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Ready on the Right--Ready on the Left--Ready on the firing line

$\"Gravatar\"$ I'm so jealous, the Rocketeer also had a broomhandle, and Dr. Victor von Doom... $\"\"$
The Broomhandle is an absolute Icon, a standalone piece - I'm stuck looking for a $Swiss$ Luger to go with my K-31 - at least the gnomes of Zurich should be happy.
-keith in mtn. view | Homepage | 04.25.05 - 8:46 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ A year ago, at the Wanamacher Arms Show in Tulsa a friend and I saw one on a table. Turned out the guy had just traded a S&W .38 for it, and he was wondering if he'd been taken, knowing nothing about it.

About 80% finish, and when you looked down the barrel the rifling was sharp and clean. When my friend told him what it was actually worth, he just about levitated.
Mark | Homepage | 04.25.05 - 8:55 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ {drooooool}

Very nice piece. I'm jealous. $\"\"$
Deacon Jay | Homepage | 04.26.05 - 9:21 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Very very nice. Maybe it's just because I'm new to the gun culture and there may be something I'm overlooking, but given the popularity of the SAA replica market I'm surprised someone doesn't make replicas of the Broomhandle and the P.08. I'd give both serious consideration, as my budget requires that I buy shooters and not spend a heck of a lot of money on them.
Ken Hall | Homepage | 04.27.05 - 12:18 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ I'm with Ken on shooters, there's a Utility Clause in my budget process. If I wind up with a collection it's an accident, and since I lack the gene for mechanical sensitivity they end up getting used one way or the other. $\"\"$ I'm glad that Colt came out with their own do-overs, of the 1911 and 1911A1, and wish they'd resurrect the 1903/08 hammerless General Officers pistol.
-keith in mtn. view | Homepage | 04.28.05 - 3:11 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Yeah, there so needs to be a modern replica. Maybe in 7.62X25. Unfortunately a modern version couldn't have the wood stock/holster--that would make it a short barrel rifle and get you into all sorts of BATF paperwork. It would be quite a bit more complex and expensive than the SAA revolvers, though. Still, I think someone could make a small run and sell them for $750-$1000.

I've wanted one ever since I saw Han Solo.
Ernst Blofeld | 04.29.05 - 10:56 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Even the Chinese couldn't make one now for $750-1000 - gobs of machine work in there.

Congratulations, it's a Postwar Bolo, made 1922 (or so) to 1930, serial number range about 444000 to 793000. I always found the New Safety to be a bit daffy, but it works.

Sellier & Bellot loads 7.62x25 Tokarev - much hotter than the loads this, or the Tokarev, or the Vz 52 were originally designed for, and I haven't figured out why they do it. They should know better as they load a lot of government ammo - surplus with the bxn headstamp is S&B. Many owners shoot it through their C-96s without any trouble, though. Fiocchi loads 7.63 Mauser, at a more reasonable velocity. Historically the two loads were identical, but the Czechs started overloading Tokarev in the 1950s, after which time everything went to hell. The Chinese surplus, in particular, is all over the map. Some people have doubts about Bulgarian surplus. Hansen used to import Yugo ammo (Privi Partisan) which was great stuff, but then Yugoslavia went and fell apart, and the locals kept all their ammo to shoot at each other. In any case, I've never heard of a C-96 blowing up with any factory ammo.

Some people like to replace the bolt stops on these oldies before shooting them, but I think it's a bad idea. Mine have their original stops, and they show no signs of failure yet, even after 70 to 100 years of heavy use.

The Shansei Arsenal guns (the Chinese ones in .45 ACP) aren't full autos, just semi-autos. Big semi-autos. Of the Spanish ones (Astra, Royal, Azul, Etai), many are full autos.

Good luck on finding a gunsmith who can even find the talking end on a C-96. By all means try it at 1000 yards, just don't expect to hit what you're aiming at. These things are real crowd-pleasers at ranges, except that they make people nervous as almost everyone thinks they're machine guns.
bill | Homepage | 04.30.05 - 12:02 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Hi from Canada,
I own a 1905 \"broom\" in excellent condition with the wooden holster/ stock. It has a military acceptance stamp below the serial number. The entrance cover on the holster is missing. Would anyone know of the value of this piece?
Thanks,
tony
Tony Hubbard | 04.26.07 - 4:17 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ I came here via Instapundit... saw the Broomhandle on the top photo and did a search. I own one that I inherited from my father who brought it home from WWII. It has the wooden stock and a leather holder that the stock fits in, but the leather is really falling apart. It's only been fired a few times since WWII. Speaking of movies, I'm pretty sure I saw one in \"Schindler's List\".
Rick Lee | Homepage | 04.06.09 - 1:39 pm | #

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