KTC M32 (1896 Mauser style) Reviews

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Good Points: Looks like an 1896 from a distance

Bad Points: See below....

General comments: There's no doubt about it, theKTC M32 (1896 Mauser style) is one cheap and cheesy gun. If you saw it hanging in the toy aisle of your local dollar store, you wouldn't think it looked out of place. Still, it IS a replica (such as it is) of an 1896 "Broomhandle" Mauser pistol, and they don't exactly grow on trees... they're even more rare than the P-08 Luger.

Anyhow, it looks like a toy, it feels like a toy, and it handles like a toy. The molded in levers and controls aren't convincing at all, and the fake-adjustable chromed plastic rear sight is "cap pistol" quality. The fake wood grips are a joke.

The hammer moves, but is is not attached to the trigger in any way. When you pull the slide to the rear the hammer goes back, when you release the slide the hammer goes forward. The only control that's real is the mag release. It does have an open ejection port (!), but the effect is somewhat spoiled by the slide return spring running parallel to and above the feed mechanism.

The plastic finish itself really isn't all that bad, and the overall shape and size of the gun seems about right. The eight screws on the right hand side of the gun spoil the look of it from that side. There are no trademarks, fake or otherwise, that try to invoke the memory of the real "Broomhandle" Mauser.

The gun comes with 2 magazines, a short 6-round one that fits entirely inside the pistol body, and a longer 12 round version that protrudes about 2" down from the mag well. Both have locking plungers, making them fairly easy to load.

This gun is an easy cocker, and despite the cheap feel of the gun it does give the impression that it might actually have a reasonable service life. As expected the velocity is mediocre, but accuracy (or at least grouping - a little over 4" at 20') is better than might than might be expected from a Chinese gun with a 3" plastic barrel.

Balance of the pistol is a non-issue since there's no weight to speak of. One interesting note - the orange paint on the muzzle actually covers the entire front sight, which makes it easier to see when aiming... although the POI actually has little in common with the POA!

As for ultimate range, the BB's are already starting to descend significantly at 20 feet. Don't expect more than about 10 yards with this gun, maybe 15 if you shoot "artillery style".

If you're looking for a prop, or just want something that resembles the old German pistol, it's worth spending a few bucks on this thing.

But only a few. I've seen websites selling this pistol for $30 - shipping not included! You'd have to want one pretty bad to pay that much for it. If it can be had for cheap, it makes for an interesting piece that isn't completely useless as a short-range soda can shooter... but it's no more than that. And using it for a skirmishing gun? That'd be just plain silly. The thin, spindly barrel, flimsy frame, and the lightweight mags just wouldn't put up with much knocking around, and you'd be dead meat going up against something as mild as a Taurus PT111 or Crosman P99.