A Mauser pistol from the 1930s

[PALADIN85020]

I came across this Mauser pocket pistol at the Phoenix gun show yesterday. I've always been fascinated by this particular design since I had a squirt gun as a kid that mimicked it! Although previous guns at Mauser had been made in the smaller .25 ACP caliber, this Model 1934 was chambered for .32 ACP, or as it was known in Europe, the 7.65 mm. This was the last of its breed before the advent of the more advanced Mauser HSc. The HSc carried over a strange feature of this pistol. In order to close the slide after it's locked back, it requires the user to insert a magazine, either empty or loaded. Then the slide slams shut; if the mag is loaded, it automatically chambers a fresh round. This does save time in loading the pistol, but it takes getting used to.

There were many pocket pistols made in the first part of the 20th Century; this was one of the better and more prolific ones.
Here's a picture.

John

[1 old 0311]

Old Mauser's always have a certain 'cool' factor with them.

[LedFowl]

Nice. What do you do to remove the slide?

[M29since14]

Was there an Eastern European (or Chinese/Communist-block) knockoff of the design? I have seen those lying around over the years and never bothered to even look at them. Because of their rather crude appearance I guess I just assumed they were all junk.

The slide closing feature sounds familiar.

[Texas Star]

John-

I'm sure that you know that the M-34 is just a M-1914 with a more curved handle profile? You seemed to be saying that this (M-34) was the first Mauser .32ACP.

Have you seen, "The Guns of Navarone"? The German officer who captured the British commando team was using either a M-1914 or a M-1934. It's the only time I've seen the gun in a movie, and a very good movie it is. Well worth ordering on DVD. Has an outstanding cast, although I disliked Gregory Peck's politics.

I wrote a fan fiction where the heroine acquired a M-1914 .32 from a shady bar owner in 1920's London and used it to shoot a rapist in the knee. The design is exotic, but I gather that it worked well. And the looks have grown on me. An acquired taste, I guess.

I don't think I'd have bought one in preference to the equivalent Colt. But it probably competed well in Europe.

Did anyone else here notice the one in the movie I mentioned?

Oh: wonderful photo! One of your best!

[Texas Star]

[QUOTE=M29since14;136224739]Was there an Eastern European (or Chinese/Communist-block) knockoff of the design? I have seen those lying around over the years and never bothered to even look at them. Because of their rather crude appearance I guess I just assumed they were all junk.

The slide closing feature sounds familiar.[/QUOTE]

If memory serves (been years since I owned one), this is also characteristic of the Beretta M-34.

[GyMac]

Very nice gun. I always wanted an HSc and saw one at a gun show a few years ago. It was in beautiful condition except for the electro-penciled SSN on the slide.

[needsmostuff]

Here's my 1914. I just happened to be taking pictures of it a few days ago to find out about some of the strange stamps on it. Seems it's mostly Prussian police stuff.

Not meaning to highjack the thread but does anyone recognize this one ? Maybe military acceptance?

[PDL]

Fun little gun. But using a mag to close the slide is a pain.
Here's mine that dad brought home from WWII.

[Armyphotog]

I love those guns. So much fun to shoot.

[moosedog]

Thats a nice catch Paladin. Appears to be in great condition too.
Those Mauser pistols are addicting.

I just purchased my first 1914 Mauser 7.65 pistol last week. It has the Imperial german proof on the slide in front of the rear sight and came with a period holster, although police marked.

Also included is a picture of my HSC 2nd variation pistol.

[Cyrano]

Needsmostuff: That 'crown over crown over U' is the German nitro proof mark for all commercial pistols until the proof law of 1939 replaced it with an eagle over N. The military accepance stamp is a crown over a gothic letter IN FRONT of the rear sight.

[needsmostuff]

Originally Posted by Cyrano

Needsmostuff: That 'crown over crown over U' is the German nitro proof mark for all commercial pistols until the proof law of 1939 replaced it with an eagle over N. The military accepance stamp is a crown over a gothic letter IN FRONT of the rear sight.

COOL, Thanks Cyrano

[cmort666]

They were the original "Man from U.N.C.L.E." gun, before they switched to the P-38s.

[PALADIN85020]

Originally Posted by Texas Star

John-

I'm sure that you know that the M-34 is just a M-1914 with a more curved handle profile? You seemed to be saying that this (M-34) was the first Mauser .32ACP.

Have you seen, "The Guns of Navarone"? The German officer who captured the British commando team was using either a M-1914 or a M-1934. It's the only time I've seen the gun in a movie, and a very good movie it is. Well worth ordering on DVD. Has an outstanding cast, although I disliked Gregory Peck's politics.

Oh: wonderful photo! One of your best!

Yeah, I knew some of the earlier guns were also made in 7.65 (.32 ACP) - just wanted to differentiate between these guns and the .25s, which looked about the same.

And yes, The Guns of Navarone was a great movie, although I disliked their having to kill off a beautiful gal in it. I've got a copy on DVD - it's one of my favorite WWII movies.

Thanks for the compliments on the photo - you can see more under "pictures and albums" where I have several groups - Non-S&Ws, S&Ws and Thompsons.

John

[PALADIN85020]

Originally Posted by LedFowl

Nice. What do you do to remove the slide?

You lock the slide to the rear, and then depress the visible portion of the takedown rod catch (near the muzzle), and rotate the takedown rod until it's free of the lug on the receiver. Then you take out the takedown rod from the receiver and lift the barrel out. Then re-insert the magazine to release the slide, and ease the slide off to the front while pulling the trigger to release the firing pin spring. All of this is not very intuitive...

John