Hey all
I just thought I might start a thread (Maybe a sticky?) On all the known C96 Conehammer pistols that have been Certified as antique and have had a letter issued by the RCMP. This comes up so frequently I figured this may be beneficial.
The guns I personally know of are as follows;
556(Farsi marked, turkish contract), 1581, 1875, 4080, 4111, 4617, 4669.
And a couple I more know were lettered, but unfortunately dont have the last 2 digits;
19xx, 51xx
If anybody else has any more Certified Antique serial numbers to add, first 2 digits only or whole serial numbers, I believe this will help others in the future get their pistols approved faster.
And as a sort of disclaimer! If we only share the serial numbers of known lettered examples, this information is already known to the RCMP. So we aren't helping them (RCMP) gather information they dont already have.
Here is a list of characteristics of the known antique pistols, from my personal observations and research;
For starters in needs to be a Conehammer model. Can't be a contract marked conehammer, except the Turkish contract pistols.these are known by the crest of Abdul Hamid on the left rear square milled panel. One was approved with a replaced hammer, because it fit all the other criteria below and was originally a "Cone hammer".
-The panel milling, right rear panel completely milled out vs later 2 milled out grooves. The left rear raised panel is more square than later rectangle milling patterns;
-Very early pin on, not removable rear sight, graduated from 1-10;
-Early Cone Hammer trigger group that actually is a separate removable unit;
-Early firing pin dovetailed retaining system and early long style extractor;
-The Subframe/Locking mechanism frame is not serialized on the outside, which is correct for early C96 Cone Hammer pistols. They were later marked on the rear of the lock frame where it is visible without disassembly;
-Lanyard ring stud holds the ring perpendicular to the pistol, IE flips forward and back. Later pistols were oriented parallel to the pistol IE side to side so as to not interfere with the attaching iron of the stock;
-If it happens to have a matching stock, that has the serial number stamped on the hinge, not the attaching iron, that is another indicator its more than likely antique. I have only seen stocks marked on the hinge on guns lower than 2000. If it is marked on the hinge it can still be antique, this is just another little detail that could help in approvals.
-The Serial number itself can't be in a range which is known as a skip blocks according to the book "The Mauser Self Loading Pistol" by James N. Belford & Dunlap.
Allegedly, they made pistols 1-1999, then skipped ahead to 4000, with at least sn 5100 (highest approved serial number that I am currently aware of) being made in 1897. 2000 - 3999 were made post 1897.This seems to be the serial ranges that the RCMP follows. But if someone has one in those ranges that are certified antique and lettered, it backs them into a corner as far as future approvals.
Also, keep in mind some guns in the low 100s will have slightly different details, but are still antique. A major one being the early guns having a 1 lug locking block, vs the remainder of production through to the 30s have 2. If it is marked system mauser on the chamber flat, that is another strong indicator of a 3 digit antique c96.
Thanks for any and all constructive comments or new information that can be shared!
I just thought I might start a thread (Maybe a sticky?) On all the known C96 Conehammer pistols that have been Certified as antique and have had a letter issued by the RCMP. This comes up so frequently I figured this may be beneficial.
The guns I personally know of are as follows;
556(Farsi marked, turkish contract), 1581, 1875, 4080, 4111, 4617, 4669.
And a couple I more know were lettered, but unfortunately dont have the last 2 digits;
19xx, 51xx
If anybody else has any more Certified Antique serial numbers to add, first 2 digits only or whole serial numbers, I believe this will help others in the future get their pistols approved faster.
And as a sort of disclaimer! If we only share the serial numbers of known lettered examples, this information is already known to the RCMP. So we aren't helping them (RCMP) gather information they dont already have.
Here is a list of characteristics of the known antique pistols, from my personal observations and research;
For starters in needs to be a Conehammer model. Can't be a contract marked conehammer, except the Turkish contract pistols.these are known by the crest of Abdul Hamid on the left rear square milled panel. One was approved with a replaced hammer, because it fit all the other criteria below and was originally a "Cone hammer".
-The panel milling, right rear panel completely milled out vs later 2 milled out grooves. The left rear raised panel is more square than later rectangle milling patterns;
-Very early pin on, not removable rear sight, graduated from 1-10;
-Early Cone Hammer trigger group that actually is a separate removable unit;
-Early firing pin dovetailed retaining system and early long style extractor;
-The Subframe/Locking mechanism frame is not serialized on the outside, which is correct for early C96 Cone Hammer pistols. They were later marked on the rear of the lock frame where it is visible without disassembly;
-Lanyard ring stud holds the ring perpendicular to the pistol, IE flips forward and back. Later pistols were oriented parallel to the pistol IE side to side so as to not interfere with the attaching iron of the stock;
-If it happens to have a matching stock, that has the serial number stamped on the hinge, not the attaching iron, that is another indicator its more than likely antique. I have only seen stocks marked on the hinge on guns lower than 2000. If it is marked on the hinge it can still be antique, this is just another little detail that could help in approvals.
-The Serial number itself can't be in a range which is known as a skip blocks according to the book "The Mauser Self Loading Pistol" by James N. Belford & Dunlap.
Allegedly, they made pistols 1-1999, then skipped ahead to 4000, with at least sn 5100 (highest approved serial number that I am currently aware of) being made in 1897. 2000 - 3999 were made post 1897.This seems to be the serial ranges that the RCMP follows. But if someone has one in those ranges that are certified antique and lettered, it backs them into a corner as far as future approvals.
Also, keep in mind some guns in the low 100s will have slightly different details, but are still antique. A major one being the early guns having a 1 lug locking block, vs the remainder of production through to the 30s have 2. If it is marked system mauser on the chamber flat, that is another strong indicator of a 3 digit antique c96.
Thanks for any and all constructive comments or new information that can be shared!
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