German Mauser Serial Numbers
Sweden adopted a Mauser carbine in 1894 and a Mauser rifle in 1896, both chambered for the 6.5x55 cartridge. Also in 1896, Germany experimented with Mausers of various calibers. Graeme Caselton (gcaselton@easynet.co.uk) kindly supplied the following rough breakdown of model variations, dates and serial numbers pertaining to the C96 Mauser. I deeply regret to report that he did so at the time he was about to hand in his 1915 Std. Wartime Commercial for destruction under Britain's new and reprehensible ban on the private. During World War One the German Army’s standard rifle was the Gewehr 98 Mauser in 8mm Mauser. The Gew 98 action was the final product of several years of development and earlier Mauser designs. Dated Chamber S/42 S/42 Commercial Contract Code 42 Dated Chamber 41/42 Code byf Code Persian Contract 4 Persian Contract Artillery 1934/06 Dated Commercial 1934 Mauser Dutch Contract 1934 Mauser Swedish Contract 1934 Mauser Swedish Commercial 1934 Mauser German Contract Austrian Bundes Heer (Federal Army) Mauser 2 Digit Date Ku Luger (Prefix.
- German Mauser K98 Serial Numbers
- Mauser Rifle Identification Serial Number
- Mauser Rifle Serial Numbers Database
WWII GERMAN MAUSER PISTOL MODEL HSC -
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.
This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German collectibles. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points that should be noted. |
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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).
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 the German Navy (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 holster is made of brown leather. It has a separate pouch which holds a single magazine. A leather flap is placed on the lower section and hooks to a metal stud found on the flap. This secures the pistol in place when holstered.
The inside of the flap has the words 'Mauser 7.65' stamped with black ink.
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.
German Mauser K98 Serial Numbers
Distribution of total HSc pistol production (1940–1945):Mauser Rifle Identification Serial Number
| BRANCH | NUMBERS |
| 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%) |