A local gun store had a Broom Handle in good shape for $500, but the honest store manager said he would recommend NOT firing it. I came close, but didn’t buy it. It’s on my bucket list for a bunch more money.
If I saw that Broomhandle for $500 & the finish was OK, I would have bought it. The only real firing hazard is a worn bolt stop, which is easily replaced.
Hope it is still available. Broomhandles are getting costly these days. I should point out that Broomhandles made in China were produced in the 1920’s & 1930’s and are generally of good quality. These were not made under communism but were the result of the Great Powers embargo which forbade import of handguns and rifles, although the Broomhandle under the embargo was neither fish nor fowl and could be imported.
My favorite is the Chinese Type 43 which was a Chinese made frame on a German made barrel & extension, that takes detachable magazines. These are in 9mm only.
Let me know if I can help with more info. Been collecting since 1986 but my interest goes all the way back to the movie Lawrence of Arabia (1962) where the enemy Turks carried Broomhandles and one dazed trainwrecked Turk tries & fails to kill Lawrence with repeated misaimed shots.
At age 15 I said, “I want one of those!”
;^)
“A local gun store had a Broom Handle in good shape for $500...”
Last time my local gun store had a C96 they wanted $1400 for it, about 10 years ago. It was and is the only one I’ve ever actually laid eyes on, and I want one REAL BAD. I’ve also been trying to find blueprints for them. And I’m building my own machine shop in case I ever manage to do so. :(