The first gun I repaired when I first started working in a gunshop was an HSc. It had been sitting in a box of broken pistols for years and no one knew how to function test it. All I had to do was replace the trigger spring with a Wolf spring (they were the only one who made HSc trigger springs) and it worked perfectly. I liked it so much I bought it for $200.
My Dad brought one back from WW2. I still shoot it every few years. Great pistol. Gave it to my daughter a few years ago for my granddaughter. 4 Generations same pistol.
@EroticOnion23 In the US, Triple K for mags (a large catalog of obsolete and current pistols) For parts, try Jack First( his catalog is a 3 volume set, each the size of a large metro phone book) or Gunparts Corp.
@@3eightiesopinion524 Eh...the M14 wasn't a mistake, it was the right gun for the wrong war. Had it been around in Korea, it could've been great, and even today there are some circumstances where you'd want a full-sized battle rifle rather than an assault rifle or carbine.
@@3eightiesopinion524 As long as we're fighting asymmetrical urban warfare against insurgents, yes. That may change if we end up fighting a proper war against an actual trained military like China's, especially in the more rural, mountainous areas, or in other, more open areas. There's a reason they dusted off old M14s and issued them to the Marines during the Persian Gulf War.
@@3eightiesopinion524 Look, the point is that, under some circumstances, a battle rifle is preferable to an assault rifle. Most assault rifles are only really effective out to 300-400 yards (not even that in automatic mode for most shooters), and short of 800-900 yards a sniper rifle is overkill, not to mention inefficient against multiple targets. The modern battle rifle is basically just a select-fire DMR for dealing with targets between those ranges if you think about it. Are they situational? Absolutely, but not useless.
Z3ro, a full sized battle rifle just isnt better than a modern day assault rifle, theyre the definitition of "Too much" if it comes to the size of the round, and "Too little" if it comes to the practical maximum capacity these rifles come with. And no, theyre not made for precise fire at long range either, the job you are talking about got given to something like the Dragunov, and we dont call that a battle rifle now do we. And a large group of enemys visible to you at 400-800 yards, your best bet is probably a machine gun anyway.
This is the most beautiful pistol ever made. They were used after the war by police in Norway and are stamped with a big "POLITI" on the slide along with many other German pocket pistols like the Mauser 1934.
I just inherited one of these. A limited run of 5000 to be exact. Came with a paper target that has 3 rounds fired through it. I didn't know anything about it. I've been doing some research and stumbled across this video. Super insightful! I didn't realize how special this piece really was until I watched this!
My dad was an artillery mechanic in the Navy during WWII. He always carried a Mauser HSc in his leathers (Artillery mechanics wore same grey leather outfits as the submariners (nice looking). He liked the gun, but said, the Walther was better, because it had a fixed barrel, therefore being more accurate, which is not really an issue when shooting at a target a few yards away... ;-)
My goodness, you're doing too good of a job! So much so, that I'm considering becoming a patron. I was just going to watch your videos on Finnish firearms, and here I am with literally 20 tabs open for all kinds of videos to be watched... You, sir, are truly a master of your craft!
D-Day was June 6th 1944, even the Italian Campaign didn't start until July 1943, this was before Midway and shortly after Pearl Harbour by all accounts in 1942 Germany and the Axis were still winning, in 1942 even the eastern front wasn't going that badly just going very slow things would start turning quite badly for them in 1943 tho...
They are cheap i picked one up a year ago for like 250. It was in 380 and wasn't a bad shooter. Very slick 👌. My gf is like 10lbs and could carry it with a barrel plug cc holster in yoga pants and a loose t-shirt and you couldn't tell she had it on.
I've got one of those Interams imported HSc's that was made in 1971 and came with the neat blue box and everything. I really like it. Bought it completely on a whim too. Went to a gunshow specifically looking for a K31 and ended up buying my HSc and a Remington Model 8 instead lol, got a K31 sometime later.
If memory serves me correctly (can't find the bloody book!) Renato Gamba produced these under licence in the 1980's and 90's with a 12 round double stack magazine. One of the most popular small pistols the general public don't seem to know about!!
There was one sitting around in my local fun-store, and after a few hard looks, it came home with me. It may be a spaghetti German pistol, but I like that kind of mixed heritage, especially since the HSc design had always appealed to me anyway. Just need to clean it up and get it on the range.
Thanks Ian! I remember seeing ads for the HSc in the general interest gun magazines in the mid '70's, and new guns for sale at the LGS. Even tried one out at the back of the store. I don't know why I didn't buy it... a stupid mistake.
@@OriginalEric Notice that he mentioned Walther was buddy buddy with the higher ups... I imagine that went a long way toward not having your suit thrown out as idiotic.
I was told that the HK Model 4 in .22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP was a similar design to this pistol. Well, since the designer was Alex Seidel it makes sense! After seeing you tear down this little pistol I can see how similar. It is almost identical from the hammer, to the safety, to the method of removing the slide from the frame. Thank you for this video. I love my little Model four and have all four barrels and magazines, with three being matching numbers.
Good to see you on Gun Stories last week. I’m so tired of actors and novelists trying to look like they have knowledge about guns on that program. It was refreshing to see someone with actual experience and understanding of these things.
I think many of the young people at that time had a keen sense of art and design, you might say it post art deco, but i do believe it was part of the bauhause design school.
I love these videos, they're very informative, not just on the weapon's mechanism or the history surrounding the weapon, but both. rather comprehensive and well thought out.
I had this Mauser same identical style, I showed it to a friend he fell in loved with it , I traded it for a Smith & Wesson mod 27-2 . Mauser’s are great 👍 looking 🇺🇸
Looking into purchasing an HSc was what brought me to the Forgotten Weapons website around 2012 stumbled onto the youtube videos from there. Content just keeps getting better every year!
Great video!! I'm eagerly awaiting the reintroduced commercial pistol video. I have been wanting an HSc for some time. I missed out on one in perfect condition a few years back a a local gun show. I will find me another some time soon. Thank Ian. Keep up the good work!!
I've been waiting so long for a HSc video, I have a small collection of WW2 German pistols and the HSc with Heer waffenanpfs and holster is the jewel in my collection.
My dad brought one of these back, with a holster but only one magazine. I never had a problem getting the slide to go forward without the magazine. Pull the slide all the way back, and let it go sharply.
One of the few firearms on this channel I’m lucky to own, thanks to my grandfather. He managed to sneak one back after world war 2. During the deconstruction following the war, his job was to drive a “deuce and a half” between sites hauling equipment and supplies to be melted down in foundries. He managed to snag one of these as well as an original K98 bayonet.
Just a quick note on pronouncing "V" in German: "Volkspistole" ist pronounced like "Folkspistole". Same goes with Volkswagen, Vogel, Versicherung etc. So "V" is (mostly) pronounced like an "F" in follow, find, father etc. A rare Exception would be Varianz, which is pronounced with a "W", like wagon, war, worth etc. Anyways, great and interesting video as always :)
So glad this video was finally made. Just picked up an Interarms Commercial Import about a week and a half ago and was so sad to see that Ian didn't have a video on the HSc already. Looks like I worried for nothing.
I have an HSc that my Dad brought back from the war with two magazines and the original flap holster. From the numbers Ian gives it must have been between half and 3/4 of production, and everything he points out fits that except it has the wedge-shaped mag release. I have shot it, but it mostly stays in the safe. I don't like the fact that you have to insert a magazine to close the slide, but I can why they did it.
Really glad to have seen this video! My grandpa got a hold of one of these in IMMACULATE shape and when he died my dad got it. It's a lovely little pistol to handle and shoot. Edit: His was one of the simplified finished guns with no German Eagle marks on it.
ok i got confused you said down for fire up for safe with the safety then when you said you disassemble you need to engage the safety you flicked it down.
Ian has never projected himself as being perfect, just extremely gun knowledgeable and humble enough to adit errors when aware of them. We all know what he meant to say.
yeah thank you, I was also confident that when you expose the red dot you are in the fire position, but he clears it out in the disassembly portion of the vid
The best and eloquent gun reviews, well spoken and totally enjoyably informative. I do believe I had a hungarian version issued to luftwaffe, a showpiece of design ergonomicallly beautiful pistol, and a blast to shoot. Broken hearted Canadian shooter.
I was givin one of these by a friend pawn owner not working, 30 something and cleaning later I enjoy it more than ppk. I had no idea it was this rare thanks GUNJESUS
When i was doing patent research on my automatic slide release (fundamentally different than on this as mine has a "no release" option), i found this little booger along with the Jericho 941. Interesting seeing how it worked. The Jericho version is basically the same thing except it's a removable component. I actually like the ramp under the barrel on practical grounds as it can help prevent the gun getting caught on things. It's a pretty gun overall. I wish they made a more powerful version of it.
That slide lock system flummoxed me *and* the counter lady at the Fun Store where I was looking at one of these. After I cleared the pistol, neither of us could figure out how to drop the slide again, and she had to call her dad to tell her how. LOL
My dad bought me one of these for my high school graduation in 1972. New .380 reissue (at the time) Choice between that and a Walther PPK/s. It was a jam-o-matic, so bad - even with ball - I sold it for a bit more than what my dad paid, $100. Shoulda got the Walther, and eventually did, multiple times over. They actually work.
@@jimmyconway2800 I have heard that as well but that ship, for me, has long sailed. The .32's, as well, are largely wartime collector's items. the few postwar guns are as well, too expensive to shoot.
I used to look at these in Shotgun News and drool, I wanted one, or an Astra Constable or a PPK. Alas I never got any of them but did have a set of FEG in 32 380 and 9 MAKAROV. Sold the last of my collection many moons ago, just before the price of guns went nuts. Wish I had kept them for another year....
Huh. I could swear I remember reading somewhere (Ezell, maybe? my copy is in storage while my living room gets remodeled, or I'd check) that it was called the HSc because the version that went into production was preceded by two unsuccessful prototypes designated HS (retroactively HSa) and HSb. I've got one of these, seems to be civilian, early enough that it still has its lanyard hole; it has synthetic grips, which I've never seen on any other one. They look just like the factory wood ones on all the examples in this video and others I've seen in photos, same checkering layout and everything, but they're black plastic (or Bakelite, or maybe hard rubber--not wood, anyway).
@@GunsNGames1 and beside, i don't give a single care about steal someone's comment or someshit. don't you have any idea that i also play RE:2 Remake? if you really gather hard someone's "thumbs up" that hard. go crying out more louder.
I own a Renato Gamba Italian made (under license) .380 HSc A bit fatter; instead of a front swoop on the trigger guard it is cut off with a hook for an off hand finger; and the magazine release is moved to the trigger guard. Not a great gun, the original HSc is far sexier looking, but it is a strong functional pistol.
I inherited an Interarms Hsc from my father-in-law years ago. Though he rarely fired it, he always talked about how accurate these pistols were. Not really expecting too much, I took it to the range to see how accurately I could shoot it. Wow! Amazing! But that little blowback sucker does pack a punch.
I would like to see a video about the post war commercial German production HSc. I just got one in a pawnshop and I can't find much info on the post war German guns.
I passed on a Hsc(BARELY) that was post-war production & I regret it to this day. I personally like the Hsc over the PP/PPK by a large margin. Its a little big for a pocket pistol but it is MUCH more shoot-able & ergonomic than the Walther pistols. I would really like to lay my hands on one.
Very cool! I'm a bit more of a PPK sort, but the Mauser always interested me. Love the German craftsmanship in either- it was almost sad to see the same gun "dressed down", with thin to no bluing, several nice features deleted, etc. I know why, you explained it, but it seemed wrong to do so. Thanks Ian
When I was a kid I had a bb gun like this one. I shot it soo much it fell apart. Wish I still had it. Anyway I have been keeping an eye out for one of these. They are not common.
You'd think that one of the first things they'd drop to make it cheaper eould be that aesthetic web piece in front of the trigger guard. That's less material used right there.
I had one of those and it is one of the few firearms I dearly regret having to sell it. It is simply the best .32 pistol ever made. Commercial model too so no nasty markings on it.
@@33Luger Had it troubles to take the top round out of the mag ? This is caused by the fact that 32acp is a semi rimmed cartridge. As long as the gun fires reliably it's a non-issue. And I don't see quite well how one could design mags differently. All that may change would be either the ammo (some brands feed a bit better than others) or the tension of the mag spring
I had a 9mm Kurz HSc a long time ago and traded it off for something I liked better. I have another now, in7.65 Browning. Other than my nearly mechanical dismissal of DA/SA pistols - a matter of taste, so to speak - the only complaint I have is the trigger curve abrades my trigger finger. Such is life. According to your lecture, mine seems to be a commercial pistol. It has the right side proof mark, but nothing on the left side (bottom-rear of trigger guard). I knew it didn't have the military markings; I suspected (past tense) it was a police pistol. Serial number is in the higher 700.000 range.
Mauser's ad campaign, should they ever bring these back. "Mauser. Producing only the best in style and quality! Thoroughly tested by Ada Wong and Sheriff Daniel Cortini under the harshest of conditions. No firearm will plant those freedom seeds into the undead better! Buy yours today!"
I have a later one (SACO import). I got it from my father in a trade sometime in the 1970s. It is still one of my favorite concealed carry guns chambered for the .380 cartridge. Despite my having carried it for almost 30 years the beautiful deep blue finish is still almost new and it still functions like a dream. Accuracy is good although it shoots low, but consistently. My only complaint is that the sights are not adjustable so you just have to learn where to aim to hit your desired target. It is an excellent 'pocket pistol' and because it is so streamlined I like it better than my PPK/s for pocket carry. One final thing... despite mine being a postwar model it DOES decock with the safety. Not sure what is going on there. Maybe they used some earlier parts when they built mine?
@@rrolf71 Germans: I want a pistol. Austria: Sends Luger to Germany. World: Some newer pistol please. Austria: Here have a Glock. It's ugly but does the job.
When I was a kid, my father had gotten one traded in at his gun store. He was going to give it to my mom to carry. We went out to test fire it and found that it was full auto! Broken sear. For fun, he made an extended mag for it. Later he fixed it.
My dad had the same issue with a luger he got in the 1970s except in his case the firing pin was rusted forward. He put a mag in it the first time he released the toggle BBBBRP... emptied the entire magazine into the ceiling! My mom was so pissed!
I remember reading about RAF Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck being a firearms collector. He used to carry a Mauser hSC in the leg pocket of his flight overalls. He picked it up from a wrecked German bomber that he shot down. There was an episode where he drew it when he confronted 2 Sergeant pilots that had broken off and run for home during an aerial engagement. Held them at gunpoint and had them charged with cowardice...
Nolan Olivier - Yup, by Larry Forrester. I think there was even a sketch of the automatic in his hand. That upsloping trigger guard is distinctive...funny what stick in your mind years later...
@@jimstanga6390 that's pretty cool. I remember reading parts of the book when I was 12. Didn't get to that part, but Bob Tuck was one of those characters that made an impression.
I remember seeing an HSc Super .380 being reviewed back in the early 90's before the ban here, the USP had just hit the market at the time, commanded an RRP of around £800 or so. The HSc was a steal at £300. All in it appeared to be a well rounded pistol with a reasonable price tag. Stateside it appears they're now worth almost double.
The Renato Gamba HSc Super .380? It's an interesting firearm, for sure. And I guess technically it's the same system, but man, some of those were downright ugly up front, and certainly none of them had the sleek lovely lines of the Mausers.
@@Celebmacil Unsure of that name but google-fu does confirm to me that you might be right. Old ass memory on my part. =] The consensus in the review was nice piece but old-af basically.
I have a Mauser-Werke American Eagle Edition HSc 32acp SN# 0027 of 5000. I bought it new in the early 1980's and enjoy it very much. It came with two magazines...one flush and the other with a pinky extension. Are you familiar with this special edition? I wish I had tried to purchase additional magazines when I bought the pistol. I have recently attempted to locate additional magazines, to no avail. I have spoken to numerous dealers and manufacturing representatives, and have placed orders that I had to return. I would appreciate any information that might aid me in locating additional magazines and/or resolve my problem. I enjoyed your presentation. Thank you.
Thank you Gun Jesus, my HSc is sn#757xxx and it has the lanyard loop and the 135 under the eagle but no checkering on the grip pannels. Please do an episode on the Sig Sauer P230 sl.
I know that pistol and it's ammunition. Some of those WW2 rounds had a steel core. I know this to be true because one of my elder relatives shot a pig in his cattle kitchen during early 80s. That cattle kitchen had (and still has) concrete floor, walls and roof. The fucking round went through the pig's head and ricocheted from at least floor to wall to roof, ending up into right his foot (a toe was lost). They found the steel core embedded in the concrete where his foot stood. Absolutely a true story.
I happened upon one many years ago at a lgs. Mine is a 1944 production Waa135 with spare mag and holster. I paid about 200 for it in 97% condition. No import marks.
I inherited a Mauser HSc pistol. According to the serial number and the proof marks it was manufactured fairly early in the war for the German Army. I'm looking forward to shooting it. If it proves reliable and accurate, it will be used for a CCW sometimes. Oddly mine is nickel plated with black grips. I have no idea if small runs were nickel plated by Mauser or if it was done afterwards.
How did the patent-conflict-induced loss of the hammer-drop feature affect the gun's popularity? Do you know to what extent were potential buyers informed of this difference in capability in the later models?
From my understanding in the post war model they also made a HSc in 9x18 police or ultra. Is this a accurate? If so that would be absolutely awesome! Great video! I always enjoy your content and learn a tremendous amount from them. Thank you for that!
The first gun I repaired when I first started working in a gunshop was an HSc. It had been sitting in a box of broken pistols for years and no one knew how to function test it. All I had to do was replace the trigger spring with a Wolf spring (they were the only one who made HSc trigger springs) and it worked perfectly. I liked it so much I bought it for $200.
jonathan english You think Ian should do his reviews without wearing a shirt and pants?
@@carcole3994 do we have any proof he doesn't?
You are one lucky ba$terd, that is a phenomenal price on a exceptional pistol.
🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻
Nicely made gun. I cannot imagine the extent of 'fireplace collection' guy's collection is. It must be immense beyond belief.
the fireplace is a cardboard set that Ian can take with him to various locations
Sorry, it's not.
I want to be adopted by fireplace guy. Or Hell I’d marry the man if that’s what it takes. Good gravy he has an amazing collection.
@@thedamnyankee1 I thought I was the only one who noticed that. In fairness, he did a really good job with the fake shadows, giving it that 3D look
@@nobudgetcomments2742 its not a 2D picture, but its still a cardboard fireplace.
My Dad brought one back from WW2. I still shoot it every few years. Great pistol. Gave it to my daughter a few years ago for my granddaughter. 4 Generations same pistol.
Family heirloom
My friends father brought one back also, I remember shooting it, very hard to find ammo at the time, 32 cal. Very nice weapon.
I have one as well. Gift from my dearly departed great grandfather. It's a Kreigsmarine variant. I think he got it in a West German pawn shop in 1946.
Where do you get spare parts and magazines for guns like these 🤔
@EroticOnion23
In the US, Triple K for mags (a large catalog of obsolete and current pistols)
For parts, try Jack First( his catalog is a 3 volume set, each the size of a large metro phone book) or Gunparts Corp.
"Strikers weren't cool anymore, all the cool kids wanted hammer fired pistols"
Oh the irony.
@@3eightiesopinion524 Except at least two major militaries use striker-fired, the US among them.
Your argument is invalid because US.
@@3eightiesopinion524 Eh...the M14 wasn't a mistake, it was the right gun for the wrong war. Had it been around in Korea, it could've been great, and even today there are some circumstances where you'd want a full-sized battle rifle rather than an assault rifle or carbine.
@@3eightiesopinion524 As long as we're fighting asymmetrical urban warfare against insurgents, yes. That may change if we end up fighting a proper war against an actual trained military like China's, especially in the more rural, mountainous areas, or in other, more open areas. There's a reason they dusted off old M14s and issued them to the Marines during the Persian Gulf War.
@@3eightiesopinion524 Look, the point is that, under some circumstances, a battle rifle is preferable to an assault rifle. Most assault rifles are only really effective out to 300-400 yards (not even that in automatic mode for most shooters), and short of 800-900 yards a sniper rifle is overkill, not to mention inefficient against multiple targets. The modern battle rifle is basically just a select-fire DMR for dealing with targets between those ranges if you think about it. Are they situational? Absolutely, but not useless.
Z3ro, a full sized battle rifle just isnt better than a modern day assault rifle, theyre the definitition of "Too much" if it comes to the size of the round, and "Too little" if it comes to the practical maximum capacity these rifles come with.
And no, theyre not made for precise fire at long range either, the job you are talking about got given to something like the Dragunov, and we dont call that a battle rifle now do we.
And a large group of enemys visible to you at 400-800 yards, your best bet is probably a machine gun anyway.
Me: I need to go to bed earlier to get more sleep.
Also me: *Watches Ian talk about German WW2 pistols at 1AM*
Have to be at work at 730
... Its 7:23 "i got time" .. to finish the video.
Woord
This is the most beautiful pistol ever made. They were used after the war by police in Norway and are stamped with a big "POLITI" on the slide along with many other German pocket pistols like the Mauser 1934.
Arguably yes, as a pocket pistol. To me the most attractive pistol ever made was/is the Luger 08. Just a great looking gun.
@@prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998 exactly what I was thinking, the nothing beats the Luger
I just inherited one of these. A limited run of 5000 to be exact. Came with a paper target that has 3 rounds fired through it. I didn't know anything about it. I've been doing some research and stumbled across this video. Super insightful! I didn't realize how special this piece really was until I watched this!
In Resident Evil 2 the FBI character carrys that exact "limited edition" 5k made version. Does yours have the finger extension on the magazine?
My dad was an artillery mechanic in the Navy during WWII. He always carried a Mauser HSc in his leathers (Artillery mechanics wore same grey leather outfits as the submariners (nice looking). He liked the gun, but said, the Walther was better, because it had a fixed barrel, therefore being more accurate, which is not really an issue when shooting at a target a few yards away... ;-)
My goodness, you're doing too good of a job! So much so, that I'm considering becoming a patron. I was just going to watch your videos on Finnish firearms, and here I am with literally 20 tabs open for all kinds of videos to be watched... You, sir, are truly a master of your craft!
The test pistols V numeration potentially stands for "Versuch" which means atempt/trial.
Mauser: makes a pistol similar to the PK.
Walther: Wait a minute, thata illegal. [Sues in 1942]
*allied bombs dropping in the distance*
LOL, exactly what I was thinking. They must have buying in deeply to the propaganda machine.
**factory explodes**
Walther: _OBJECTION!!!_
D-Day was June 6th 1944, even the Italian Campaign didn't start until July 1943, this was before Midway and shortly after Pearl Harbour by all accounts in 1942 Germany and the Axis were still winning, in 1942 even the eastern front wasn't going that badly just going very slow things would start turning quite badly for them in 1943 tho...
@@DOGMA1138 Oh yes, the American war profiteers that were funding Hitler and the NAZIS were very successful at stopping the US from entering the war.
I think we can all agree on one thing: Owner of this fireplace has an awesome collection and we would like to see all of it.
4 or 5 at a time or remember back to the long Mannlicher Pistol series thah went on that went on for it seamed months
The gentlemen starting the week on my most wanted pistol.....
Good luck getting one know!
Suspending search for awhile now. Sigh.
My dad had a pistol in his safe box but I never new what it was. To my surprise it was this beauty!
They are cheap i picked one up a year ago for like 250. It was in 380 and wasn't a bad shooter. Very slick 👌. My gf is like 10lbs and could carry it with a barrel plug cc holster in yoga pants and a loose t-shirt and you couldn't tell she had it on.
I've got one of those Interams imported HSc's that was made in 1971 and came with the neat blue box and everything. I really like it. Bought it completely on a whim too. Went to a gunshow specifically looking for a K31 and ended up buying my HSc and a Remington Model 8 instead lol, got a K31 sometime later.
If memory serves me correctly (can't find the bloody book!) Renato Gamba produced these under licence in the 1980's and 90's with a 12 round double stack magazine. One of the most popular small pistols the general public don't seem to know about!!
There was one sitting around in my local fun-store, and after a few hard looks, it came home with me. It may be a spaghetti German pistol, but I like that kind of mixed heritage, especially since the HSc design had always appealed to me anyway.
Just need to clean it up and get it on the range.
Thanks Ian! I remember seeing ads for the HSc in the general interest gun magazines in the mid '70's, and new guns for sale at the LGS. Even tried one out at the back of the store. I don't know why I didn't buy it... a stupid mistake.
"WE OWN ALL METHODS OF DECOCKING!!! IF YOU DECOCK WITH YOUR FINGER YOU OWE US ONE REICHSMARK!!!"- Walther
@@Sableagle *Germanic screeching litigious noises*
Imagine filing a patent infringement lawsuit in Germany in 1942... Some real dedication there
@@OriginalEric Notice that he mentioned Walther was buddy buddy with the higher ups... I imagine that went a long way toward not having your suit thrown out as idiotic.
I was told that the HK Model 4 in .22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP was a similar design to this pistol. Well, since the designer was Alex Seidel it makes sense! After seeing you tear down this little pistol I can see how similar. It is almost identical from the hammer, to the safety, to the method of removing the slide from the frame. Thank you for this video. I love my little Model four and have all four barrels and magazines, with three being matching numbers.
Good to see you on Gun Stories last week. I’m so tired of actors and novelists trying to look like they have knowledge about guns on that program. It was refreshing to see someone with actual experience and understanding of these things.
1934: Strikers aren't cool anymore. All the cool kids want hammers.
1980s: Glock says hold my striker.
🤣🤣🤣
Cool kids still want hammers.
yea don't get me wrong, you can't argue the success of the Glocks, but you can argue that they are ugly as hell
Can’t stand Glocks and Striker-fired Pistols.
Zachary Peterson I will buy as many as possible and sell my Glocks.
@@MatthewBaileyBeAfraid striker-fired Sigs are excellent
Once again thanks Ian for show us such a neat gun. Hard to imagine it was desinged by a 25y old.
I think many of the young people at that time had a keen sense of art and design, you might say it post art deco, but i do believe it was part of the bauhause design school.
I love these videos, they're very informative, not just on the weapon's mechanism or the history surrounding the weapon, but both. rather comprehensive and well thought out.
I had this Mauser same identical style, I showed it to a friend he fell in loved with it , I traded it for a Smith & Wesson mod 27-2 . Mauser’s are great 👍 looking 🇺🇸
Looking into purchasing an HSc was what brought me to the Forgotten Weapons website around 2012 stumbled onto the youtube videos from there. Content just keeps getting better every year!
Great video!! I'm eagerly awaiting the reintroduced commercial pistol video. I have been wanting an HSc for some time. I missed out on one in perfect condition a few years back a a local gun show. I will find me another some time soon. Thank Ian. Keep up the good work!!
I've been waiting so long for a HSc video, I have a small collection of WW2 German pistols and the HSc with Heer waffenanpfs and holster is the jewel in my collection.
My dad brought one of these back, with a holster but only one magazine. I never had a problem getting the slide to go forward without the magazine. Pull the slide all the way back, and let it go sharply.
One of the few firearms on this channel I’m lucky to own, thanks to my grandfather.
He managed to sneak one back after world war 2. During the deconstruction following the war, his job was to drive a “deuce and a half” between sites hauling equipment and supplies to be melted down in foundries.
He managed to snag one of these as well as an original K98 bayonet.
Just a quick note on pronouncing "V" in German:
"Volkspistole" ist pronounced like "Folkspistole".
Same goes with Volkswagen, Vogel, Versicherung etc.
So "V" is (mostly) pronounced like an "F" in follow, find, father etc.
A rare Exception would be Varianz, which is pronounced with a "W", like wagon, war, worth etc.
Anyways, great and interesting video as always :)
Excellent presentation and very a informative video. The Mauser HSC is beautifully designed and engineered pistol. Thank you!
Marvelous Ian. I have always had an interest in these pistols. Very esthetic.
So glad this video was finally made. Just picked up an Interarms Commercial Import about a week and a half ago and was so sad to see that Ian didn't have a video on the HSc already. Looks like I worried for nothing.
I have an HSc that my Dad brought back from the war with two magazines and the original flap holster. From the numbers Ian gives it must have been between half and 3/4 of production, and everything he points out fits that except it has the wedge-shaped mag release. I have shot it, but it mostly stays in the safe. I don't like the fact that you have to insert a magazine to close the slide, but I can why they did it.
Really glad to have seen this video! My grandpa got a hold of one of these in IMMACULATE shape and when he died my dad got it. It's a lovely little pistol to handle and shoot.
Edit: His was one of the simplified finished guns with no German Eagle marks on it.
ok i got confused you said down for fire up for safe with the safety then when you said you disassemble you need to engage the safety you flicked it down.
Yeah he got it wrong way around there. I thought it would be weird to have the red dot showing for safe and the S for fire.
Ian has never projected himself as being perfect, just extremely gun knowledgeable and humble enough to adit errors when aware of them. We all know what he meant to say.
@@ron827 I wasn't sure I'm from the UK so don't have much to do with guns. Didn't say he was perfect just explaining what had confused me
I was just surprised there was no text edit for correction.
yeah thank you, I was also confident that when you expose the red dot you are in the fire position, but he clears it out in the disassembly portion of the vid
Mauser wanted nice, they got nice. That's nice.
Always wondered why these didnt demand as much of a premium as other german side arms.
I suspect that the gun looks a bit too modern for a pre-WWII design. I always wanted one but availability and price have never coincided sufficiently.
Probably because the HSc wasn't as widely issued as the P.08 or P.38.
Essentially what the other two were saying but it simply is not as iconic
One of the most beautiful pocket pistols ever designed. I have one and love it.
Because of this pointless ugly wedge ?
The best and eloquent gun reviews, well spoken and totally enjoyably informative. I do believe I had a hungarian version issued to luftwaffe, a showpiece of design ergonomicallly beautiful pistol, and a blast to shoot. Broken hearted Canadian shooter.
One of my uncle used the Mauser HSc Pistol in french army in Vietnam war in 1951/52. He was a Adjudant-chef
I was givin one of these by a friend pawn owner not working, 30 something and cleaning later I enjoy it more than ppk. I had no idea it was this rare thanks GUNJESUS
It's amazing just how nice looking these old pistols are compared to modern ones
When i was doing patent research on my automatic slide release (fundamentally different than on this as mine has a "no release" option), i found this little booger along with the Jericho 941. Interesting seeing how it worked. The Jericho version is basically the same thing except it's a removable component.
I actually like the ramp under the barrel on practical grounds as it can help prevent the gun getting caught on things. It's a pretty gun overall. I wish they made a more powerful version of it.
That slide lock system flummoxed me *and* the counter lady at the Fun Store where I was looking at one of these. After I cleared the pistol, neither of us could figure out how to drop the slide again, and she had to call her dad to tell her how. LOL
My dad bought me one of these for my high school graduation in 1972. New .380 reissue (at the time) Choice between that and a Walther PPK/s. It was a jam-o-matic, so bad - even with ball - I sold it for a bit more than what my dad paid, $100.
Shoulda got the Walther, and eventually did, multiple times over. They actually work.
I've heard the some of the 380s will do that the originals in 32 should work fine
@@jimmyconway2800 I have heard that as well but that ship, for me, has long sailed. The .32's, as well, are largely wartime collector's items. the few postwar guns are as well, too expensive to shoot.
Another fine, detailed video as always. Thank you Ian.
I used to look at these in Shotgun News and drool, I wanted one, or an Astra Constable or a PPK. Alas I never got any of them but did have a set of FEG in 32 380 and 9 MAKAROV. Sold the last of my collection many moons ago, just before the price of guns went nuts. Wish I had kept them for another year....
Huh. I could swear I remember reading somewhere (Ezell, maybe? my copy is in storage while my living room gets remodeled, or I'd check) that it was called the HSc because the version that went into production was preceded by two unsuccessful prototypes designated HS (retroactively HSa) and HSb.
I've got one of these, seems to be civilian, early enough that it still has its lanyard hole; it has synthetic grips, which I've never seen on any other one. They look just like the factory wood ones on all the examples in this video and others I've seen in photos, same checkering layout and everything, but they're black plastic (or Bakelite, or maybe hard rubber--not wood, anyway).
me : looks like ppk. whew.
me, in intellectual : *ADA WONG PISTOL*
It suits Ada. classy gun, classy woman.
Stolen from me.
@@GunsNGames1 check the date that i make this comment first and crying about your "copyright of comment" after. sir.
@@GunsNGames1 and beside, i don't give a single care about steal someone's comment or someshit. don't you have any idea that i also play RE:2 Remake? if you really gather hard someone's "thumbs up" that hard. go crying out more louder.
Secret weapon time.
Extremely well made, slightly larger than a Walther PP. thanks for the video.
I own a Renato Gamba Italian made (under license) .380 HSc A bit fatter; instead of a front swoop on the trigger guard it is cut off with a hook for an off hand finger; and the magazine release is moved to the trigger guard. Not a great gun, the original HSc is far sexier looking, but it is a strong functional pistol.
I inherited an Interarms Hsc from my father-in-law years ago. Though he rarely fired it, he always talked about how accurate these pistols were. Not really expecting too much, I took it to the range to see how accurately I could shoot it. Wow! Amazing! But that little blowback sucker does pack a punch.
I would like to see a video about the post war commercial German production HSc. I just got one in a pawnshop and I can't find much info on the post war German guns.
That webbing in front of the trigger guard looks so nice.
I wonder if the webbing was meant to make holstering easier.
I passed on a Hsc(BARELY) that was post-war production & I regret it to this day. I personally like the Hsc over the PP/PPK by a large margin. Its a little big for a pocket pistol but it is MUCH more shoot-able & ergonomic than the Walther pistols. I would really like to lay my hands on one.
Very cool! I'm a bit more of a PPK sort, but the Mauser always interested me. Love the German craftsmanship in either- it was almost sad to see the same gun "dressed down", with thin to no bluing, several nice features deleted, etc. I know why, you explained it, but it seemed wrong to do so. Thanks Ian
When I was a kid I had a bb gun like this one. I shot it soo much it fell apart. Wish I still had it. Anyway I have been keeping an eye out for one of these. They are not common.
I like the lines of those pistols; i didn't knew about 'em, but they look nice to me.
You'd think that one of the first things they'd drop to make it cheaper eould be that aesthetic web piece in front of the trigger guard. That's less material used right there.
Most beautiful pistols ever made.
Beautiful.
I had one of those and it is one of the few firearms I dearly regret having to sell it. It is simply the best .32 pistol ever made. Commercial model too so no nasty markings on it.
What makes you appreciate HSc more than walthers PP/PPK for example ?
More reliable? My Walthers had issues with loading the first round.
@@33Luger Had it troubles to take the top round out of the mag ? This is caused by the fact that 32acp is a semi rimmed cartridge. As long as the gun fires reliably it's a non-issue. And I don't see quite well how one could design mags differently. All that may change would be either the ammo (some brands feed a bit better than others) or the tension of the mag spring
Nope, they were 380 PP's.
@@lrs2319 Reliability, ergonomics (the manual of arms with the early hammer drop models is superb) and accuracy.
Oh, it's that gun ada uses in resident evil 2 remake
Ada Wong
@@akromawrath7353 ?
@@raiwserkoopa2221 Ada Wong is the one using that Handgun
I have one of these. It’s a late war model and it still does pretty well for it having original parts
I had a 9mm Kurz HSc a long time ago and traded it off for something I liked better. I have another now, in7.65 Browning.
Other than my nearly mechanical dismissal of DA/SA pistols - a matter of taste, so to speak - the only complaint I have is the trigger curve abrades my trigger finger. Such is life.
According to your lecture, mine seems to be a commercial pistol. It has the right side proof mark, but nothing on the left side (bottom-rear of trigger guard). I knew it didn't have the military markings; I suspected (past tense) it was a police pistol.
Serial number is in the higher 700.000 range.
That private collectors got a hell of a collection. Prototype, early version....stamped sheet metal slide version... navy version .... dang.
Hey ian, where did you hide mikes body after he tried to muscle in on your territory? (Garand thumb)
Behind the fireplace.
the LT tried to do land-nav and got lost
@@moosemaimer lol
It couldn't have been Ian he was shot with the new experimental 6.3mm. Not a retired 3.7mm french round.
@@peterwelsh6975 thats a very good point. Or maybe ian was just trying to throw us off his trail
I always wanted one of these. Such a handsome weapon.
Love my little early Heer issued HSC. Fun gun to shoot.
5:25 - "safety DOWN is fire, UP is SAFE" - actually, it is other way around, as per your own information, just a minute later in the video :)
Mauser's ad campaign, should they ever bring these back. "Mauser. Producing only the best in style and quality! Thoroughly tested by Ada Wong and Sheriff Daniel Cortini under the harshest of conditions. No firearm will plant those freedom seeds into the undead better! Buy yours today!"
My first hand gun given to my by my grandfather who’s father carried when in war.
I have a later one (SACO import). I got it from my father in a trade sometime in the 1970s. It is still one of my favorite concealed carry guns chambered for the .380 cartridge. Despite my having carried it for almost 30 years the beautiful deep blue finish is still almost new and it still functions like a dream. Accuracy is good although it shoots low, but consistently. My only complaint is that the sights are not adjustable so you just have to learn where to aim to hit your desired target. It is an excellent 'pocket pistol' and because it is so streamlined I like it better than my PPK/s for pocket carry. One final thing... despite mine being a postwar model it DOES decock with the safety. Not sure what is going on there. Maybe they used some earlier parts when they built mine?
Just picked one up at a gun show today. Mine is a very late war one that was done with the parkerized instead of blued.
Very nice looking old Mauser handgun
As always Ian great video and content, thanks for sharing.
Seidel or Seidl = small beer (0,3l) in (Austrian) German.
@@rrolf71 Germans: I want a pistol.
Austria: Sends Luger to Germany.
World: Some newer pistol please.
Austria: Here have a Glock. It's ugly but does the job.
Interesting handgun. Thank You for the video presentation.
Ah. Seidel being the HSc designer and H&K producing the HK4. The penny drops.
When I was a kid, my father had gotten one traded in at his gun store. He was going to give it to my mom to carry. We went out to test fire it and found that it was full auto! Broken sear. For fun, he made an extended mag for it. Later he fixed it.
My dad had the same issue with a luger he got in the 1970s except in his case the firing pin was rusted forward. He put a mag in it the first time he released the toggle BBBBRP... emptied the entire magazine into the ceiling! My mom was so pissed!
Another utterly fascinating video from Gun Jesus.
I remember reading about RAF Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck being a firearms collector. He used to carry a Mauser hSC in the leg pocket of his flight overalls. He picked it up from a wrecked German bomber that he shot down. There was an episode where he drew it when he confronted 2 Sergeant pilots that had broken off and run for home during an aerial engagement. Held them at gunpoint and had them charged with cowardice...
'Fly for your Life'?
Nolan Olivier - Yup, by Larry Forrester. I think there was even a sketch of the automatic in his hand. That upsloping trigger guard is distinctive...funny what stick in your mind years later...
@@jimstanga6390 that's pretty cool. I remember reading parts of the book when I was 12. Didn't get to that part, but Bob Tuck was one of those characters that made an impression.
I remember seeing an HSc Super .380 being reviewed back in the early 90's before the ban here, the USP had just hit the market at the time, commanded an RRP of around £800 or so. The HSc was a steal at £300.
All in it appeared to be a well rounded pistol with a reasonable price tag. Stateside it appears they're now worth almost double.
The Renato Gamba HSc Super .380? It's an interesting firearm, for sure. And I guess technically it's the same system, but man, some of those were downright ugly up front, and certainly none of them had the sleek lovely lines of the Mausers.
@@Celebmacil Unsure of that name but google-fu does confirm to me that you might be right. Old ass memory on my part. =]
The consensus in the review was nice piece but old-af basically.
Cool, so my Dad bought a high screw, police model between 810 and 808k... Famous sauce... Thanks Ean
If something exists, fireplace collector guy probably has 3-4 copies of it
And if it doesn't exist, he only has one.
I have a Mauser-Werke American Eagle Edition HSc 32acp SN# 0027 of 5000. I bought it new in the early 1980's and enjoy it very much. It came with two magazines...one flush and the other with a pinky extension. Are you familiar with this special edition? I wish I had tried to purchase additional magazines when I bought the pistol. I have recently attempted to locate additional magazines, to no avail. I have spoken to numerous dealers and manufacturing representatives, and have placed orders that I had to return. I would appreciate any information that might aid me in locating additional magazines and/or resolve my problem. I enjoyed your presentation. Thank you.
Thank you Gun Jesus, my HSc is sn#757xxx and it has the lanyard loop and the 135 under the eagle but no checkering on the grip pannels. Please do an episode on the Sig Sauer P230 sl.
I know that pistol and it's ammunition. Some of those WW2 rounds had a steel core. I know this to be true because one of my elder relatives shot a pig in his cattle kitchen during early 80s. That cattle kitchen had (and still has) concrete floor, walls and roof. The fucking round went through the pig's head and ricocheted from at least floor to wall to roof, ending up into right his foot (a toe was lost). They found the steel core embedded in the concrete where his foot stood. Absolutely a true story.
Very nice presentation.
Just bought one today. Looks like it was an Army one. No lanyard loop or top of slide matting, but has the older style mag release.
I happened upon one many years ago at a lgs. Mine is a 1944 production Waa135 with spare mag and holster. I paid about 200 for it in 97% condition. No import marks.
Nice looking gun movements and firearms always think of clock makers enjoyed thank you
Great video Ian, thanks!
I had a very clean one with accessories in origional box. Sadly traded but still love the Ruger 357 magnum i traded for.
I inherited a Mauser HSc pistol. According to the serial number and the proof marks it was manufactured fairly early in the war for the German Army. I'm looking forward to shooting it. If it proves reliable and accurate, it will be used for a CCW sometimes. Oddly mine is nickel plated with black grips. I have no idea if small runs were nickel plated by Mauser or if it was done afterwards.
How did the patent-conflict-induced loss of the hammer-drop feature affect the gun's popularity? Do you know to what extent were potential buyers informed of this difference in capability in the later models?
Ada Wong pistol in RE2 Remake.
Aw you beat me to it! Cheers mate and here's to more interesting exotic firearms in RE3 Remake!
Hello veer ki hal a Bohat vadia pistol ne sare baki Mauser ta Mauser a thanks for your all videos
Very good video on that pistol. I have a 1970 HSC in 380 ACP nickel finish.
Bet that artistic webbing element would do great on a skull
From my understanding in the post war model they also made a HSc in 9x18 police or ultra. Is this a accurate? If so that would be absolutely awesome!
Great video! I always enjoy your content and learn a tremendous amount from them. Thank you for that!