My fascination with this little pistol started after I read The Windchime Legacy, an amazing spy book. The main character carries a HSc. Ive been looking for one and have found a few that are decently priced but I havent been able to dig up anything in the ways of a review. I know it comes in .380 and .32ACP and there was something that said the .380's had a feed problem.
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Anyone have a Mauser HSc?
- Thread starter K-Mart85
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29aholic
Member
The HSc's are fine guns and I have had both calibers. I didn't have any problems with the 380, but I never shot anything but ball through it.
GyMac
US Veteran
I have always thought they looked and felt great and wanted one, too. But I have read that they are finicky and that has scared me away. When it comes to this kind of gun, I have settled on the Makarov. They are reliable and accurate.
setxn
Member
Beautiful little gun. 1st class materials and fit and finish.With available ammo 35 yrs ago getting a full magazine to operate was not easy to do.I had a 380 that would barely handle hard ball and the hollowpoints of the time did not feed very well.This gun was my buddy's hideout gun that was kept in a hollowed out hard back book on his 2 tours to Vietnam the reliability scared me and I traded it for Charter 44 Bulldog that has been reliable and trouble free for over 35 years. Might have given the Hsc a chance after some work to make it behave, but o well.
Beaver
Member
I believe Col. Askins carried one while in Spain serving in the U.S. Army in some diplomatic capacity. He tells in "Unrepentant Sinner" of dropping it to the floor from his belt at an Embassy function and calmly placing it back.
I've had a few of the early and late war time mfg 32acp issues over the years and they were all nice handguns,,even the late issues.
They all functioned well with fmj ammo for which they were designed.
The only real fragile part that I can recall is the firing pin in those. The can break rather easily, but more are probably damaged upon disassembly than from use.
One thing to check when buying a war time HSc is that the firing pin tip is still there. The rear half will remain in place and keep the safety function of the pistol appearing normal but the tip can be broken off. I think I've still got a couple of the back halfs around here from repair jobs.
The post war HSc made a change in the design to eliminate the fragile nature of that part.
They all functioned well with fmj ammo for which they were designed.
The only real fragile part that I can recall is the firing pin in those. The can break rather easily, but more are probably damaged upon disassembly than from use.
One thing to check when buying a war time HSc is that the firing pin tip is still there. The rear half will remain in place and keep the safety function of the pistol appearing normal but the tip can be broken off. I think I've still got a couple of the back halfs around here from repair jobs.
The post war HSc made a change in the design to eliminate the fragile nature of that part.
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I have had both Mauser HSCs and Walther PPKs in the past and found both worked well with ball ammo.
The Mauser I had was late WWII nazi marked and the finish was not what was found in earlier specimens, but it worked quite well.
The Mauser I had was late WWII nazi marked and the finish was not what was found in earlier specimens, but it worked quite well.
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Raider
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I bought my Interarms .380 HSC in 1971. Its accurate, ergonomic and very cool looking -- also heavy. One note, don't drop the slide with the magazine out by jerking the slide rearwards hard; this will damage something internallly. If you insert an empty magazine, it will trip the slide release and then you can let it go forward gently. At least that is what I was told and have always done it that way. Correction appreciated if I am mistaken.
Charlie
Charlie
Vulcan Bob
Member
I too have always liked and wanted a HSc. What attracted me to one was it's art deco look. Ran across this .380 Interarms import,like new in box awile back for a really good price and snarfed it up. Shoots fine with some really supriseing 25 yard groups, so far all shooting was done with hardball.
Attachments
A seasoned armorer advised me that the Hsc was probably one
of the finest pistols made. He also explained that it was designed for
ball ammo. He was right about that as far as my Interarms example
is concerned. With hollowpoints, I went thru four magazines, trying
to make it work reliably. Then went to ball ammo, and it's great
with all my magazines. TACC1
of the finest pistols made. He also explained that it was designed for
ball ammo. He was right about that as far as my Interarms example
is concerned. With hollowpoints, I went thru four magazines, trying
to make it work reliably. Then went to ball ammo, and it's great
with all my magazines. TACC1
Waldo
SWCA Member
I have one just like Vulcan Bobs. I have had it since the mid 1970s. Have not shot it in many years. Never shot it with anything but ball,it always functioned. Vulcan Bob, I am curious what you paid for yours? I got mine as part of trade that involved 2 Broomhandle Mausers, a Remington Model 11 and a Savage 311.
Walter Rego
Member
I had one of the Interarms marked imports back in the late 70's in .380 cal. It was reliable with ball ammo but I think the only HP's that fed properly were Silvertips and an old Remington load that was shaped just like ball with a bit of lead exposed and a tiny hollow point. It didn't look like it would expand much...
I used to keep it loaded with the first round being a Glaser Safety Slug and the rest of the magazine being ball ammo. It functioned perfectly when loaded like that. They are accurate pistols and perfect for pocket carry although a bit heavy, being an all steel gun.
I used to keep it loaded with the first round being a Glaser Safety Slug and the rest of the magazine being ball ammo. It functioned perfectly when loaded like that. They are accurate pistols and perfect for pocket carry although a bit heavy, being an all steel gun.
I appreciate all the feedback guys. Im looking to use it as a backup for when Wisconsin gets a concealed carry law on the books. And yes a Makarov and Charter arms bulldog are on my list of TO BUY when I find them to.
Alex Seidel was one of if not the primary designer of the Mauser HSC and was also credited as the primary designer of HK's first pistol the HK4. If you look at them both it's easy to see the comparison.
I currently own a HK4 and have shot both in 7.65 (.32) with ball and through many rounds haven't had a problem.
A fun gun it's not, after several magazines it's time to massage the hand.
I currently own a HK4 and have shot both in 7.65 (.32) with ball and through many rounds haven't had a problem.
A fun gun it's not, after several magazines it's time to massage the hand.
Vulcan Bob
Member
Hey Waldo, found it last year, with two extra Mauser mag's. Paid $300.00 out the door and felt that I did well. "I hope!"
Didn't Mauser license an Italian firm to make the HSc also.
Seems like the Italian made model came out with a hi-cap version too but maybe I'm wrong on that point.
Sometime in late 70's perhaps..?
This was beyond the Mauser postwar production that was very close to the original design. I do remember a few of the 60's or 70's Mauser produced pistols were marked with an American Eagle design on the slide.
I always liked the HSc and the Sauer 38h
Seems like the Italian made model came out with a hi-cap version too but maybe I'm wrong on that point.
Sometime in late 70's perhaps..?
This was beyond the Mauser postwar production that was very close to the original design. I do remember a few of the 60's or 70's Mauser produced pistols were marked with an American Eagle design on the slide.
I always liked the HSc and the Sauer 38h
I got one of those HSC made under license in Italy by Renato Gamba in .380.
It has a 15 round mag, as can be seen from the photo, grip is much longer and a bit wider than the standard model, well made gun, very comfortable in my hand, someone told me its issued to Italian police in the 1980s.
I've only shot round nose FMJ and lead RN thru it, very reliable and a joy to shoot, comes with only 1 mag, can't seems to find another one, Gunbroker has a couple of them listed a while back, with box and extra mag, can't remember how much they went for.
It has a 15 round mag, as can be seen from the photo, grip is much longer and a bit wider than the standard model, well made gun, very comfortable in my hand, someone told me its issued to Italian police in the 1980s.
I've only shot round nose FMJ and lead RN thru it, very reliable and a joy to shoot, comes with only 1 mag, can't seems to find another one, Gunbroker has a couple of them listed a while back, with box and extra mag, can't remember how much they went for.
Parts
A little thread drift, but anybody know of a dealer with old Mauser parts? I actually need a mag spring for a WTP 1. Maybe an HSC guy will know where to go.
Nice pistols.
Thanks,
Munster
A little thread drift, but anybody know of a dealer with old Mauser parts? I actually need a mag spring for a WTP 1. Maybe an HSC guy will know where to go.
Nice pistols.
Thanks,
Munster
I've had several HSc's and currently have a French one (assembled from parts found at Oberndorf when France took over the occupation of that zone). All worked fine, but I never fed them soft nose or HPs; most of my shooting was with cast bullet handloads.
Alex Seidel said that getting around the Walther patents was difficult. Probbly this explains why the double action pull is so stiff on these guns. The single action pull is just fine.
I shot a friend's 380 HSc. For the more powerful caliber they put a recoil spring in there that almost defies human strength to cycle the slide for the first round.
Which reminds me: like the previous Mauser pocket pistols, they stay open when the last round is fired, and then shut with a slam when you insert a new magazine. Be careful your finger isn't on the trigger, as it's easy to let one go then accidentally.
Alex Seidel said that getting around the Walther patents was difficult. Probbly this explains why the double action pull is so stiff on these guns. The single action pull is just fine.
I shot a friend's 380 HSc. For the more powerful caliber they put a recoil spring in there that almost defies human strength to cycle the slide for the first round.
Which reminds me: like the previous Mauser pocket pistols, they stay open when the last round is fired, and then shut with a slam when you insert a new magazine. Be careful your finger isn't on the trigger, as it's easy to let one go then accidentally.
