Mauser HSc
| Mauser HSc | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1940–1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany France |
| Wars | World War II, First Indochina War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Alex Seidel |
| Designed | 1935–36 |
| Manufacturer | Mauser |
| Produced | 1940–1977 |
| Number built | Over 334,000 |
| Variants | HSc Super |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 700 g (25 oz) unloaded |
| Length | 152 mm (6.0 in) |
| Barrel length | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
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| Cartridge |
.32 ACP (7.65×17mm Browning SR) .380 ACP (9×17mm Short) |
| Action | Blowback |
| Feed system | 8-round detachable box magazine (.32 ACP) 7-round detachable box magazine (.380 ACP) |
| Sights | Fixed iron sights |
The Mauser HSc is a 7.65mm pistol made in Nazi Germany during World War II and post-war. The designation HSc stood for Hahn Selbstspanner ("self-cocking hammer") Pistole, third and final design "C". Production was continued in 1945–46 during the French occupation and, later, from 1968 to 1977 by Mauser. It features a semi-exposed hammer, double-action trigger, single-column magazine, and a spring surrounding the barrel.
The Mauser HSc was originally intended as a commercial pistol. It competed with the contemporary German Walther PPK and PP and Sauer 38H for police and military use. It was procured initially by the navy (Kriegsmarine) soon followed by the Army and police. HSc pistols used by the Luftwaffe or Waffen-SS were procured from Army and police stocks.
Production began in late 1940 at serial number 700,000, as an extension of the serial number range of the Mauser Model 1934 pistol, a much more difficult pistol to manufacture. The early pistols have well-made wooden grips, and are highly polished and richly blued. The first 1350 pistols were made for the commercial market and, because of the low positioning of the grip screws, have become known as the "Low Grip Screw" variety. Approximately half of this initial production was purchased by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. All these early low grip pistols are today very rare. At approximately serial number 701345 the grip screws were relocated upward to a more central and sturdier position.
The German Army began HSc procurement with an initial order for 3,000 pistols in early 1941, beginning with serial number 701,345, and, intermittently, ending about #712,000. These pistols are marked with an Eagle/655 inspection stamp on the left rear trigger guard web, a factory firing proof Eagle/N on the right rear trigger guard web and at the front of the right slide. Also a small Army Test Proof stamp was stamped on the left rear grip tang. Subsequent orders were placed by the Army throughout the war, along with pistols procured by the Police and Kriegsmarine, with almost 24% of the total production of 252,000 pistols going to the commercial market.
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Wikipedia