Deactivated Super Rare WWI, Military & Weimar Police / WWII Mauser C96 Red 9 Pistol with Holster

This is an exceedingly rare First World War issued Imperial German Army Mauser C96 Red 9 pistol with holster. This is the first of its type we have ever seen in this configuration, a WWI C96 "Red 9" converted for the German Military / Weimar Police in 1920. The pistol was originally made in 9mm for the Imperial German Army and dates to between 1916-1918. The serial block for this model ran from 1 to 150,000, this example is number 117,583 - circa 1917. Correctly stamped below the frame serial number is the tiny military exceptance stamp found on Red 9's. The number 9 painted in red was to signify that the pistol was chambered in 9mm ammunition, the same as the PO8 Luger, rather than the standard 7.63mm for the C96. All visible numbers are original and matching including both grips. Now this is where it gets even more interesting! After WWI, under the Treaty of Versaillies Germany was banned from having military pistols with barrels longer than 10cm. In 1920 this C96 was subject to this law and had its barrel shortened to comply, afterwhich it is then stamped "1920". This date stamp indicates it was a military issued pistol. During this modification the rear adjustable sights were removed and simple V fixed sight added. The shorter barrel rendered the original sights inaffective. The Red 9 is a very rare pistol but to find one in this configuation is exceptionally rare and unusual. However, there's more! The holster which will only fit this pistol in its post WWI configuration is marked with Weirmar Police markings; "S.Ko I Mo 55111". We beleive this to be Prussian Police or Schutzpolizei, Koln district  Command 1, weapon number 55 over stamped with 111. The majority of these Military / Weimar police units were eventually amalgamated or morphed into branches of the infamous SS in the 1930s after Hitler came to power. The pistol is deactivated with a working action.

A fascinating and very collectable pistol and holster.

We have included an image of a similar example with holster as detailed in Jan C Stills book on Axis pistols.