A closer look at the post war Mauser HSc.
Pistols used in the comparison:
#1: Mauser HSc serial number 00.01690 – 1968.
#2: Mauser HSc serial number 00.19411 – 1977.
#3: Mauser HSc cutaway. Undated, no serial number.
#4: Mauser HSc serial number 01.18972 – ca. 1970 (1977 proof).
Slide address:
1968:
MAUSER-WERKE A.G. Oberndorf a.N.
Modell HSc Made in Germany
1970:
MAUSER-WERKE A.G. Oberndorf a.N.
Modell HSc Made in Germany
1977:
Mauser-Werke Oberndorf GmbH
Oberndorf / Neckar
Mod. HSc Made in Germany
Undated:
MAUSER-WERKE A.G. Oberndorf a.N.
Modell HSc (rest obscured by cut-out)
Serial number:
1968
Serial number on right side of slide.
Last 3 digits of serial on inner front cut-out of frame.
Last 3 digits on bottom of chamber.
1970
Serial number on right side of slide.
Serial number on left side of frame.
Last 3 digits on bottom of chamber.
1977
Serial number on right side of slide.
Serial number on left side of frame.
Last 3 digits on bottom of chamber.
Undated
No serial numbers or partial numbers anywhere.
Grips:
1968:
Black plastic with ‘Original Mauser’ logo.
1970:
Wood.
1977:
Wood.
Undated:
Wood with several cut-outs.
Functionality:
1968:
The 1968 pistol has the hammer construction of the 1940-1942 version of the HSc. This version had to be modified in 1943 following a patent dispute between Walther and Mauser.
When the pistol’s slide is open, with the safety applied and the magazine is inserted, the slide will close and the hammer will remain in half-cocked position.
1970:
The 1970 pistol has the hammer construction of the 1943 and later versions of the HSc. This is the modified version, modelled after the wartime HSc with resolved patent issues.
When the pistol’s slide is open, with the safety applied and the magazine inserted, the slide will close and the hammer will remain cocked.
1977:
The 1977 pistol has the hammer construction of the 1943 and later versions of the HSc. This is the modified version, modelled after the wartime HSc with resolved patent issues.
When the pistol’s slide is open, with the safety applied and the magazine inserted, the slide will close and the hammer will remain cocked.
Undated:
The undated cutaway also has the hammer construction of the 1977 / 1943 version.
Proof markings:
1968:
Eagle/N on left of slide. Top before serrations.
Eagle/N on left of frame. With 68 date and Ulm antler.
Eagle/N on chamber. Visible through ejection port.
1970:
Eagle/N on right side of slide. Below ejection port.
Eagle/N on left side of frame. With HH (77) date and Ulm antler.
Eagle/N on chamber. Visible through ejection port.
1977:
Eagle/N on right side of slide. Below ejection port.
Eagle/N on left side of frame. With HH (77) date and Ulm antler.
Eagle/N on chamber. Obscured by slide.
Undated:
No proofs.
Calibre designation:
1968:
Large size 32 ACP on chamber, visible through ejection port.
1970:
Small size 9mmK with .38 below. .38 partially obscured by slide.
1977:
Small size 7.65mm with .32 below. Visible through ejection port.
Undated:
Small .32 visible. Rest milled away. Visible through ejection port.
Other markings:
1968:
1970:
Mauser banner on left side of chamber (barrel).
1977:
Mauser banner on left side of chamber (barrel).
Undated:
Mauser banner on left side of chamber (barrel).
Sear spring:
All versions of the post war HSc use a sear construction that differs greatly from the one used during 1940-1947 production.
1968:
The sear is spring loaded by utilizing the trigger spring on the front. Additionally a small curved leaf spring is placed underneath the grip to act as a buffer to push the sear back up.
The problem with this double spring lay-out is that the sear is held under pressure by the side plate. With the side plate removed the sear can jump out relatively easily.
1977:
The sear and buffer functions are both carried out by a single spring. The trigger spring is no longer attached to the sear.
1970 9mmK:
In the 1970 9mmK the cut-out for the buffer leaf spring is still present, but the pistol utilizes the same spring construction as the 1977 pistol.
Undated:
Same construction as 1970 9mmK and 1977 pistols: Single spring.
Wartime sear construction:
Preliminary conclusion:
It seems that the 1968 version was based in part on the 1940-1942 drawings of the HSc, with a modified sear/spring construction. Around 1970 the design was changed to a simpler but more rugged sear construction, on which the leaf return spring was replaced by a wire spring. Also relatively early the full serial number was added to the frame. Around 1970 the barrels began to be marked with a Mauser banner logo on the left side of the frame, a feature that is absent on the earlier 1968 models.
In 1975 Mauser’s company structure was changed from an Aktiengesellschaft (A.G.) to a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH). This influenced the name of the company on the pistols, it changed from MAUSER-WERKE A.G. to Mauser-Werke Oberndorf GmbH.
So we can speak of the following post-war variations:
Variation 1:
1968-1970. MAUSER-WERKE A.G.. Double spring sear. Pre-patent hammer. Plastic grips.
Variation 2:
1970-1975. MAUSER-WERKE A.G.. Single spring sear. Post-patent hammer. Wooden grips.
Variation 3:
1975-1977: Mauser-Werke Oberndorf GmbH. Single spring sear. Post-patent hammer. Wooden grips.
Pistols used in the comparison:
#1: Mauser HSc serial number 00.01690 – 1968.
#2: Mauser HSc serial number 00.19411 – 1977.
#3: Mauser HSc cutaway. Undated, no serial number.
#4: Mauser HSc serial number 01.18972 – ca. 1970 (1977 proof).
Slide address:
1968:
MAUSER-WERKE A.G. Oberndorf a.N.
Modell HSc Made in Germany
1970:
MAUSER-WERKE A.G. Oberndorf a.N.
Modell HSc Made in Germany
1977:
Mauser-Werke Oberndorf GmbH
Oberndorf / Neckar
Mod. HSc Made in Germany
Undated:
MAUSER-WERKE A.G. Oberndorf a.N.
Modell HSc (rest obscured by cut-out)
Serial number:
1968
Serial number on right side of slide.
Last 3 digits of serial on inner front cut-out of frame.
Last 3 digits on bottom of chamber.
1970
Serial number on right side of slide.
Serial number on left side of frame.
Last 3 digits on bottom of chamber.
1977
Serial number on right side of slide.
Serial number on left side of frame.
Last 3 digits on bottom of chamber.
Undated
No serial numbers or partial numbers anywhere.
Grips:
1968:
Black plastic with ‘Original Mauser’ logo.
1970:
Wood.
1977:
Wood.
Undated:
Wood with several cut-outs.
Functionality:
1968:
The 1968 pistol has the hammer construction of the 1940-1942 version of the HSc. This version had to be modified in 1943 following a patent dispute between Walther and Mauser.
When the pistol’s slide is open, with the safety applied and the magazine is inserted, the slide will close and the hammer will remain in half-cocked position.
1970:
The 1970 pistol has the hammer construction of the 1943 and later versions of the HSc. This is the modified version, modelled after the wartime HSc with resolved patent issues.
When the pistol’s slide is open, with the safety applied and the magazine inserted, the slide will close and the hammer will remain cocked.
1977:
The 1977 pistol has the hammer construction of the 1943 and later versions of the HSc. This is the modified version, modelled after the wartime HSc with resolved patent issues.
When the pistol’s slide is open, with the safety applied and the magazine inserted, the slide will close and the hammer will remain cocked.
Undated:
The undated cutaway also has the hammer construction of the 1977 / 1943 version.
Proof markings:
1968:
Eagle/N on left of slide. Top before serrations.
Eagle/N on left of frame. With 68 date and Ulm antler.
Eagle/N on chamber. Visible through ejection port.
1970:
Eagle/N on right side of slide. Below ejection port.
Eagle/N on left side of frame. With HH (77) date and Ulm antler.
Eagle/N on chamber. Visible through ejection port.
1977:
Eagle/N on right side of slide. Below ejection port.
Eagle/N on left side of frame. With HH (77) date and Ulm antler.
Eagle/N on chamber. Obscured by slide.
Undated:
No proofs.
Calibre designation:
1968:
Large size 32 ACP on chamber, visible through ejection port.
1970:
Small size 9mmK with .38 below. .38 partially obscured by slide.
1977:
Small size 7.65mm with .32 below. Visible through ejection port.
Undated:
Small .32 visible. Rest milled away. Visible through ejection port.
Other markings:
1968:
1970:
Mauser banner on left side of chamber (barrel).
1977:
Mauser banner on left side of chamber (barrel).
Undated:
Mauser banner on left side of chamber (barrel).
Sear spring:
All versions of the post war HSc use a sear construction that differs greatly from the one used during 1940-1947 production.
1968:
The sear is spring loaded by utilizing the trigger spring on the front. Additionally a small curved leaf spring is placed underneath the grip to act as a buffer to push the sear back up.
The problem with this double spring lay-out is that the sear is held under pressure by the side plate. With the side plate removed the sear can jump out relatively easily.
1977:
The sear and buffer functions are both carried out by a single spring. The trigger spring is no longer attached to the sear.
1970 9mmK:
In the 1970 9mmK the cut-out for the buffer leaf spring is still present, but the pistol utilizes the same spring construction as the 1977 pistol.
Undated:
Same construction as 1970 9mmK and 1977 pistols: Single spring.
Wartime sear construction:
Preliminary conclusion:
It seems that the 1968 version was based in part on the 1940-1942 drawings of the HSc, with a modified sear/spring construction. Around 1970 the design was changed to a simpler but more rugged sear construction, on which the leaf return spring was replaced by a wire spring. Also relatively early the full serial number was added to the frame. Around 1970 the barrels began to be marked with a Mauser banner logo on the left side of the frame, a feature that is absent on the earlier 1968 models.
In 1975 Mauser’s company structure was changed from an Aktiengesellschaft (A.G.) to a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH). This influenced the name of the company on the pistols, it changed from MAUSER-WERKE A.G. to Mauser-Werke Oberndorf GmbH.
So we can speak of the following post-war variations:
Variation 1:
1968-1970. MAUSER-WERKE A.G.. Double spring sear. Pre-patent hammer. Plastic grips.
Variation 2:
1970-1975. MAUSER-WERKE A.G.. Single spring sear. Post-patent hammer. Wooden grips.
Variation 3:
1975-1977: Mauser-Werke Oberndorf GmbH. Single spring sear. Post-patent hammer. Wooden grips.