Before World War One, the Mauser company tried to make a follow-up automatic pistol to replace its famous C96 "Broomhandle" design with something more modern. The result was a very successful pocket pistol in .25ACP and .32ACP, and a series of unsuccessful blowback and delayed blowback service pistols in 9mm and .45ACP. This particular one is an intermediate example, with an internal delayed blowback system and buffer spring, but before the designers turned to a flap-style system to delay the action.