December 22, 20187 yr #1 I have a long time friend who called me a few days ago. His wife passed last year and he has been living about 4 hours south of me since then, but still has a small house in my town. He started the conversation with "I promised you my Broomhandle a few years ago, and I now want you to have it". I honestly dont remember him ever making that promise, and even if I did, I wouldnt hold him to it. He is a Viet Nam vet and has been over to my home on several occasions to see my collection. We have known each other about twenty years. He is a bit of a gun nut, loves to shoot, but doesn't necessarily specialize in military firearms (so I thought). He continued "I am a man of my word, and I want this Broomhandle in your collection". I really didnt know what to say, and didnt want to offend him. We met the next day and he continued with his insistence that I take the gun stating that he had been offered money for it, but didn't want to sell it, and none of his family was interested in it. He said he had purchased it as a young man from his Aunt. Apparently his Uncle had been a gun collector and this was one in his collection. Anyway I got pretty excited when he took the gun out. While I wasn't an expert on the Broomhandle, I have since read quite a bit and believe what I have is a German made WWI issued Red 9. All numbers match including the one on the wood stock. It is in very nice condition, original finish and other than a little thinning here and there, really nice. I do see a crowned U near the serial number on one side of the receiver, a 500 meter rear site, the NS marking on the rear of the hammer, etc. It falls in the 136,000 range. I am very excited to add it to my Imperial German collection and it looks fabulous in the display cabinet. Any comments on it are appreciated. This is a gift/Christmas I wont soon forget. Now just to find a way to show my appreciation to my friend. I am really touched by his generosity. Can anyone comment on my chances of finding an original leather rig to place on the stock? Kevin
December 22, 20187 yr #3 That is a beautiful pistol. You must have been exceptionally good this year for Santa to bring you this gift. Congratulations!
December 23, 20187 yr Author #5 Thanks for the nice comments. Here it is with in the display cabinet with the Imprial German collection
December 26, 20187 yr Author #9 Thanks once again guys for the nice comments. I have discovered that the German army ordered 150,000 of these in 1916 as the Luger orders were slow and there was a need for pistols. The gun in this thread is just outside of the 130,000 delivered to the German army in WWI, but still within the 150,000 ordered. Because of this, it does miss its Imperial German accemptance mark typically found on the right side of the receiver. Still very representative of the red 9 Broomhandle carried by the German Armyin WWI. Kevin
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