Found this Rock Island auction item
Description

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/WWI-Machine-Gun-Company-Unit-Marked-German-Mauser-3453-c-9114BD2885

World War I Era Imperial German Machine Gun Company Unit Marked Commercial Mauser C96 Broomhandle Semi-Automatic Pistol with Holster Stock Manufactured c. 1911-1915, with commercial "crown/crown/U" proofs and an Imperial German "M.G.K." ( representing "Machinengewehr-Kompagine" or Machine Gun Company) and "1" unit marking on the front of the frame. Matching partial "477" serial numbers stamped on the interiors of the grips. Includes an un-numbered hardwood holster stock.

Manufacturer: Mauser

Model: Broomhandle

BBL: 5 1/2 inch round

Gauge: 7.63 mm Mauser auto

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial Number225477

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

Condition Report
Very good, retaining some of the original finish with scattered light edge wear, thinning with brown patina, scattered oxidation, minor handling marks, and clear markings. The grips are also very good as restored with mostly defined ribbing. Mechanically excellent. The holster stock is fine with some scattered light handling marks, some light spotting, and a replacement door hinge screw.
Request more information

 

Thanks for the response; but the photos on that link do not show any markings and it makes it difficult to use that as verification. Is there any book or link that would display markings to verify what’s in the photo I posted?

 

That's a neat C96, I really like it... Can someone explain what does "grips as restored" mean? I've seen a lot of weird descriptions when it comes to these old clunkers, but that's a new one on me...

 

I’m not sure what grips restored mean either. I’m more concerned with the markings on the photo I submitted and not the auction link, that doesn’t show much in the way of details.

 

What exactly is your concern regarding the markings? I can see them in the auction photo just fine. If you have this pistol, post a few pics, especially the grips, let's see what is "restored" or not.

 

I’m wondering if the marks are accurate, pure and simple. I know markings are varied amongst different organizations- some mark the front strap, some mark under the barrel, and some mark on the curved portion of the magazine well. I’m wondering about the marks on the photo I submitted and don’t really care about the auction link photo, even though they appear very similar. Just wondering if the markings are legitimate.

 

I thought we are looking at the same pistol here, yours and one from the auction, no?

 

I just had a question about mine and the photo I submitted. Varifleman posted the RIA link. I’m not concerned with the RIA link. I’m looking for historical information, book or internet link, that corroborates that the marking on the photo I submitted is a unit marking and that it correlates to a machinegun company.

 

I'd be more interested in the grip issue and why it was mentioned as "restored". These markings are unlike anything I've seen before when it comes to the MG unit stamps, so it could be anything, including just someone's initials. Post it on a Luger forum, those guys are really into this kind of things....

 

What are the markings you’ve seen?

 

Try buying a book. "The Imperial German Regimental Marking" by Jeff Noll

 

I’d love to; but those are some high prices for that hardbound book and that’s why I chose to ask via a forum.

 

I had no ideal prices were insane on the book. Had mine for years.

 

 

Here's a 1913 Luger marked along the front strap: ?M.G.K. I.R.375. 19.? which includes the Regimental and weapon designations (Machine Gunhttps://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/pistols/luger-pistols/dwm-german-p-08-luger-pistol-with-machine-gun-unit-marking.cfm?gun_id=100525372 Company, 375th Inf. Reserve Regt., Pistol 19) . Here's a 1912 Luger with grip strap markings "1 G.R. 2.M.G.K. 22.", this Erfurt Luger was issued to the 1st Gruppe (group) of the 2nd Machine Gun Company, weapon number 22. The M.K.G. markings look like the one on your pistol but don't include a unit designator or weapon number,

1912 Erfurt P-08 Luger 9mm Pistol w/ Machine Gun Company Unit Markings ** Cool WW1 Battle-Used Luger ** SOLD

1912 Erfurt P-08 Luger 9mm Pistol w/ Machine Gun Company Unit Markings ** Cool WW1 Battle-Used Luger ** SOLD for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

Jeff,
from the many unit markings you have listed in your book "The Imperial German Regimental Marking", only three are bearing a roman numeral which suggest a company designation. Your latest acquisition would make it four. See page 96, 100 and 142. I noticed they are all E.M.G.K.'s.
On page 89 you ID'd "R.J.R.234.I M.G.80." Why I.Bataillon and not I.M.G.Kompanie ? On page 141 you ID'd "G.R.119.II M.G.K.65." Why II.Bataillon and not II M.G.K. ? This from a 2003 discussion on Jan Still's Luger forum which you can find here.

 

Well everyone, this is a lot of interesting information; but it would appear that unit markings were done at the unit level, based on whatever instruction was given to guy doing the markings. Thanks; but, I am still curious about my photo and the authenticity of the stamping. There is no prefix or suffix. It’s just M.G.K. 1- which seems to indicate machinegun company, gun 1; but does not specify which direct unit it was delegated to.

 

There are two basic things you have to devide while looking on ww1 troop stamps.
There are those who are applied following the official rules of the Vorschrift über das Stempeln der Handwaffen D.V.E.Nr.185. vom 28.Januar 1909 and those applied during ww1 called Kriegstruppenstempel (word to word....war time troopstamps).
After 1915 the German armys officialy stoped the habit of aplying troop stamps. But there were still units who marked their weapons by troop stamps Till the end of ww1. Those offen did not follow the former official rules.
What we have here is one of those Kriegstruppenstempel. Since the C96 was never officially adopted in the German armys as a Service weapon this specimen is one of the many substitute weapons in German service of ww1. As such it may Not came into use before the beginning of 1915.
So it has a Kriegstruppenstempel wich is Impossible assign to a certain unit. Some ways of Interpretation are thinkable:

• unnumbered weapons of the first machinegun compagnie of some Infanterieregiment or Jägerbataillon (after 1917 most Infanterieregiment got 3 MGK)
• first C96 of a Maschinengewehrkompanie of Infanterieregiment/Jägerbataillion

I tend to the second option.

Regards Martin

 

There are two basic things you have to devide while looking on ww1 troop stamps.
There are those who are applied following the official rules of the Vorschrift über das Stempeln der Handwaffen D.V.E.Nr.185. vom 28.Januar 1909 and those applied during ww1 called Kriegstruppenstempel (word to word....war time troopstamps).
After 1915 the German armys officialy stoped the habit of aplying troop stamps. But there were still units who marked their weapons by troop stamps Till the end of ww1. Those offen did not follow the former official rules.
What we have here is one of those Kriegstruppenstempel. Since the C96 was never officially adopted in the German armys as a Service weapon this specimen is one of the many substitute weapons in German service of ww1. As such it may Not came into use before the beginning of 1915.
So it has a Kriegstruppenstempel wich is Impossible assign to a certain unit. Some ways of Interpretation are thinkable:

• unnumbered weapons of the first machinegun compagnie of some Infanterieregiment or Jägerbataillon (after 1917 most Infanterieregiment got 3 MGK)
• first C96 of a Maschinengewehrkompanie of Infanterieregiment/Jägerbataillion

I tend to the second option.

Regards Martin

Martin, thank you for that detailed explanation and response. That seems to make the most sense, based on what you revealed and aligns with wartime Imperial German small unit marking/ accounting of firearms. I thought C96’s were popular and issued during WWI? Or is it because it was a commercial weapon and popular amongst many nations and many people prior to WWI that Some German Army units just purchased them direct from factory to issue out or replace weapons lost/captured/broken?

 

Most C96 where brought by the different goverments of the singe states of the German Empire to substitute the shire lack of regular handguns in wartime. The C96 was also available in the civil marked for private purchase. But those would most likely have noch troopstamps.

 

in regards to troop stamps- is that just the numbering of troop units on the firearm? Or, are there other markings in addition to the unit numbering?

 

Noch troop stamps?

 

Sorry autocorrect (normaly writing in German).....no troopstamps

 

No worries, I completely understand.

 

To better understand what you are stating is: single states within the German Empire did purchase C96s for war because there was a lack of arms/materials for the entire German Empire and that the Imperial German Army was made up of military units across the Empire based on what each state held. To compensate for a lack of wartime armament, they bought C96s to bolster what was already present.

 

Yes, i wanted to state exactly that.

Addition: Each state(Most of them at least) of the Empire had to set up troops according to their number of inhabitants. Sometimes smaller states just set up single companies or batallions of Regiments. Those Regiments then we're composed of the troops of some smaller states.

 

Martin, thank you for tremendous amount of help, I appreciate it, and it helps me understand the stamping. Now, it’s on to see if I can use the weapon serial number to find out where it was built and where it was sent.