Curious Relics #060: Best Tool For the Job – Paul Mauser Book Review
Sam.S 03.22.23
Welcome, if you are a newcomer to this fun bi-weekly segment of AllOutdoor.com! The last time around I covered the history, variations ( Part II and Part III), dating, and aftermarket parts/accessories (Part IV), and a couple of fun range sessions (Part V) of a German pistol which is one of my absolute favorites. In this article, we are sort of continuing the Mauser Construktion 96 but more so paying the lineage of Paul Mauser some extra respect by doing a review. Today, I am unveiling my review of the book: Paul Mauser – His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838-1914. Let’s dive right into this awesome well put together volume by Mauro Baudino and Gerben van Vlimmeren!
Welcome to our recurring series of “Curious Relics.” Here, we want to share all of our experiences, knowledge, misadventures, and passion for older firearms that one might categorize as a Curio & Relic – any firearm that is at least 50 years old according to the ATF. Hopefully along the way you can garner a greater appreciation for older firearms like we do, and simultaneously you can teach us things as well through sharing your own expertise and thoughts in the Comments. Understanding the firearms of old, their importance, and their development which lead to many of the arms we now cherish today is incredibly fascinating and we hope you enjoy what we have to share, too!
Specifications: Paul Mauser – His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838-1914
This highly detailed book by Mauro Baudino and Gerben van Vlimmeren covers a wide array of information. It includes color, black-and-white photos, and illustrations, as well as technical drawings of Mauser’s firearms. The book also includes a detailed history of the Mauser company and its firearms, making it a comprehensive resource for firearms enthusiasts and collectors.
- Author: Mauro Baudino and Gerben van Vlimmeren
- Publisher: Brad Simpson Publishing
- Date Published: 2017
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 586 Pages
- Cover: Hard Cover with Dust Jacket
- Illustrations: Yes, 1,000 Plus Pictures. Color, b/w, and scanned drawings and documents
- Formats Available: Hardcover
- Book Dimensions: 8.5 x 12 in.
- ISBN13: 978-0692755006
The MSRP of Paul Mauser – His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838-1914 sits at $89.95 but this is subject to fluctuation on the open market. A great many books and resources like this often fall out of print and skyrocket but since I am reviewing this several years after it came out I would say its lifespan will go on for a while, especially since Brad Simpson Publishing was nice enough to send me a copy.
“This book is the result of research and detailed study of the contents of the Paul Mauser private archive and early Mauser Company archives. It is the only book to include analysis of these original archival materials.The opportunity for analysis of this rare and unique material has led to advancing our understanding of this great 19th Century German industrialist and inventor. The period covered by this study is primarily Paul Mauser’s lifespan, which parallels the Mauser Company’s history until 1914 when the founder passed away. However, when necessary for the completeness of the narrative, the analysis continues covering his impact beyond 1914.
The study of the archives and the life of Paul Mauser cannot be dissociated from the story of the firearms he invented. Paul Mauser spent his entire life designing and improving his creations. For this reason, the authors decided to combine the study of both aspects of Mauser’s life. Thus, this book is, at the same time, both an accurate exploration of his life during a tumultuous era in German and Western European history and a study of the inventions and products Paul Mauser designed and produced”
First Impressions: Paul Mauser – His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838-1914
My very first impression of this book when I took it out of the box, was that the dust jacket looked very easily damaged. I suppose this stands for most dust jacket on books, but it was my first observation. The dust jacket itself depicts a bust of the man himself and is adorned with his signature. the title reads elegantly on the top in the authors are at the bottom. The back of the book depicts three Mauser designs and another signature. It also lists “with the contribution of Jon Speed”. Diving underneath the dust jacket the hardcover itself is embellished with gold-colored inlay of the title. Paul Mauser’s signature, the author’s names, and a beautiful schematic of the Mauser C96.
Now that I’m done judging the book by its cover, I should say that it is absolutely beautiful. My first impression of this is an extremely high-quality book, and if somebody looked at my bookshelf with it on it, they would probably guess that this is the finest, most elegant compilation of information I own. Just going off of the looks of this book, demands your attention and your expertise. It has a very authoritative look to it.
Not All Business: Paul Mauser – His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838-1914
Jumping into the inside of this book, I want to initially say that, since this book has such a wide berth of information, it would be hard to review every little thing. This is why I decided to roll with this heading in the next one. There is no reason for me to read this book to you. I will give you plenty of information to make an informed decision on whether this book is for you or not.
This heading is titled “not all business“. This is because unlike most design-centric volumes out there, this one actually takes the time to discuss Paul Mauser and his life. There are chapters and numerous pages, dedicated to Paul, Mauser, and all of the people around him in a never expanding sense. It feels like the authors and contributors continue to find information upon information and could not help but include and share it. Paul Mauser was the type of guy who would constantly make notes. He kept diaries, but he would also send a ton of letters and telegrams. Apparently, he would make notes in his ledger, in his address book, or even on the edges of blueprints. It really makes you think about how busy must’ve been and how important this business was to him. It was a business with his family’s name after all.
A Deep Dive: Paul Mauser – His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838-1914
Despite the large volume of biographical information, there is an even larger chunk dedicated to the company and handgun development. This is the portion that takes the center stage for people like me that love to learn about the firearm technology of the time. This book was a handy resource for everything to do with the Mauser C96 pistol, even though this only encapsulates designs and Company happenings up until 1914. Despite that with the information on the C96 that was in this book detailed from 1895 until 1914 I was overwhelmed. It is simply too much, and somehow the authors manage to include it all. I remember the selfish thought of being disappointed that this only goes till 1914. But when you see the absolutely monumental task of the people involved with this book, understand why it is as limited as it is. Limited and its breath not in its information.
Some poignant information I thought I would list that this book covers would be topics like Mauser‘s revolvers, the Mauser, C96 and its relation to Bergmann, variations of the Mauser C96 including military contract variations, the 9mm export cartridge, and early pocket pistol development. There is so much more to this book. I cannot stress that enough.
Final Thoughts: Paul Mauser – His Life, Company, and Handgun Development 1838-1914
You may be asking yourself “is this book for me“? It is a hard question to answer, but what I will say, is that if you are interested in Paul Mauser and a lot of the early development that the company went through, including its small arms designs, this is probably the go-to book. It is overwhelming in so many good ways and a seemingly endless resource for all of the questions that I have. On top of that, Mauro Baudino at the Paul Mauser Archives (and obvious author of the book) is an extremely knowledgeable gentleman and seemingly ready to provide any information he has on hand. He was nice enough to talk to me via email and mentioned that they have a Facebook group in which they often communicate with people curious about the topic. At the very least if this book seems a little out of your wheelhouse, I recommend checking out the Paul Mauser Archives as well as that Facebook group.
In closing, and some final thoughts would be sad. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to any self-proclaimed experts, as well as people like me that have a love of history and a passion for firearms. I say, bravo to the authors, as well as thank you. I hope to see more in time.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Mauro Baudino and Brad Simpson Publishing for both sending along and compiling such a fantastic and refreshing complement of advanced information on Paul Mauser and his influence and giving AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to review it! That is greatly appreciated. We always appreciate audience feedback. I hope our Curious Relics segment informed as well as entertained. This all was written in hopes of continued firearm appreciation and preservation. We did not just realize how guns were supposed to look and function. It was a long and tedious process that has shaped the world we live in. So, I put it to you! Is there a firearm out there that you feel does not get much notoriety? What should our next Curious Relics topic cover? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
