Rare Original Shansei Arsenal Type 17 Broomhandle - .45 ACP

Description

10/21/26 - This is a rare, original Shansei (Shanxi) Arsenal Type 17 "broomhandle" pistol chambered in .45 ACP, one of the most desirable of all Chinese-made C96 variations. Yen Hsi-shan, the warlord governor of Shanxi Province, built the arsenal at Taiyuan into one of the largest arms factories in China. His troops already carried a locally made copy of the Thompson submachine gun in .45 ACP, so the arsenal scaled up the Mauser C96 to fire the same cartridge and simplify ammunition supply. Named for the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), when the design was adopted, the Type 17 has an enlarged frame and magazine to handle the big .45 round. Only about 8,000 were made between 1929 and 1931, and they saw hard use in the war against Japan and the Chinese Civil War, so few survive today. Most of the Type 17s seen in the U.S. are reproductions made in China in the 1980s, which makes an original Taiyuan Arsenal example like this one a true prize for any broomhandle or Chinese military collection. It is all matching, with the serial number on the chamber, bolt, hammer, rear sight and other parts, and it has all the proper markings, including the Chinese characters for "Type 17" on the left side of the frame and the right-side marking for manufacture in Shanxi in the 18th year of the Republic (1929). The finish rates about 75-80%. While there isn't a ton of actual finish loss, there is obvious heavy spotty oxidation and light pitting throughout, along with a couple of spots of light surface rust and heavier pitting on the frame under the grip straps. Fitted with period-correct wood grips that show noticeable wear and bruising. The bore is 4/10, with pretty good rifling but obvious spotty oxidation and pitting throughout. Please note that Type 17 pistols are known for having issues with operation due to the way they were constructed, so we recommend having it checked out by a qualified gunsmith before firing.