Mauser C96 7.63 mm pistol, 1898

Several British officers carried this type of German semi-automatic pistol in the famous charge at Omdurman on 2 September 1898 during the 2nd Sudan War (1896-1898). Lieutenant Winston Churchill purchased his in London before travelling to Africa.

The pistol was popular for its power and because it could fire ten shots before being reloaded, four more than the British Army's standard revolver. With its box magazine and wooden holster doubling as a shoulder stock, the weapon also had a unique style.