This is a very unique example of a custom altered large ring 20 Shot Broomhandle Mauser pistol. This pistol bears the small "DV" and "AV" markings associated with the Italian Contract run of the 1896 Broomhandle. These 20-shot pistols were manufactured in exceptionally small numbers in two or three very small production runs, usually in the more common early Cone Hammer pistols, in an attempt by the Mauser factory to provide high magazine capacity semi-automatic pistols to compete with Spanish Astra pistols. The reason for the scarcity of these 20-shot pistols is that they required a special nonstandard production run of frame forgings. The top of the barrel extension is marked "WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER OBERNDORF A/N" with the serial number "2347" stamped on the left side and the Italian-style "DV" acceptance proof also on the left side. The underside of the barrel has three small script letter proofs with the Italian acceptance proof of a "Crown/AV" proof directly on the underside of the chamber area and in front of the lower receiver. This pistol has all the early features such as the large ring hammer, the long extractor on top of the breech bolt, the large ring hammer, the first style safety lever that you pull down to engage, the late style tangent rear graduated from 1-10 (100-1,000 meters), the late style one-lug firing pin and of course the "20 shot" frame forging. The walnut grips have 23 grooves that are numbered on the back side with the full serial number of the pistol. It is complete with the original ring on the bottom of the frame.

Very good as professionally custom altered into 20-shot configuration. There is 95% of the professionally applied rust blue finish remaining overall with clear sharp markings and proofs. The hammer has 95% of its case colored finish. The grips are fine with only a couple of minor handling marks.