This is a early example of a small ring Broomhandle Mauser Model 1896, with a matching shoulder stock as sold by the New York retailer Von Lengerke & Detmold in June 1907. This example is accompanied by a letter from Griffin & Howe (who now owns all of the VL&D sales records), indicating that this pistol was recorded in their inventory in November of 1906 and later sold in June of 1907 to a "R.A. Rainey" and charged to his account. There is some additional documentation attesting to the fact that R.A. Rainey was originally born in Cleveland Ohio, moved to and became a very affluent New York businessman at the turn of the century, living on Park Avenue. There are some newspaper clippings which indicate he owned and raced thoroughbred race horses at Saratoga and was a member of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club and owner/Captain of the modern steam powered yacht Cassandra. He was married to Bertha Andrews, whose father Samuel Andrews was a partner of John D. Rockefeller. Also accompanying this desirable Mauser is a group of documents that also include ledger pages from VL&D actually listing this pistol by serial number as being sold to Mr Rainey. It also includes a very descriptive but brief intertwined history of the Mauser company, G&H and VL&D and how Mauser actually met Justus Lengerke and became the sole importer. It has the standard early transitional features such as the small hammer ring, shallow milled panels, nonreinforced chamber area, combined with the later style short extractor and the double lug firing pin. The left center panel of the frame is roll marked: "VON LENGERKE/& DETMOLD/NEW-YORK". It chamber area is marked with "WAFFENFABRIK/MAUSER/OBERNDORF/A/N", with "double crown/U" commercial proof on the left side. It is fitted with a set of unnumbered grips with 22 grooves on each side. It has the late style tangent rear sight graduated from 50-1000, with standard front sight. It is complete with its original combination walnut shoulder stock/holster with blued parts and matching attaching iron.