Page 300 - 4090-BOOK3

cal., 17 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This scarce revolving carbine is based on the same design as the first model solid
frame C78 Zig-Zag revolvers. The rifled barrel has a dovetailed blade front sight, two-leaf rear sight, “GEBR. MAUSER & CIE OBERNDORF A/N. WURTTEMBERG 1878” marked on top, and a sling swivel eye on
the bottom. The matching serial number “34” is marked on several components. The stock has a checkered wrist and a sling swivel. CONDITION: Good with traces of period refinished blue and otherwise mottled artificial gray patina over mild pitting and otherwise crisp markings. The repaired and re-oiled stock is also good and has most of the recut checkering, some gaps at the upper and lower tang, and
LOT 3544
Scarce Mauser Model 1878 Zig-Zag Single Action Revolving Carbine - Serial no. 34, 10.6 mm
298
mild wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3545
Desirable Mauser Model 1878 “Zig-Zag” Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 2176, 11 mm cal., 5 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Developed in 1878, the Zig-Zag revolver was the first handgun designed and developed by Paul Mauser and his firm. A competitor to be the first centerfire cartridge-fed handgun adopted by the German military, the 1878 scored high
marks in overall performance, though concerns about the complexity of the design led them to choose
the 1879 Reichs revolver instead. At the heart of the mechanism is the combination of an angular track (the titular ‘Zig-Zag’) machined into the side of the cylinder and a toothed reciprocating bar linked to the hammer, which serves to
both advance and lock the cylinder, in contrast to the more commonly seen pawl/sprocket and stop arrangement. Additionally, the spring responsible for resetting the cocking bar also powers the hammer, replacing the grip frame mounted leaf spring commonly seen
in that era. For loading, the barrel assembly is hinged at the rear of the top strap, automatically pushing the hammer back to the safety notch
when opened, with the closure latch doubling as the lever for a star-pattern extractor assembly. Sights are fixed, with “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER
OBERNDORF a/NECKAR” on top of the barrel rib, “crown/crown/U” on the left side of the barrel shroud, and “176” on multiple components. With a pair of finely checkered hard rubber grip panels with
raised foliate designs. CONDITION: Very fine. 90% of the period refinished blue remains, showing
some edge wear, mild dings, and scattered shallow pitting. The grips are also very fine, with a few tiny chips near the frame and sharp detail in
the checkering and decoration. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3546
Scarce Mauser Model 1878 “Zig-Zag” Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 93, 7 mm cal., 3 5/8 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. These Mauser “Zig-Zag” revolvers were manufactured in several different variations c. 1878-1896 and received
their nickname from their distinctive slots on the cylinder which are used to rotate the cylinder. Although well manufactured and reliable, the Mauser Model 1878 was expensive to manufacture and had limited commercial sales. Mauser found more success with the famous C96 “Broomhandle” semi-automatics. The ring lever ahead of the trigger guard opens the revolver up like a top break Smith & Wesson for reloading. There is also a small safety latch on the lower left side of the frame that engages and locks the cylinder. The top of the barrel rib is roll engraved “GEBR.MAUSER & CIE OBERNDORF A/N. WURTTEMBERG. 1878.” The revolver has a round-butt grip frame and checkered walnut grips. The matching serial number is marked on several components, including both grips. CONDITION: Very good with traces of original blue finish visible in some of the protected areas and otherwise smooth gray and brown patina and some faint pitting. The grips are also very good and have crisp checkering and minor handling and storage wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000