This is a very tough gun to locate in any decent condition! In 97% mint sharp condition and all matching, we have a Mauser Model 1896/21 “Bolo Model” Pistol. This pistol is probably Chinese Warlord Era property marked on the front gripstrap and is also British London Export marked. I would guess that this came to England prior to WWII or possibly after as a war trophy.
The name Bolo is a derivative of Bolshevik and the pistols got this nickname due to the fact that they were purchased in large qualities by the Red Army and used in the many small wars of the 1920’s such as their fight with Poland. They might just have easily been called the “Chinese Warlord Model” as the vast majority of these pistols that were sold went to arm the various competing forces in China. This is a very typical early production example that would have been made in the early to mid 1920’s.
This example is not Germany export marked as almost all of them were. It certainly was well taken care of. I would consider this to be one of the hardest C96 variants to locate in top condition as most of them sold were shipped to very hostile and exotic places where they stayed in constant use during their service life.
