Only ~40 Made, 3 Known Survivors—Hunting the Rarest Mauser C96 Variant

Published on February 3, 2026
Duration: 0:47

This video from Forgotten Weapons, hosted by Ian McCollum, details the extremely rare Mauser 1917 Trench Carbine variant of the C96. With only around 40 produced and 3-4 known survivors, this firearm is a significant collector's item. The video highlights its unique detachable magazine, a feature that predated the later Schnellfeuer model by 15 years.

Quick Summary

The Mauser 1917 Trench Carbine variant of the C96 is exceptionally rare, with only about 40 produced and 3-4 known survivors. A key innovation was its detachable magazine, a first for the C96 series, which predated the Schnellfeuer model by 15 years.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Rare Mauser C96 Variant
  2. 00:221917 Trench Carbine's Detachable Magazine Innovation

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Mauser 1917 Trench Carbine so rare?

The Mauser 1917 Trench Carbine is exceptionally rare because only approximately 40 units were ever produced. Furthermore, only three to four of these firearms are known to have survived to the present day, making them highly valuable collector's items.

What was a key innovation of the 1917 Trench Carbine?

The most significant innovation of the 1917 Trench Carbine was its detachable magazine. This feature was a first for the Mauser C96 series and predated its implementation on the later Schnellfeuer model by 15 years.

How does the 1917 Trench Carbine differ from the Schnellfeuer model?

The 1917 Trench Carbine is a distinct variant of the C96 that introduced a detachable magazine, a feature it implemented 15 years before the full-auto Schnellfeuer model, which entered production in 1932.

What is the production count and survivor rate for this Mauser C96 variant?

The Mauser 1917 Trench Carbine variant had a very limited production run of approximately 40 units. Of these, only an estimated three to four examples are known to still exist today, highlighting its extreme rarity.

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