The Gletcher M712 is a nearly perfect replica of the Broomhandle Mauser from WWI and most wars of the 20th Century.
Gletcher Airguns M712
https://gletcherguns.com/712
Very few shooting experiences make me smile from ear to ear, so I feel it necessary to share this very unique “full auto” fun surprise. The Gletcher M712 is an “adult” airgun that looks, feels and works just like an original Mauser “Broomhandle,” which is the American name for the C96, called that because of the wooden rounded grip. There are very few firearms that saw more service on both sides in the wars of the 20th Century, and the profile of the Broomhandle can’t be mistaken for any other firearm. First made in 1896, the gun fired the 7.63x25mm Mauser cartridge, the most powerful pistol cartridge of its day. Check out the Wikipedia page for all of the really interesting history on this gun. Buried in that history is a full auto version of the otherwise semi-auto Broomhandle called the M712 Schnellfeuer,German for “fast fire”.
It is exactly the size and weight of the original, which came in a proprietary Mauser caliber and 9mm.
If you are going to make a cool airgun version of an old classic, and you have some historical basis for doing so, why not make it full auto, right? That seems to be the thinking that went into the M712, and they not only pulled off a 100% believable Broomhandle Mauser, it also includes a smile factor full auto switch that actually works. I hadn’t shot a full auto airgun since the carnival games at Hampton Beach, NH when I was a kid, so my “I wonder what this switch does” moment was really nifty. This gun isn’t for young kids, but it really isn’t for actual grownups either.
Gletcher seems to be a very well kept secret, because I had never heard of them until I caught a press release from our friends at Media Direct. If you take a look through the Gletcher website, they make a replica if dozens of classics, including some really oddball stuff like the Polish Radom, Russian Tokerov, and even an Uzi for $199. Some of the guns are plastic and cost under $100. The metal guns like this Broomhandle are in the $119-$199 range, and they just released a Mosin Nagant! If you can’t get rimfire ammo and you want a practice gun, check out the Gletcher website. We don’t generally review airguns, but these guns are the exact weight and controls as the originals, and whether you shoot a Smith & Wesson revolver or a Sig 226, we hope to do some serious side by side comparisons of these guns in the future.
The magazine is 18 rounds and fits only BBs. You have to load them one at a time.
This Model 712 has an 18 round magazine and shoots only .177 cal BBs (There is a separate revolver line that shoots lead pellets through a rifled barrel). Loading the magazine is slightly agonizing when you shoot full auto because the BBs have to be loaded one at a time, but other than that I have no real complaints on the gun. The only quirk was that the full auto switch has to be pressed in hard to change the gun from full auto to semi and back again. Full auto you get about 3 mags per air cylinder, but I’m sure if you are careful you could probably get a couple more. The blowback operation doesn’t require a BB in the chamber, so you have to let off the trigger when the mag is empty, which is tricky to do because the rate of fire is pretty fast.
Velocity on the M712 is about 360 fps. This is enough to punch through aluminum cans at short distances, and it’ll knock steel cans off of a shelf. It was so fun shooting full auto that I didn’t take the time yet to see how “accurate” the gun can shoot on semi, so you can figure that out for yourself. Overall the gun is very clean and precise, but BBs through a smoothbore aren’t usually what you would call accurate.
This is the full auto switch. In automatic mode the magazine empties in less than 2 seconds and is a lot of fun.
No brainer came to mind when I shot the M712, especially if you are a WWI or WWII history buff. But if you look around the Gletcher website there is really something for just about everyone. The question will be can they keep up with orders when this article comes out, so if you are an early reader of GunsAmerica Digest, don’t dawdle. These are heirloom quality airguns at ridiculous prices.
https://gletcherguns.com/712
The gun uses the real magazine release like on the real Mauser.
The air cartridge also fits in the magazine, and the gun comes with this Allen wrench to change cylinders.
Gletcher is not offering the shoulder stock for the gun, like an original shown here, but there is a slot for one so hopefully they plan to do so.
The price of the Gletcher guns is amazing. These are not some fly by night products.
On the M712 the hammer actually reciprocates with the action and falls on a firing lever. It is so nifty.
The grip is actually plastic, but you would swear it is wood in both look and feel. They did an incredible job with the overall fit and finish.
My semi-auto/full-auto lever was a little sticky, but the guns come with an 18 month warranty, so no worries.
I just got mine in the mail. Really an amazingly accurate replicate and it shoot pretty good too. This is definitely not a toy. Their sawed off mosin nagant also looks pretty cool. Next on my list.
I want one of these so I can make it look like Han Solo’s blaster. Because modifying an original would be crazy.
I own a couple originals and just like these replicas, I shoot 7.63 out of a smooth bore. Not incredibly accurate, completely shot out, but a blast to shoot. Nice write up. Full auto is always awesome, even with bbs.
Mike
Where can I purchase one of the $ 179.00 full auto BN /co2. I would like to start my grandson off shooting with one. Also teach him all about gun safety and the proper way to take care of a weapon,hoe and when to use an not too. And how to respect a weapon, safety,other people around him and hoe to treat a weapon and clean and store it safely. This would be a good starter 1st weapon for him to learn on and with he is going to be 16 teen next month. I told him no weapons of any kind until he was 16 teen. Well it’s time for GRAMPA to keep hi promise. Ps he must also maintain a C plus or above Grade average which he has. Even better a B plus. He must really want to learn how to shoot and use a Weapon. I would beg restful for any info on locating this BB AUTO WEAPON THANKING YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN ADVANCE BRIAN.
Pyramid Air is where I got mine for 105.00 on sale just before Christmas
There is one other weapon that appears identical to the C96 so much so that 99+% can not tell the difference unless they disassemble it. The rarer Astra 900 is not the same mechanically but uses the same Mauser cartridge but unlike the C96 does not perform with the 7.62X25 Russian cartridge. Add To that the Chinese copies made in .45acp among other calibers.
You’ll shoot your eye out!
How does the Gletcher version ($179.00) differ from the Umarex version ($119.00) which has a link from Gletcher’s website? Is it the same gun, just repainted; or is it an entirely new pistol? The world waits….
Seadawg
The Umarex gun, sold at Cabela’s, is plastic, weighs just 1 lb., and is semiauto only. The Gletcher is metal, weighs 3 lbs. like the original, and has a selector switch, so it can fire full-auto. No comparison between the two.
I bought the real thing at a pawn shop in the late 80’s for $240….7.63×25…..and while the have a very big cool factor it was the most uncomfortable gun I ever shot….my friends 9mm version had new grips and that made it worst as any sharp edge looks for flesh to dig on.but his shoulder stock was the best part……I had an old ar-7 pistol and loved the lay out and would buy one in .22 any day if they could keep them under $350
I just wish that 30 years ago when I was buying real Broomhandles for $75 and selling them for $100 that I had set one aside to keep for myself.
Got one for Christmas ,this review is spot on.Its a blast my complaint is they need to sell spare mags to aid in the fun factor one shoots and one loads,have this company’s po8 version and both look and feel like the real thing.
Great Article! And nice review. Lately I’ve been so submerged into trying to finding ammo and going to the range with my .22lr firearms. That I totally forget about pellet and BB guns. I do see them a lot when I got shopping at Academy. But never really think of actually buying one to help calm down my need to go target practicing. Ill have to breakdown and get one of these guns. Especially this Mauser! I had a chance to buy a real one a long time ago from a friend of mind who had one. Eventually I’ll find buy one. But until then, Ill settle for this Airsoft gun. lol
I just had this thought cross my mind as I was looking at their website on this gun and their other guns. Although, all of their guns are VERY NICE looking and believably would pass for the authentic at a distance.
My thought is, I can see where the past argument of these kids or adults buying one of these. And attempting to rob or threaten someone. I mean if you were to use this any their guns. Let’s say target practing in your yard. Although, none of them are actually loud as their original version. A cop passes by and see’s it. Would probably stop and be on alert before approaching you. There’s no orange tip like most the airsoft guns I have seen sold in sporting goods stores. So at a distance, it’ll look like your shooting a real gun.
I have no problem buying an airsoft gun. And like the idea of it being all most an exact replica. But now can see the issue(s) that revolve around replica air guns. I mean does anyone see the samething or agrees? lol
Everything kinda says clearly that these are not toys, so do you have any other completely obvious things to share with us?
Man they make real guns that look like toy guns now a day i just ran across a sll pink and black so thell be real guns to an officer of the law any way so hey
If you want to speed up loading, take a piece of tubing which BB’s will fit into, and then use either a smaller piece of tubing or a rod that will easily slide inside to act as a plunger. fill the tube with BB’s and then set it over the magazine and push them in. It should work just like a stripper clip worked on the originals. to further speed up the process of aligning the tubing, take a larger diameter piece of tubing to fit over the feed lips of the magazine and over the ‘stripper clip’ tube. Good luck!
Or you can buy plastic tube speedloaders that we airgunners use for our BB guns.
Pyramyd Air has them, as do many other online retailers. I think that they are about $8 and
they work quite well.
Great review and yes, this particular model is very robust and well-made. Handled it at SHOT and
you are spot on.
No way can a normal person afford a ‘real’ Broomhandle these days. I just ordered one of these pistols. If the gun is anything like this review, it should be a winner for all. Now to see how long it takes to get here!!
I have 2 real ones. I would never want a toy one.
I have an original Máuser C96, the “Red Nine” in my collection. Unfortunally I’m selling all my guns because I’m moving to another country. I have great peaces…. If someone there interested……
Hello this is GunsAmerica genious. All the serious gun buyers are here just list them for sale.
Got mine on 1/29/15!! Looks and feels like the real thing. Can’t wait to shoot it!! Workmanship/quality are A++. Glad I ordered 1 as there is no way I can afford a real one with the prices they are going for now.
I was recently at a gun store and they had a C96 for sale. It was made in the 1920s and I had a chance to handle it. It is a very solid firearm, not like the Tupperware excrement that you see produced these days. It is so unique, that I wanted one, but I was not willing to pay the $1400 they were asking for one that was in that bad of a shape. I really wish some company would start making this firearm again (and it would be a reasonable price).
Oh, same with the Luger P.08. It should be reintroduced (in .45 ACP, of course).
Same here.the 2 pistols on my list as range toys are the luger and the broom.if some one massproduced them in 45 id bareknuckle brock lestner for a pair!!! 9mm is not my favorite round
The P.08 is offered in 45 acp out of San Jose Ca but the price tag is way too much.
Now the broom handle is still made today but in unfavored countries.
Want three