*German, 1929, Mauser Model 1914 4th Variant Semi Automatic 7.65 Cal Pocket Pistol and Holster, with Shanghai Police Arsenal Number, Old Spec Deactivated*
Cal 7,65 marked on frame, 85mm Barrel Length
Serial number 468428 – Marked on back below slide, 428 marked inside trigger guard
Marked on barrel over two lines – Waffenfabrik Mauser A-G Oberndorf A.N., Mausers Patent
Marked on frame – Mauser cartouche, also marked on magazine
Marked inside grip- T9925 which maybe Weimar Police markings
Marked on frame – 滬公 334 . Translated to Shanghai Public 334
Serial number “468428”, marked on the back of the slide and “428” on the trigger guard. Marked on the left side of the slide in upper case sans-serif characters over two lines “WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER A.-G. OBERNDORF A.N. MAUSER’S PATENT”. Behind the rear sight is a “crown/crown/U” proof mark. 7.65 cal. This pistol has wood grips. It has it’s original blue finish. The left side of the frame has the Mauser cartouche. Marked on 滬公 334 on the frame which translates to Shanghai Public and we think was bought for use by the Shanghai Police.
Mauser Model 1914 (4th Variant)
The New Model 1910 (6.35 mm) and Model 1914 (7.65 mm), derived from Josef Nickl’s .25 caliber Model 1910, were patented in September 1912. The 4th variant of the Model 1914, manufactured between 1923 and 1929, saw approximately 178,000 units produced (serial numbers 290100 – 467700 cf Ed Buffaloe and Burgess Mason III). This variant is characterized by a two-line slide address in all capital sans-serif characters. After serial number 461,000, the right side slide inscription changed from “Mauser Cal 7,65” to “Cal. 7,65” as is seen here. The front sight is a round half-moon shape. Around serial number 460,000, the finish was changed to a salt blue. The magazine remained unblued “in the white,” with a blued base plate featuring a slot for the magazine spring.
In 1922, Waffenfabrik Mauser AG became Mauser-Werke AG, reflected in the 1929 slide inscription of the 7.65 mm pistol as “MAUSER-WERKE A.G. OBERNDORF A.N.,” marking the transition to the 1914/34 5th Variant. The right side slide inscription later changed to “Cal. 7,65 D.R.P.u.A.P.” around serial number 488,000. Both the change of address and new slide inscription are not present here helping to identify this pistol as a late 4th Variant Model 1914, not a 5th Variant or 1934 Model as indicated by the deactivation certificate. Mauser simply identified them as pocket pistols; these classifications are modern designations.
It is likely to have been imported in to China for help with Chinese civil war. 1934 was a key point in the history of Chinese civil war. In Autumn 1933, Chiang mobilized 1 million troops started his largest “Extermination Campaign” (or, “The 5th Anti-Extermination Campaign” in communist history book). Series of battles lasted about one year. In Autumn of 1934, communist was forced to give up Jiangxi in southern China, and launched well known 6000-mile “Long March” moving to the north.
*Condition*
Both the pistol and holster are in good used condition. The pistol has been deactivated to Old Spec standard and can be cocked and dry-fired. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.