Mauser C96 Red 9

During World War I, the Imperial German Army contracted with Mauser for 150,000 C96 pistols chambered in 9mm Parabellum to offset the slow production of the standard-issue Luger P08 pistol. This variant of the C96 was named the “Red 9“, after a large number “9“ burned and painted in red into the grip panels, to warn the pistols’ users not to incorrectly load them with mm ammunition. Of the 150,000 pistols commissioned, approximately 137,000 were delivered before the war the army delegated