The Mauser C96 (Construktion 96) [12] is a semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced by German arms manufacturer Mauser from 1896 to 1937. [13] Unlicensed copies of the gun were also manufactured in Spain and China in the first half of the 20th century.

This is the classic C96 Early Postwar Bolo "Broomhandle" that was produced in 7.63mm for the Soviet Russian Army in 1919. This is a 99mm (3.9") Barrel or "Bolo" length and the large frame with wooden grips made by Mauser.

Nov 16, 2020 · Available on the commercial market in Imperial Russia for almost 20 years before the Great War ended importation, the C96 was a favorite for Russian officers, who had to buy their own sidearms and sword. During the Russian Civil War, this love grew rabid as high-ranking Bolsheviks loved the big, flashy German-made automatic.

Jun 13, 2021 · Are you defining all small grip framed C96 and C96 copies as Bolos? If the Bolo designation originated because the Russian Bolsheviks yet the majority of the small grip framed Mausers went to Chinese warlords, then why weren't they named "Chicoms" or "No. 3 box gun"?

Jan 28, 2019 · Everywhere I have read defines the term "Bolo" as a nickname derived from the Bolshevik preference of the small grip frame C-96. If this is where it originated it would not of been used for the pre WWI examples.

Dec 10, 2017 · There is partial data on pre-WWI Russian purchases in several books, but the models are not stated. Nothing on the Bolshevik purchases, which were almost exclusively short barreled "bolos". There is a chapter in one German book on the C96 that discusses the etymology of the term "bolo".

Jan 29, 2016 · The “Bolo” Mauser is the short barreled (i.e. 3.9″/99mm barrel) version of the original C96. These pistols were made in large numbers for the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia and the name “Bolo” came from the word Bolshevik.

Aug 25, 2020 · After the Bolsheviks took over Russia, they ordered large quantities of a C96 variant produced from 1920 to 1921, which featured smaller grips and a handy 3.9-inch barrel. This was the true Bolo Mauser.

Aug 28, 2016 · It's my deact C96 bolo Mauser, it was manufactured 1920/22 and comes with the stock pictured. These postwar Bolos account for nearly a third of all C-96 production. Any customer for new Mauser pistols throughout most of the 1920s would buy Bolos.

Apr 5, 2021 · Just an interesting bit of trivia, but I was looking at an ad for some C-96 parts posted in the WTS forum by a seller in Russia, and included in the group are a set of Bolo grips with the serial number 563453.