Almost certainly manufactured during the violent "warlord" period of the Chinese Civil War. Many Chinese produced pistols of that period were based on existing European designs; with this example showing a mixture of European influence as well as domestic ingenuity. Interestingly, the pistol has been manufactured with a fake Mauser C96 style fixed magazine, but uses a detachable magazine inside the grip. This specific pistol is marked with a series of differed numbers on the slide and barrel, the frame being devoid of markings. The barrel is marked "40103", what appears to be a date of "1936", and "444", all on top around the breech. The slide is marked with the same "1936" and "444" on both sides. It is fitted with a blade front sight with a mounting point for a tangent rear sight which is now absent, and a ring style hammer similar to the Mauser C96. It is also fitted with a pair of checkered hardwood grips. This specific pistol is pictured and discussed on p. 140-141 of the book "Pistols of the Warlords: 1911-1949" by Ian McCollum.

Very good, retaining 20% of the original blue finish on the barrel with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered light pitting throughout. The grips are also very good with some scattered light chipping and handling marks and mostly well defined checkering. When cocked, the hammer needs some slight pressure from the rear to function when the trigger is pulled, and the firing pin assembly is absent, otherwise mechanically fine.