Robert Henley Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 Looking for some expert eyes to determine if this leather harness is original: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/796959515 It looks too good or new looking (stamped number) to be original, but I'm not an expert. Any other comments about it appreciated. Thanks, Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmarvin Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 Hard to believe it's original in that condition. Here's a couple photos of mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black River Militaria CII Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 Repro....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timkel Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 (edited) Leather looks too good. The wood just not right. Edited January 18, 2019 by timkel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 Would an original be marked "Germany" (see photo 2) or would it read "Deutschland"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hammer Posted January 18, 2019 Report Share Posted January 18, 2019 Definitely a repro, absolutely no question about it.MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black River Militaria CII Posted January 19, 2019 Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 On GB under the heading of “Broomhandle” there is a nice vintage M96 leather stock holder that you can inspect and compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted January 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 On GB under the heading of “Broomhandle” there is a nice vintage M96 leather stock holder that you can inspect and compare. I looked and saw these: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/790749529 https://www.gunbroker.com/item/793530175 I think I like the shoulder hanging leather harness, assuming that's correct for my gun (manufactured between 1915 to 1921 as I recall from looking up the SN). Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsonlmg41 Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 (edited) Both guns in both those auctions have been refinished, both harness' are repros, and only the mauser banner stock in the ......175 auction is legit. The other stock is a repro as well. Older nicer one though. All of it is priced as the real deal unfortunately. Added some pics of two holster rigs- originaland one repro and one original stock. HTH Edited January 20, 2019 by johnsonlmg41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted February 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 Is this one original leather?: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/798165252 I think that's what I am looking for if someone happens to have one they don't need. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 I put a bid in on this one: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/799178911 Before I go too far, is this one original or repo? Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hammer Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 Robert, 1917 leather, no I don't believe it. While the leather has a large grain making it appear old, the stitching looks fairly new, the leather would of had a much finer grain to it and you would see much darker patina and a smooth polished look showing wear. This appears to be some kind of reproduction. But hey, for the price, (if it stays there) it would be ok to use in my opinion. The photos are really not that great either. I defer to other opinions. MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 Robert, 1917 leather, no I don't believe it. While the leather has a large grain making it appear old, the stitching looks fairly new, the leather would of had a much finer grain to it and you would see much darker patina and a smooth polished look showing wear. This appears to be some kind of reproduction. But hey, for the price, (if it stays there) it would be ok to use in my opinion. The photos are really not that great either. I defer to other opinions. MH Those were my impressions too, but a nice reproduction at a reasonable price would be OK. My bid is well below what it will probably sell for, I'm guessing. But if it was original, I'd stay in the bidding. Thanks, Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted February 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 I went a little higher, but my conclusion was it was a fake after studying the ones above that were real. I hope I was right because if it was real it was a steal, and I wasn't the successful bidder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 I went a little higher, but my conclusion was it was a fake after studying the ones above that were real. I hope I was right because if it was real it was a steal, and I wasn't the successful bidder.Just so folks are aware harnesses started getting knocked off in the 1970s so some are a good 50 years old todayOnly way to even hope to tell the slightest difference might be is the stitching but even that isn't sure fire 100% I suppose one could test for the tanning processes involved too anyways any harness that's in pretty decent shape has a 50% chance of being an older knock offmost originals either have repairs or tearsvery few survived the last century or more unscathed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted February 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2019 What about this one?: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/801558335 Real or not? Looks real to me. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB Posted March 1, 2019 Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 What about this one?: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/801558335 Real or not? Looks real to me. Robert Likely a real harnessIron is original however the inside of the stock looks a bit freshSome guys buy busted stocks then install the hardware on repro wood after aging them up some It's a tough call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timkel Posted March 1, 2019 Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 Even the experts can disagree on some stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hammer Posted March 1, 2019 Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 Leather harness is original, the stock is hard to tell but I'm thinking of a later time period than the teens. By the way, I'm interested in finding a stock for a Schnellfeuer 712, a repro would be OK. I found a maker overseas who wants the world for a repro, not going to pay that much. If anyone knows of anything available please let me know. MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB Posted March 1, 2019 Report Share Posted March 1, 2019 Leather harness is original, the stock is hard to tell but I'm thinking of a later time period than the teens. By the way, I'm interested in finding a stock for a Schnellfeuer 712, a repro would be OK. I found a maker overseas who wants the world for a repro, not going to pay that much. If anyone knows of anything available please let me know. MH Yes it's a bit too blonde for the early issueat the very least the holster stock and harness are badly mismatched. Something for guys to remember is the Mauser manufactured stocks were cut from a Northern European Walnut with tends to be quite a bit darker than French or Southern Euro wood. The old school repros were all French or Southern Walnut, rather blonde like this oneThe Chinese stocks are almost all very light colored wood once you get under the stain. Real light in weight as well contrasted to real Euro Walnut This should NOT be taken as a hard and fast rule thoughThe very early stocks, pre 1900 were often rather blondish.Knew one old C96 collector many years ago who claimed the Walnut used was "French", or rather sourced from Western Germania so well basically French Walnut Over the years I have heard so many opinionsreally the only way to resolve it would be by DNA testing to identify exact origin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted March 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2019 Another one for sale, real or not?: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/802307655 Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black River Militaria CII Posted March 24, 2019 Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 Looks good to me. I’ve had a couple of these over the years by the same maker and in similar condition and this one lols genuine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted April 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2019 How about this one, real or fake?: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/808235834 This one looks good to me if it's not a fake (given the asking price). I like the style harness (although I don't see where the strap it goes through the metal loop toward the stock end where the wooden flap is that opens up to put the gun inside it--is that just not visible in the pictures?). Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeRanger Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) Not meaning to hijack this thread but there seems to be a lot of C96 expertise here. I've decided I want one. I'm looking for a shooter grade "Red 9" but I really don't know what to look for in terms of features, conditions etc. I don't need or want a safe queen but I don't want to end up with a piece of Scheisse. Can anyone point me at some good reference material or even web sites? Edited January 20, 2020 by StrangeRanger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyDixon Posted January 20, 2020 Report Share Posted January 20, 2020 somehow i learned that one way the feds can tell if a stock is original, pre 1945 is any tree cut before 1945 w0nt have a radioactive isotope in the wood. any wood from a tree growing after 1945 will have picked upa radioactive isotope from atomic blast test of that era, just sayn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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