• Mauser Pistol Serial Numbers
• Mauser Serial Number Guide
• C96 Mauser Pistol Serial Numbers

Jun 09, 2011 Serial number 183215. Nice little pistol too, sits well in the hand, and first 'real' hand gun I ever fired as a young boy. W9816 - your 1914 Mauser was made 1917-1918. Regards, Aim small, miss small., korsholm, Finland. W9816 - your 1914 Mauser was made 1917-1918. A number of years ago, at a militaria show I traded an Italian pistol bring-back for a Mauser Model 1910 in a homemade pistol case with a WWI Iron Cross 1st Class on the top with vet bring-back paperwork. I figured I had the ultimate “Veteran War Souvenirs.

1. Serial number 183215. Nice little pistol too, sits well in the hand, and first 'real' hand gun I ever fired as a young boy. W9816 - your 1914 Mauser was made 1917-1918. Regards, Aim small, miss small., korsholm, Finland. W9816 - your 1914 Mauser was made 1917-1918.
2. In any case, that gun is referred to as the Post-War (WWI) Commercial 1910, and is the most common of the.25 caliber Mauser pocket pistols. Serial numbers of the original production started at 1 and went to c.

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[edit]

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.

A second Army variation of about 5,000 pistols consisted of pistols whose serial numbers ranged, intermittently, from about 712,000 to about 745,000. These have an Eagle/655 WaA (Army acceptance) on the left rear trigger guard web and the Eagle/N firing proofs on the right rear trigger guard web and on front of right slide, but have no proof mark on the left rear grip tang. The finish on these pistols is also of the first quality.

The third Army variation of some 4,000 pistols ranged in intermittent serial numbers from about 745,000 to about 790,000. These bear an acceptance mark of Eagle/135 on the left rear trigger guard web and the two Eagle/N firing proofs on the right side. The high quality finish of the earlier pistols starts to decline in this production segment.

The fourth variation consists of 31,000 intermittently numbered pistols from around #790,000 to #886,000. These pistols have an Eagle/135 acceptance and Eagle/N proofs as before. On pistols after #855,000 the left side of the slide now has a three-line device stamped along with the Banner. The polish of these pistols is rougher and the military 'dusk blue' is now in evidence. The cross hatched machining inside the top sight channel is no longer there.

The last variation, of some 32,000 intermittently numbered pistols in a serial number range of about #886,000 to #952,000, has the three-line device on the left side of the slide and bears an Eagle/WaA135 acceptance and the Eagle/N proofs. Beginning in the late #940,000 range some pistols were given black plastic grip panels. The very last pistols, in the #949,500 to #952,000 range, were finished with Mauser's phosphate finish, somewhat similar to the U.S. parkerizing finish used on most M-1 rifles, M-1 Carbines and M1911 pistols. The Mauser phosphate finish is variable in color, from a dark grey to an almost green color. These phosphated pistols are quite rare today and, with Eagle/WaA135 acceptance, are highly desirable to military collectors. The Eagle/WaA135 marks are generally 'right side up' on the early phosphate pistols but 'upside down' on the later pistols. Small parts on many of these very late phosphate pistols are usually a mix of older blued parts and later phosphated parts. HScs with frames and slides of different finishes may exist and would be extremely rare and desirable to military collectors.

Final German World War II production ended with the capture of the Oberndorf area by American troops in late April 1945. After the area was given to the French production resumed for French use and was concluded in 1946.

Military personnel of all ranks not issued sidearms often purchased HSc pistols in the commercial marketplace and carried them in the field. Such commercial pistols often returned with veterans as World War II war souvenirs, often in military proofed HSc holsters.

Distribution of total HSc pistol production (1940–1945):

• Army (Heer): 137,121 (54.4%)
• Navy (Kriegsmarine): 27,100 (10.8%)
• Police (Polizei): 28,300 (11.2%)
• Commercial (Civil): 59,467 (23.6%)
• Total: 251,988 (100.0%)

The HSc pistols made by the French in 1945–46 bear an RW proof. Most of these pistols were destined for French forces fighting in the First Indochina War.

Production of high-quality commercial pistols had been resumed at the Mauser factory in Oberndorf from 1968 to 1977. German police units saw the most use of the Mauser HSc, while others were exported primarily to the North American commercial market where they would be available in both blued and nickel finishes.

The pistol originally chambered the 7.65 mm (.32 ACP) cartridge, but the majority of Mauser HScs manufactured in the 1970s were chambered in 9mm Kurz (.380 ACP).

The full serial number of each pistol is located on the front of the grip frame, just above the magazine. The last three digits of that serial number are located on the bottom of the chamber (stamped) and the flat panel of the slide just under the muzzle (electropenciled).

The model 'HSc Super,' 'HSc Mod. 80,' or 'SAB-2001 Super' was a variant made by Renato Gamba in Gardone, Italy, under license from Mauser. This pistol was chambered in .32 ACP, .380 ACP and 9×18mm Ultra, and featured a double-column magazine, a recurved trigger guard (on some models), and an 'American-style' magazine release behind and below the trigger guard.

References[edit]

1. ^Small Arms Survey (2007). 'Armed Violence in Burundi: Conflict and Post-Conflict Bujumbura'(PDF). The Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City. Cambridge University Press. p. 204. ISBN978-0-521-88039-8.
2. ^[1] Mauser HSc Production History]^{[permanent dead link]}
3. ^Chamberlain, Peter (1976). Axis pistols, rifles, and grenades. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco. p. 19. ISBN0668040769. OCLC2388349.

• The Mauser HSc Pistol, Burnham and Theodore, 2008,
• Mauser Pistolen, Weaver, Speed and Schmid, 2008
• Axis Pistols in World War II, Jan C. Still, 1989
• Mauser Pocket Pistols, Roy G. Pender, 1971
• German Pistols and Holsters 1934-1945, Maj. Robert Whittington 1969

External links[edit]

• Mauser HSc at guns.ru

This Mauser pocket pistol model 1914 is a blowback design, striker fired, semi-automatic pistol that is chambered in 7.65mm(.32 ACP). The barrel is stationary or locked in place at all times but is easily removable for service. The pistol is fed by an 8 round detachable box magazine. It utilizes a blade type front sight and a V notch rear sight. The pistol uses a one piece wrap around Walnut wood grip. The total length of the pistol is 6.1 inches and it weighs in at an unloaded weight of 21 ounces. The pistol has a manual safety that is located on the left side of the frame and operated by the users thumb. The pistol also incorporates an automatic magazine safety which blocks the firing of the pistol when the magazine is removed. There is a slide hold-open device installed on this pistol, but once the slide is in the open position, it can only be released by inserting a fresh magazine either empty or charged.

This Mauser pocket pistol model 1914 was manufactured some time between 1923 and 1929. This 1914 post war is the most commonly found model of this version. This pistol has no military acceptance stamps so there is a good chance that it was originally intended for commercial sales.

The Mauser pocket pistol model 1914 gets it shape and appearance from the patents of the Mauser model 1907 pistol. The first of these pistols was the model 1910 which did not go into commercial sales until the original designs of the 1907 pistol patent had been considerably modified . The most noticeable of these changes was that the 1907 is a locked breech weapon while the 1910 is of the blowback design. The model 1910 which looks very similar to the pistol on this page is chambered for the 6.35mm(.25 ACP) cartridge.

In 1914 Mauser used the design of the model 1910 and built the model 1914 that is chambered for the larger 7.65mm(.32 ACP) round. The main difference between the two models was in the dimensions to accept the larger caliber round. There was also some minor design changes such as the lug at the rear of the barrel which is discussed in the pictures below. Then twenty years later in 1934, the factory director, August Weiß whose nickname was 'Parabellum-Weiß' came out with the final design to this pistol that changed the shape of the grip to fit more comfortably in the hand. All three models of this pistol, 1910, 1914 and the 1934 are mechanically identical. The parts can be easily interchanged between the model 1914 and the model 1934. Given that the three pistols look nearly the same, and are mechanically the same, and that the parts between two version can interchange, lends itself to a lot of confusion among collectors as to exactly which model of the pistol they may have in their collection. All three of these models are exceptionally well made and were the best pocket pistols that Mauser produced at the time.

So which version do you have? Below are some rough model guidelines that might be able to help. Keep in mind that with-in these models there will be sub-variations which have some minor differences. Mauser did not officially designate model names for all of these different variations of this pistol. The Mauser firm commonly referred to it as simply the model 1910. It is the collectors, historians, researchers and authors that further derived model designations based on the earliest year of significant change in design or appearance. As such, there will always be some debate when it comes to model names and variations. With that in mind, lets dig into some of the variations of this pistol and learn a little more about it. All models can have either a wood or plastic grip. The early plastic grip will have the MW(Mauser Werke) monogram while the Mauser banner is found on the late curved back plastic grip. The date of manufacture and the serial number ranges found below are credited to John LaCroix’s excellent AutoMag articles.

1910 Sidelatch, this variation was manufactured between 1910 to 1913 with a serial number range of 1 to 61000. This version is appropriately named due to the latch in the left side plate. The early versions are found with a smaller diameter safety release. This model is found with 2 different slide markings.

Humpback, this variation is very rare and was manufactured between 1912 to 1913 with a serial number range of 1 to 2800. This model is referred to as the humpback version due to a hump at the top of the slide. This model is found with many variations and slight changes to the smaller parts, but all will have a hump on the slide. The early models have a 3 line slide marking while later models have a 2 line stamping. Some collectors consider this version a prototype.

1914 model, this variation was manufactured between 1913 to 1914 with a serial number range between 2801 to13500. This variation will be found with a 2 line slide marking.

1910/14 model, this variation was manufactured between 1914 to 1921 with a serial number range between 61000 to 221800. This variation has no latch in the side plate and will be found with 9 slide serrations on each side of the slide.

1914 model, this variation was manufactured between 1914 to 1923 with a serial number range between 13500 to 296000. This variation will be found with a single line slide stamping on the left side. Late models will not have the Mauser Banner on the left side plate. Some time around serial number 162,500 the right side of the slide is stamped “Mauser 7.65”. Around serial number 277,000 the milled panel on the frame was discontinued.

1910/14 model, this variation was manufactured between 1921 to 1928 with a serial number range between 221800 to 345000. This version will be found with 7 slide serrations on each side of the slide.

1914 model, this variation was manufactured between 1923 to 1929 with a serial number range between 277000 to 460000. This variation will be found with a 2 line left slide stamping. The 1914 post war model is the most often encountered. It is this version that is pictured on this web page.

1914/34 model, this variation was manufactured between 1929 to 1933, with a serial number range between 460000 to 526000. This variation will have a single line left side slide marking and a straight grip. Late models will be found with a slot cut into the forward part of the slide containing the serial number. The smaller parts are finished with a potassium nitrate(saltpeter) or hot bluing process. In this hot bluing process, as the temperature is brought up, the surface turns a straw color which proceeds to blue and then to black. If it is stopped at the blue stage, the color will be a gorgeous deep royal blue not achievable any other way. Very expensive custom guns are often found blued this way.

1910/34 model, this variation was manufactured between 1928 to 1936 with a serial number range between 345000 to 403300. This variation is found with a strait grip and a single line left side slide marking. The finish is a cold blue with the smaller parts being finished in a potassium nitrate(saltpeter) or hot bluing process as described above.

1934 model, this variation was manufactured between 1933 to 1941 with a serial number range between 498250 to 617000. This variation will have a curved grip and a single line left side slide marking. The model is finished with a hot bluing process.

Mauser Pistol Serial Numbers

1910/34 model, this variation was manufactured between 1936 to 1941, with a serial number range between 403300 to 429000. This variation will have a curved grip and the only serial number showing will be on the slide. Late models will be found with a slot cut into the forward part of the slide containing the serial number.

For pictures of many of the different models, please see a pdf. document that was put together by my friend Burgess located at the MauserGuns website.

Mauser Serial Number Guide

The model 1934 was used by the German armed forces as a substitute standard sidearm. The pistol was also adopted in 1936 by the various police and security forces of Germany. The pistol saw service with the German Kriegsmarine(Navy), the Luftwaffe(Air Force) and the Wehrmacht(Army) which ordered about 8,000 pistols.

C96 Mauser Pistol Serial Numbers

This pistol design was also very popular with the Japanese army. The Japanese would normally label handgun ammunition by the firearm the ammunition was intended for rather than by the caliber or size of the round. When the Japanese manufactured ammunition for the Mauser pocket pistol they labeled it just that, 'mo shiki chu gata ken ju dan yaku' or “Mauser type medium sized pistol cartridges'.

This pistol design was produced from 1910 until 1941 with close to a million pistols being manufactured. Some variations of this model are quite common, while others are extremely rare. The Mauser firm stopped production of this pistol at the beginning of WWII and replaced it with the HSC model.