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 is believed that less than 100 of these prototype pistols were manufactured. It was a new and unique design with several new revolutionary features, the most notable of which was the detachable magazine. This simple design would allow the pistol to be rapidly reloaded by just the insertion of a fresh 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 release the breechblock, strip a round from the magazine, and chamber the cartridge. This general form of function has become normal with modern handguns, but was quite revolutionary for the time. The pistol also featured a very unique twin-camming, locking block mechanism, positioned directly behind the breech bolt. This design was somewhat copied from the Mauser self-loading rifle only in a much smaller 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 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 nitre blue. The three top barrel flats are marked from right 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". The matching serial number "51" is visible throughout, apart from the blued magazine which is numbered "142" on the back and "72" on the floorplate. The bottom of the forward frame is import marked. This exact pistol is pictured on p. 402 of "Handguns of the World" by Ezell, though it is pictured with a different magazine.

Exceptionally fine, retains 95% plus of the professionally restored blue and nitre blue finishes with some very light edge wear and only the slightest handling marks. The grip is very fine with a barely noticeable hairline crack on the right bottom, otherwise minimal handling marks, and well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. This pistol could easily be the centerpiece of any Mauser or early semi-automatic pistol collection!