Page 348 - 4096-BOOK2

LOT 1390
Rare Well-Documented Experimental Prototype German Mauser Model
1912 Semi-Automatic Pistol in 9 mm Luger, Featured in “Mauser Pistolen”
- Serial no. 13, 9 mm Luger cal., 4 3/8 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered
walnut grips. Offered here is a rare example of a Mauser Model 1912 prototype
semi-automatic pistol in 9 mm Luger, serial number 13. Only a very limited
amount of these were manufactured c. 1912 by Mauser for experimental
purposes, based on the smaller 6.35 mm Mauser Model 1910 pistol, only
scaled up to use the larger 9 mm Luger cartridge. The smaller Model 1910
pistol experienced commercial success, so Mauser attempted to carry some of
its familiar features into a series of larger handgun designs. Only a very small
number of Model 1912 pistols are known to exist today, as most did not survive
testing. This exact pistol, as well as its internal workings, is pictured on pages 93
and 94 of “Mauser Pistolen” by Weaver, Speed, and Schmid, in which pages 91-94
cover this specific model, as the first version of the Model 1912, which utilizes a
retarded blowback system with two-piece “locking” block. The following second
version of the Model 1912 and Model 1912/14 pistols differed in that they used
a “flap” system similar to the Model 06/08 pistols. It has the earlier straight 1910
style grip frame, fixed blade front sight mounted on the barrel, and dovetail
mounted rear sight on the slide. The slide is uniquely hand inscribed in three
lines with “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER/OBERNDORF A.N./MAUSER’S PATENT.” on the
left side. The serial number “13” is stamped on the frame, slide, barrel, takedown
release, trigger, interior of the grip, magazine, and various internal components.
It is fitted with a one-piece checkered wraparound walnut grip.
As pictured & described in Mauser
Pistolen by Weaver, Speed and Schmid
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