Broomhandles: the Real Mausers (C-96), the Clones, the Look-alikes

[dy031101]

IIRC, the Imperial German Army in WWI contracted with Mauser for 150,000 C96 pistols re-chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartidge (as used in the contemporary standard-issue Luger P08 pistols).

The modification is said to be simple, only involving boring-out the barrels and chambers for the bigger bullet.

Now I know close to nothing about gunsmithing and gun customization, but after coming across a gun-related topic in a brainstorming session I have a couple of questions on it...... once again, assuming there is a C-96 and a Spanish Astra Model 900/901 pistol (it is a look-alike but internal parts are different), both in good, working condition.

In modern time, can such a modification be performed by a gunsmith on an individual basis (like doing one gun per customer request)?

Would comparable modification be as simple for the Spanish Astra?

Thanks very much in advance.

[tinlail]

the major issues that I am aware of is such a situation are.

Weaken the barrel when go from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter.
Going from less powerful cartridge to a more powerful cartridge, even if size didn't change.
Going from a shorter cartridge to a longer cartridge, typically just not possible.
Amount of money going from customer to gunsmith.

There are gunsmith today that will make various guns re-chambered for different cartridges.

[Talos]

IIRC, the Imperial German Army in WWI contracted with Mauser for 150,000 C96 pistols re-chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartidge (as used in the contemporary standard-issue Luger P08 pistols).

The modification is said to be simple, only involving boring-out the barrels and chambers for the bigger bullet.

Now I know close to nothing about gunsmithing and gun customization, but after coming across a gun-related topic in a brainstorming session I have a couple of questions on it...... once again, assuming there is a C-96 and a Spanish Astra Model 900/901 pistol (it is a look-alike but internal parts are different), both in good, working condition.

In modern time, can such a modification be performed by a gunsmith on an individual basis (like doing one gun per customer request)?

Would comparable modification be as simple for the Spanish Astra?

Thanks very much in advance.

What, the Red 9? (Called that because of the large, red "9" inscribed on the handle to tell idiots not to load them with the other round) Those weren't modified pre-war guns, they were made for 9mm so there wasn't any boring-out or any mods to an existing gun when they were produced. Most had really, really crappy finishing and workmanship, since they were made in the latter part of the war.

As for making one out of an existing C96. Why would you want to? The 7.65mm Mauser round is a fine pistol round and you would be destroying and historical worth the C96 would have. Not to say that didn't happen back then. Some 7.65mm ones that had been worn out had their barrels bored out to 9mm back then. That'd be a travesty nowadays. If I was a gunsmith and someone asked me to do that to a collector's piece, I'd probably still do it, but I'd give him a stern talking-to first!

If you want an odd Mauser, why not get one of the .45 ACP Chinese models from WWII? 

[dy031101]

So, say, if I want to increase the lethality of an Astra 900/901, the best way to do it is to tip 7.63mm Mauser cartridges (loaded to originally-specified pressure) with maybe bullets from 7.62mm Tokarev, eh?

Let's just say I asked this series of questions more or less to help with a "story idea".

[Talos]

I'd just handload them with some interesting rounds. Hollowpoints out of a Broomhandle? XD

[dy031101]

Hollowpoints out of a Broomhandle? XD

My thought exactly, but Mauser rounds don't seem to come with hollowpoints straight from the factory, which is why I mentioned bullets (as in without brass and charge) from Tokarev cartridge (which is said to be compatible).

[Talos]

Well, that's why you can find someone who'll make the bullets custom for you. Then you just hand load them into fresh brass at home.

But, yes, 7.62mm Tokarev will work for the most part in it. It depends on the individual gun and bullet as to there being any extraction problems (since there's small differences in some bits of the cartridge). So, yeah, the cartridge as a whole would be usable in a pinch if you had to.

[tinlail]

For a working gun rechambering to something like 9mm would desirable to do because of the great variety of ammo that was available, Hollowpoints, P++ loadings, the ability to get ammo at Wal-mart (in the US) all could be compelling. In my "extensive" internet on the broomhandle I say nothing to suggest that the Astra was made in such a way as to prevent someone from modifying the gun, though it would be a crime against history as other noted.

If I had a fictional character desiring a tricked out Broomhandle, the Chinese .45 ACP version modified to accept a Thompson magazine would be the most snazzy thing I could thing of.

[DarrenP]

There was also a Carbine version very atractive got to play with a de-activated one a few years back. I do wonder if it could be scaled up to 7.92 Kurtz round?

[dy031101]

I realized the comparison might be crazy/unfair, but how would the carbine model of the Broomhandle (one with longer barrel and fixed stock) be rated against the M1 carbine?

[tinlail]

The .30 cal M1 is a much more powerful cartridge than the 9mm, and the extra barrel length of a carbine barrel will not help enough to make up the difference.

The M1 is considered by many to be a weak rifle round, but even a weak rifle round beats a powerful handgun round, and the 9mm isn't a powerful handgun round.