Yes, a C&R license holder can do the occasional import on a Form 6. The catch is that the gun cannot be surplus military. As many C96 pistols were commercial guns - especially the Spanish-made ones - he may be good to go.
Go to ATF's site, download the Form 6, fill it out, and submit to ATF. They'll either approve or not.
The main issue is likely going to be export/purchase laws in the country he's in.