The HSc was Mauser’s attempt to compete with the highly successful Walther PP design. Development began in 1934, and was ready for mass production in 1938. The German Arms Bureau did not allow production to begin until 1940, however, as it wanted Mauser to focus on production of military contracts.
When the HSc (Hahn Selbstspanner modell C; double-action model C) did go into production, the guns were serial numbered starting with #700,000, to pick up where Mauser 1914/34 pistol production ended. A total of 252,000 HSc pistols were made during World War II, with 137,000 purchased by the German Army, 27,000 by the Navy, 28,000 by various police units, and 59,000 sold commercially (including many sales to soldiers who were not issued pistols).
- Mauser Pocket Pistols, 1910-1945. David Rachwal - Handguns of the World. Mauser Pistols: 1910, 1914, WTP, HSc. By Ed Buffaloe and Burgess Mason III. One such 6.35 mm pistol, serial number 7, is shown on page 76 of Mauser Pistolen. In the case of the 6.35 mm pistol, the ends of the buffer spring. I have a Mauser HSc, serial number 852151. 4th variation with military finish.
- Manufacturer: Mauser Model: HSC Serial Number: 863562 Condition: 90% Bore Condition: 9/10 Manufacture Date: 1943. Contact Seller.Your Name:.Your Email:.Your Phone Number:.Message: Yes! I would like to receive news and updates from Guns International. This address will not be sold or used for promotional purposes.
- Serial numbers begin at 700001. According to Burnham and Theodore in their 2015 book The Mauser HSc Pistol, the first production gun was test fired on 19 September 1940. Production began in earnest in December 1940.
Mechanically, the HSc is a simple blowback design, chambered for .32ACP (postwar variants were also made in 9x17mm). As with most contemporary pistols, they used a heel-mounted magazine release and a safety on the slide.
Manuals
The Mauser HSc (Hahn-Selbstspannerpistole Modell c) replaced the outdated Mauser 1934. There were some overlaps in production. The serial numbers of the Mauser 1934 was continued with the Mauser HSc. I recently acquired a Mauser 1914 and wondered about a marking on the slide. The serial number (360xxx) indicates it was made sometime between 1923 and 1929 (somebody please correct me on this if this is wrong). It also has the numbers 555 stamped on the receiver.
Resources
More information on the marking variants of the HSc (and some nice detailed photos) can be found at Pistols of the German Wehrmacht.
Characteristics:
Type: Single Action semiautomatic.
Caliber(s): 7.65.
Weight unloaded: 645 g.
Barrel length: 85 mm.
Magazine capacity: 8 rounds.
Design and development of the Mauser Model HSc pocket pistol began in 1934 at Mauser-Werke in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany. It was meant to replace their outdated single-action Model 1914/34 and compete against the highly successful Walther Model PP double-action pistol. After developing some twenty-two prototypes to the design, a final version of the HSc went into full production in December, 1940. Of historical interest, Mauser was fully prepared to commence production in 1938, but was held back by the Heereswaffenamt (Army Weapons Bureau) due to other wartime priorities. HSc stands for Hahn Selbstspanner Pistole (Self-Cocking Hammer or Double-Action Pistol) version “c”.
Mauser-Werke began production at serial number 700001. All WWII produced Mauser HSc's were marked at the factory with the complete six-digit serial number on the lower front grip strap. In addition, the bottom of the barrel breech was stamped with the last three digits of the serial number and the same three digits were electro-penciled by hand under the muzzle of the slide. German production of the HSc ended in the closing days of the war, on April 19, 1945, the serial numbers having reached almost 952000. This represents about 252,000 HSc pistols manufactured during the Nazi regime in Germany.
The first 1,345 pistols off the production line have become known as the Low Grip Screw (LGS) HSc due to the position of the grip retention screws near the bottom of the grips. About half of this initial run was procured by the Kriegsmarine (Navy), the balance sent into the Commercial market. The grip screws were subsequently moved up about ¾” and by serial number 701348, the Heer (Army) began procurement followed by the various Polizei (Police) organizations, including the Schutzstaffel or SS. The Luftwaffe (Airforce) purchased HSc pistols through the Heereswaffenamt and not their own departments. Military personnel not issued a sidearm often purchased pistols (including the HSc) in the commercial marketplace and carried them into the field.
Mauser Hsc Serial Number Dates
Every Mauser HSc pistol produced during WWII will bear the factory firing proof (Beschuss-stempel) of an Eagle over “N” stamped on the right trigger guard web, on the front of the right slide and on the barrel breech block. Commercial pistols will have only these firing proofs. Pistols procured by a military or police organization will also have a specific acceptance proof stamped on the left rear trigger guard web. For example, Eagle over “655”, “135”, or “WaA135” for Army; Eagle over “L” or “F” for Police; and an Eagle over “M” on the front grip strap and later an Eagle over “MIII/8” on the left trigger guard web for the Navy.
Mauser Model Hsc 32
From May 1945 to June 1946, the French occupied Mauser-Werke continued to produce over 19,000 more HSc pistols, primarily for their own troops in Indochina. These were serialized, without any skips from those made during the war, up to about 971239. No proof marks will be found, however, an interlaced “WR” internal factory inspection mark was stamped on most of the pistols in place of the military acceptance mark. By 1947, a major part of the factory was destroyed and the equipment transported to other Allied countries.
Finally, in 1967, after rebuilding its facilities, Mauser announced that it would resume HSc produc-tion. From October 1968 to December 1977, a total of 63,118 HSc pistols were made. This included 18,868 in 7.65mm (.32 ACP) using the new serial number range 00.1001 to 00.19868; 39,250 in 9mm Kurz (.380 ACP) in the range 01.1001 to 01.40250; and a special production group of 5,000 in both calibers, labeled the American Eagle Edition, to end the series.