Model 1896 or C/96:
The failure of the mechanical repeater caused Mauser to lose interest in handguns at a time when his rifles were encountering great success. Not un til 1894, did he consider an automatic pistol. Ten years earlier Waffenfabrik Mauser AG had been formed with capital loaned by the Wurttembergische Vereinsbank;
The Mauser compay emlpoyed the Feederle Brothers, who had been designing an automatic pisto in their spare time, Paul Mauser asked them to perfect their gun for the good of the company. The first prototype was completed in Mar of 1895, whereas patents were immediately sought in the Mauser name.
The Mauser C/96 differed slightly from the later models. Several minor changes were made duting the first few months of production as improvements suggested them, none however, affected the basic design. Loewe Allowed Mauser to use the 7.65mm Borchard cartridge, whch embittered Borchardt when the success of the Mauser pistol overpowered his own design.
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