A scarce Shansei Providence Arsenal manufactured variant of the Model 1896 Broomhandle Mauser pistol. At that time the Chinese Army was intrigued with the 1896 Broomhandle Mauser pistols that had been purchased earlier from Germany. So in the early 1930s they set out to develop that design only chambered in the larger 45 ACP cartridge. It is estimated that approximately 8000 were manufactured in the 1929/30 time frame with several hundred actually imported in the 1980s.They are an almost identical copy to the original Mauser model in a much larger configuration. A combination of semi-automatic pistol with the heavier 45 ACP cartridge was heavily used by both Nationalist and Communist soldiers. The right side of the frame has the Chinese markings indicating adoption in 1930 with the left side having the Chinese factory markings with the left side of the chamber area stamped with serial number 4452. It has the same standard barrel mounted blade front sight with the tangent rear sight graduated from 100-1000 meters. It has the late style small ring hammer, with the old style safety lever. It has crudely stamped exterior markings and serial numbers and it is fitted with the Chinese manufactured grooved hardwood grips. The exterior numbers are matching. The underside of the butt has the stub for the lanyard loop and it comes with an original lanyard ring. This pistol is also accompanied with one of the larger Chinese manufactured hardwood shoulder stock/holster imported in the early 1980s. The attaching iron is unmarked and the stock is fitted with one of the late green canvas stock covers with a green web sling attached.

Very good with 40% of the thin faded original blue finish still remaining overall with the balance a gray patina. The grips are in fair plus condition showing original, honest albeit heavy on the sides of the grips mixed with numerous light pressure dents in some area. It has a replacement floorplate that is in the white. The correct replacement wooden shoulder stock is in very fine condition with a nice original oil type finish overall with only a couple minor handling marks on the sides. The canvas stock cover and shoulder straps are excellent.