Old School Military Handgun
What is my favorite handgun? The Mauser C96, otherwise known as the Broomhandle Mauser.
At a time when military and police handguns were dominated by six shot revolvers, this must have seemed like science fiction made real. Jewels of Edwardian technology, the few that I’ve been able to fire have shot very nicely, as well.
Don’t own a working model myself, but James does. He shares with us a quick review of his short barreled version, which is known as the Bolo.
Why is it called the Bolo? Seems the Germans were forced to restrict the overall size and barrel length after WWI, and redesigned the pistol to conform. The new Bolshevik government in Russia bought a bunch for their Red Army.
Bolo. Bolshevik. Get it?
Click on over to James’ short review of his gun. Worth your time.
November 1st, 2009 at 12:36 am
Actually, if I am not mistaken, the term “Bolo” was a carryover from the Philippine insurrection that followed the Spanish-American War, the same campaign that gave us the term “boondocks.” The Bolos were the rebels, at least in Army slang.
Hence “bolo knife,” kind of like a machete.
I was figured that some regular Army’s senior noncoms sent with the American troops to Archangel and Murmansk in 1919 spread its use.
Now if the British were using it too, then my understanding is probably wrong!
Someday I would like to shoot a broomhandle Mauser.
November 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
And it’s real that became science fiction–see the defenders of the attack on the blockade runner in the opening of the first Star Wars movie.
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
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