Insert a screwdriver under the nose of the extractor, and lift it until its front retaining wings are disengaged from their recesses in the top of the bolt. The recoil spring can be removed either through the lateral slot or the rear hole. Remove the bolt from the barrel extension. Push it forward until its internal profile is aligned with the opening, then withdraw it. The bolt retainer can be removed through the rectangular opening on the right side of the barrel extension. Source : System Mauser (Breathed & Schroeder) In very early models, as the one shown below, the firing pin was retained in the bolt by a small flat plate, that was dovetailed into the rear of the bolt.
Usually the firing pin spring will come out as well, and it will be attached to the front of the firing pin. Then allow it to spring out f the bolt block. With a screw driver, push on the head of the firing pin until it can be given a quarter-turn to the right. Remove the locking block from the retaining stud that hangs below the barrel extension. It is just clawed by the forward hook of the locking block. The sub-frame can be detached by simply lowering it. The lock sub-frame is loosely attached onto the underside of the barrel extension. The assembly, including the barrel and barrel extension, is drawn rearward out of the receiver. As the action and barrel assembly are mounted from the rear of the pistol, if the latch was unlocked or would fail at the instant of firing, the whole mechanism could fly rearward out of the receiver and strike the shooter. The takedown latch is of paramount importance in regard to a shooter's safety. If the trigger is pressed when the hammer is cocked and the latch is unlocked, the caming surfaces of both the latch and the hammer prevent the hammer from reaching the firing pin. The hammer body is machined in such a way that it prevents the latch from being raised when the hammer is not cocked. To be able to push it up and unlock the barrel assembly, you first have to draw the hammer down in the cocked position. The takedown latch is located at the rear of the receiver, just below the hammer pivot. Using the point of a 7.63 mm cartridge or a tool of non-marring material, depress the magazine plunger and slide the floorplate forward until it can be lifted off.Įach end of the flat spring can be easily disengaged from the floorplate and the magazine follower, by just sliding them out of their retaining grooves. The first four stripping steps are shown In the drawing below. Producing a pistol in which the parts were made to interlock so that screws and pins were not necessary to assemble it, was then, and still remains as an outstanding achievement in the history of firearms development. Upon these principles which are already partly known, I have devised a magazine firearm in which all previous experiences in respect to this class of arm have been carefully taken into consideration, not only with regard to its ballistic qualities, but especially by the peculiar skillful construction of the component parts, and the manner of connecting them without the aid of screws it may, therefore, be considered that the improved firearm is in every way well adapted for military purposes."
The patent specification described the invention as follows : " A magazine repeating firearm with a movable barrel, in which the recoil caused by the shock is used to unlock the bolt and open the breech, to eject the empty cartridge case and to work the firing mechanism, as well as to compress a number of springs arranged in such a manner as to effect the loading of a fresh cartridge, the re-closing of the breech and locking of the bolt and the advancing movement of the barrel. While some experimental models had been manufactured prior to that time, it was not until Mauser patented his military automatic pistol that a weapon of reliable design was produced. In 1896, the Mauser firm produced the first really successful military automatic pistol.
Translated in English by the author himself with the friendly help of John VeitRelease 01-00Ģ002 Henrotin Gerard and HL Publishing (Belgium) The Mauser C96 Explained by Gerard Henrotin Henrotin & H&L Publishing (Belgium)All rights reserved