This is an exceptionally rare early Mauser Model 06-08 semi-automatic pistol. This early design was an attempt by Paul Mauser to improve the original Mauser Model 1896 Broomhandle Pistol. It was a new and unique design with several new revolutionary features. The most notable of these was the detachable magazine. This simple design would allow the pistol to be rapidly reloaded by just the insertion of a detachable box magazine. During firing of the pistol, after the last shot, a hold open device would automatically hold the bolt to the rear of the action, and upon insertion of the magazine, it would automatically released the breechblock, stripped a round from the magazine and chamber the cartridge. Very revolutionary for the 1906 era. The pistol also featured a very unique twin-cramming, locking block mechanism, positioned directly behind the breech bolt. This design was somewhat copied from the Mauser self-loading rifle only in a much small configuration. Although very strong, it was also very complicated and expensive to manufacture and was never used or produced again on any other pistol or rifle. The Model 06-08 was manufactured in very small almost test size quantities, and examples of this evolutionary Mauser Pistol are extremely rare. The pistol has a four-inch part round/octagon barrel, detachable magazine located in front of the trigger guard, fixed rear sight and one-piece, wrap-around, finely checkered, walnut grip. The barrel, receiver and frame have a polished rust blue finish. The small parts are heat blued. The three top barrel flats are marked from rig to left: "WAFFENFABRIK/MAUSER/OBERNDORF A.N.". The underside of the barrel is marked in a single line with: "8,85. 9,12. 250.3". All components are stamped with the serial number "49". The magazine has a steel gray finish and is numbered "30" on the back, and the floorplate is numbered "33".

Excellent. The pistol retains 97% of the original blue finish. Finish wear is primarily limited to the grip straps and high points of the receiver and frame. Partially refinished forward frame on the side of the magazine well. There are a few very minor patches of extremely light pitting on the sides of the rear of receiver. Refinished niter blue on the safety lever and magazine spring. The niter blue components retain 75% of the original finish. The grips are excellent with sharp checkering. The markings and serial numbers are sharp. The safety lever is pitted on the bottom, and there are several small areas of deep pitting on the magazine body, floorplate and follower. This pitting is not apparent and does not detract from the excellent overall appearance of the pistol. This is an extremely rare Mauser Automatic Pistol seldom encountered even in the most advanced collections.