Model guns made in Japan (5)

Mauser M712 model gun made by Marushin

A user-guide on Mauser M712 Model gun by Marushin

In the 1980s Marushin manufactured a model gun of Mauser M712 using cheap alloy and plastic. It has a switch for the user to choose between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing mode. Basically Mauser pistol is the semi-automatic, that  means it is a self loading pistol, e.g. the Mauser Modell 1916 which was manufactured in early 20th century.  Later Mauser company produced an improved version in that a switch is added to choose a full-automatic firing mode, such as the Mauser M712.

A finished M712 model gun

A loading bridge and a 10-round magazine

Major Frederick in his book entitled “Modern Small Arms” of 1978 introduces the history of Mauser pistols and says that “Peter Paul Mauser is probably best known for his work with rifles . . . He first became really interested in pistols in the 1870s and in 1878 he produced an ingenious revolve . . .  He then turned to self-loading pistols and after various experiment produced his Model 1896, followed by possibly the best known of all, the Model 98 . . . It was a pistol of this type that Winston Churchill carried in the Omdurman campaign when a shoulder injury prevented him from using a sword. . . [The Mauser Modell 1912] was made in large numbers right up to 1918 and is probably the commonest type to be found today.” This Frederick also says that “it is often believed that a full-automatic version was used in the period 1914-18 but his is not so . . . it was not a great success because it overheated’.

A drawing of the Mauser M712 model gun parts

This model gun Mauser M712 made by Marushin comes with several accessories, e.g. the ammunition loading bridge used to load ten rounds of ammunition from the top into the standard magazine of the gun. Also, there is an optional 20-round magazine. There is also a wooden holster. Besides being used as a holster, it can be fitted to the grip thus turning the pistol into a rifle to facilitate the user to take aim more accurately at long distance shooting objects. In fact, the aiming device gives a reading of up to 1000 (feet?)

The sight with a 1000 marking

Mauser Model 1916 (A model gun by MGC)

A switch to choose N (Normal) or R (Repetition)

This model gun is relatively difficult to assemble as there are a lot of small moving parts. When I assembly this model gun, I have the feeling of assembling a watch. The model by Marushin is perfectly done as this manufacturer can balance the authentic appearance of the gun while at the same time making sure that the firing mechanisms of the pistol can work smoothly. For me this pistol has a rich historical meaning. In Europe it was widely used by the Germany soldier during the WWI.  In China it was used by the authorities during and after the 1911 Revolution, and also by the anti-Japanese Chinese forces during the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945.

A Mauser pistol in a wooden holster with a leather pocket attached