Assistance please: Interarms Mauser HSc

[lrrifleman]

I am hoping to take possession of an Interarms Mauser HSc in 9mm Kurz (380 ACP) by the end of the week. This means that I took a really close look at it today in preparation to purchasing some spare parts (recoil spring, firing pin and spring). I have tried to do an internet search for the DOM, but I am having some difficulty.

The serial number for this HSc is 01.7XXX, which appears to pre-date the earliest serial number listed for 1969 (first year of importation) which looks like 01.0000XX.

Might anyone be able to help with identifying when this HSc was made? I will be upfront, I forgot to see if the accompanying test target was dated. BTW, all serial numbers match: frame, slide and barrel. The slide rails and feed ramp show very little wear, suggesting it was barely fired by it's previous owner(s)!

I know, I know! Pictures will be posted once I take possession.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Since Interarms no longer exists, Who are you getting your parts from?

Springs, I would buy from Wolff, before some old stock that may or may not fit the gun I own!

Ivan

 

[GeoJelly]

Mine is 01.98XX and was test-fired in mid-June 1970. I still haven't had a chance to get it out to the range. Mine has a blem on the slide so it went for $392 + shipping on GB. Seems like the box for mine - under some other boxes in the basement - is correct-looking but doesn't have a SN on the outside. Blem or not - I am very happy with it. I blotted out the actual SN on the photo since it's hosted on Imgur and I soitantly don't want them to have that kind of info!!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

1.5" group at almost 50', nice!

Ivan

 

[lrrifleman]

Since Interarms no longer exists, Who are you getting your parts from?

Springs, I would buy from Wolff, before some old stock that may or may not fit the gun I own!

Ivan

Ivan,

I am in contact with Wolff about springs, since they don't list springs for the post war HScs. I am starting a search for firing pins, but don't know where I may find them, or if they will have to be made custom.

 

[JohnRippert]

Don't know when myself but that does remind me of the one I bought a couple years back.

 

[JackM]

One thing to keep in mind: the locked-back slide on these guns will close automatically and chamber a round when the magazine is inserted. As long as you're following the basics of gun safety, specifically good muzzle discipline, this doesn't present a problem. But it can be a little jarring if you're not expecting it.

 

[Tex1001]

My HSc experience pertains to early models, 1940s and earlier.
The older pistols used a dual action spring called a trigger spring, but was actually a trigger/trigger bar spring. The originals frequently broke and Numrich is usually out of them. Wolff makes new ones. Your newer pistol probably uses the two separate springs (trigger spring and trigger bar spring). Spring life of the newer designs is improved.

I haven't had any problems with broken or worn extractors. Numrich has replicas and I keep 2 on hand just in case.

Magazines, at least for the 32ACP, were unobtanium for years. When available they were expensive. I altered several mags made for other pistols years ago, but it was labor intensive. I see that Numrich has 380ACP mags, but they are expensive also.

The HSc potential weak point is the firing pin, a complicated design that breaks easily if install or removal is not done very carefully. Numrich has been hopelessly out of these (Old style, Part numbers 1600 and 696100) firing pins for years. Note: Glory be! Numrich shows these in stock!
Buy 2 before they run out.
Numrich has had a firing pin in stock (Part #49000) for the HSc Super. I used one of these on a repair and it appears to be close enough to work adequately.

The HSc is a cute but overly complicated little pistol. Mauser was trying to get a pocket pistol on the market without copying Walther's patents. I like the art deco styling. Both of mine are fun to shoot but I've had to learn a few tricks over the years to keep them running.

 

[max]

Fifty years ago, I was reading James Bond and other spy novels. I was in the book store one day and saw a new book with one of these pistols on the cover. I thought it was the sleekest and neatest pistol ever.

I have thought about buying one for years, but they don't have a good reputation for operation or ease of maintenance.

 

[JohnRippert]

Did not really buy mine to shoot. I have always loved the shape of the HSc going back to when I was a kid. When I found mine, in the condition it is in and with all the extras, I just had to buy it.

 

[diyj98]

I always thought the design was very classy.

 

[lrrifleman]

One thing to keep in mind: the locked-back slide on these guns will close automatically and chamber a round when the magazine is inserted. As long as you're following the basics of gun safety, specifically good muzzle discipline, this doesn't present a problem. But it can be a little jarring if you're not expecting it.

Jack, believe it or not, that was the key feature I was looking for!

 

[JackM]

Jack, believe it or not, that was the key feature I was looking for!

Agreed, it's not a bad trait. Nice looking guns, too. They've got that film noir look.

 

[lrrifleman]

It is a pistol that has intrigued me for close to 40 years after I was an advertisement for one. From what I am gathering, the HSc is temperamental with some American brands of ammo, but functions almost flawlessly with European branded ammo.

I am eager to see what it will do. Based on the wear (or lack of it), this pistol looks like it has been fired less than a hundred times.

 

[PALADIN85020]

The post-war Mauser HSc is interesting.

In 1967, a re-constituted Mauser-Werke returned to Oberndorf, and from October 1968 to December 1977, a total of 63,118 new HSc pistols were manufactured. 18,868 were made in 7.65mm with a serial number range of 00.101 to 00.19868, and 39,250 in 9mm Kurz with a serial range of 01.1001 to 01.40250. A special group of 5,000 in those two calibers, the "American Eagle" edition, brought this series to a close. My .380 pistol, illustrated here, was made in 1975.

That's about all I can tell you about the post-war serial numbers.

Some clues to the manufacture date of your pistol can be found here:

The Post War Mauser HSc pistol: A closer look.

John

(click for larger picture)

 

[lrrifleman]

John, thank you! Your post was extremely informative. Based on the information you provided, I would suspect that my HSc was made somewhere between 1970-1972.

Out of curiosity, have you experienced any FTF or FTE when you have fired your HSc?

Thanks!

 

[PALADIN85020]

John, thank you! Your post was extremely informative. Based on the information you provided, I would suspect that my HSc was made somewhere between 1970-1972.

Out of curiosity, have you experienced any FTF or FTE when you have fired your HSc?

Thanks!

I have only fired my HSc sparingly - a few magazines worth, seeking to maintain its great condition. However, no problems were encountered - everything worked properly.

John

 

[JohnRippert]

Would love to find one in .32ACP to match up with my .380, maybe someday.

 

[walter o]

Cant remember but Jack First or Popperts is making new firing pins for the HSC .I bought 2 and they work as new

 

[Walter Rego]

Check the right side of the frame on the trigger guard web for a tiny number and the Ulm/Stag Horn proofmark. Mine says 70 and i assume that was the proof date.
Mine has been 100% reliable with ball ammo. Hollow points, I just about gave up. I think the old Remington ammo that had a nose profile similar to ball worked OK but probably couldn't be counted on to expand much. Probably better off with ball ammo anyway.
It is not a pleasant gun to shoot more than a magazine or two, mine really beats the web of my hand between thumb and forefinger. But I still like it a lot.