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LOT 1458
Extremely Rare Prototype Mauser Model H 1917
Semi-Automatic Pistol, Serial Number 10 - Serial
no. 10, 9 mm Luger cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. This is an extremely rare example of a
Mauser Model H prototype semi-automatic pistol
chambered in 9mm Luger (Parabellum), dated 1917.
It appears to possibly be the design of Mauser’s
brilliant engineer Josef Nickl who developed a series
of prototype pistols while working at Mauser, and
was also the inventor of the Mauser Model 1910,
1914 and 1934 pistols in 7.65mm auto/.32 ACP. This
Mauser prototype pistol, chambered in 9mm Luger,
appears to be one of a series of his attempts to
scale up the aforementioned smaller Mauser pistol
designs and shares many visual similarities with
them, as well as the vz. 22, vz. 24 and vz. 27 pistols
subsequently manufactured in Czechoslovakia that
are also of Josef Nickl’s design. It features a barrel
assembly that rotates slightly for unlocking, with a
hammer and left side mounted safety/slide locking
mechanism, and a removable takedown piece on the
bottom of the frame that easily allows for removal of
the slide assembly. Mauser’s German patent number
300159, dated August 31, 1915, depicts a striker-
fired pistol with a similar rotating barrel, although
this 1917 dated example is hammer operated and
also differs in that it has a left side slide lock/safety
mechanism and a different takedown mechanism.
“Waffenfabrik Mauser A.G. Oberndorf a.N. Mod. H.
1917” marked on the left of the slide, with serial
number “10” on the rear of the frame and on various
components, with “10” and “1945” handwritten in
black ink on the right side interior of the one-piece
checkered wraparound walnut grip.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% original blue finish
with smooth brown patina on the balance, scattered
noticeable patches of moderate pitting on the right
side of the slide, and distinct slide markings. Grip
is very fine with a few dark spots on the rear, some
scattered light handling marks, and mostly crisp
checkering. Mechanically excellent. An extremely
rare and significant evolutionary Mauser prototype
Model H pistol worthy of the most advanced pistol
collections!
Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000