This is a beautiful example of a mid-production Model 1896 Cone Hammer Pistol with the top of the barrel boldly engraved "J. PURDEY & SONS LONDON". J. Purdey was one of the best known British gun dealers and retailers during this time and it is rarely found marked on 1896 pistols. The pistol has also been nicely engraved with a "Five-Pointed Crown" over a large letter "R" on the left rear frame panel, as well as on top of the leather bound presentation/storage case. These prewar Mauser pistols all feature a beautiful rust blue finish with bright bolt, casehardened cone hammer and lock frame and heat blue small parts, with walnut grips with 23 grooves. This early Broomhandle as has all the early distinctive features, such as the large cone hammer, long extractor, short chamber area, early firing pin retained by the distinctive dovetailed "U" shaped firing pin retaining block and the wide trigger that is pinned to a block locked in the receiver. This specific pistol also has the special tangent rear sight calibrated for 50-500 yard only found on 1896 pistols manufactured for the British trade. The top of the chamber area is marked in three lines: "WAFFENFABRIK/ MAUSER/ OBERNDORF A/N" with the German commercial "Crown/U" proofmarks on the left side of the barrel extension with the Mauser antlered proof mark of the Oberndorf factory on the right side. The serial number, "8381" is stamped on the backstrap below the lock frame, on the underside of the hammer, on the firing pin block, on the inside of both grips and on the top of the stock latch. As noted, this pistol comes complete with the original and matching walnut combination wooden shoulder/holster, which has the all blued steel furniture and attaching iron which is numbered to the pistol. The pistol and stock are housed in the original J. Purdey, 10 1/2 by 15 1/2 inch leather bound walnut presentation/storage case with red felt lining with four internal compartments. The inside of the lid has a 3 1/2 by 5 1/2 inch cloth label that reads; "JAMES PURDEY & SONS/ Gun and Rifle Makers/Audley House, South Audley Street, London". The case has raised brass corner protectors on all eight corners, double leather straps, with a single brass lock on the front. The four compartments house the pistol, shoulder stock, a brass oiler, bore brush and brush handle, with one compartment for ammunition. Included in this lot are four full boxes of original 1920-1930 7.63mm ammunition as follows; one box of 50 rounds of Winchester, two 20 round boxes made by UMC and an unmarked box with ten rounds.

Excellent with 95% of the original blue finish with just minor edge and high spot wear overall, along the lower edge of the magazine box, the front frame rails, and some blue loss on rear grip strap where the stock attaches. The small parts retain 80% of their fragile heat blued finish. The stock is in very fine condition with only light minor pressure dents and dings on the outside overall with one minor age crack, approximately 3 inches long starting at the hinge that extends forward. The age crack is just starting to appear and could be easily repaired by a professionally restorer. The attaching iron retains 20% of the fragile original netre blue finish with the hinge assembly retains 98% of the original blue. The case itself is in excellent condition showing a beautiful medium brown matching color on both the lid and bottom section that is showing only minor handling marks and scratches overall with a clear deeply marked Crown over letter R on the lid as noted above. The various accessories are all in excellent condition. Overall, this is a beautiful example of an early 1896 case presentation Mauser cone hammer pistol with all matching numbers.