills gun woud appear like this below in modern Chinese written L-R. My goal is to have all the Hanzi above converted to PinYin then you can "Click" on the line and the computer will say it To hear this line "speak" courtesy of Bell Labs click on the above Hanzi or click here

**Known Shansei serial numbers**
**A listing on this page is not an endorsement of authenticity and is presented FYI**
Serial Number	Year on Gun in Chinese	Importer	Remarks
1012	18 (1929)	BTC (Briklee Trading Co)	Bill
1854	18 (1929)	BTC (Briklee Trading Co)	Returned to place of purchase for replacement (defective) Olof
1861	18 (1929)	BTC (Briklee Trading Co)	Pictured above Kyrie
2441	18(1929)	IAC (Import Arms Co.)	Thomas
2691	19(1930)	Unknown	The Mauser Self Loading Pistol pg 141 information provided by Bill
3984	19 (1930)	WWII Army Bringback	Rh panel pictured above Frank
XXXX	19(1930)	Unknown	System Mauser pg 224
XXXX	19(1930)	Unknown	Know Your Broomhandle Mausers pg 61 information provided by Bill
4445	??(19??)	Unknown	The Broomhandle Pistol pg257
XXXX	20(1931)	Unknown	The Broomhandle Pistol Rh Panel Pictured above pg256

UNDER CONSTRUCTION If you have a serial number or information you'd like to add to the list please feel free to Email me. The list is dynamic so it changes frequently. Last update 23-AUG-1999 7pm EDT Email: joeyd@northwest-denture.com