by A. Winthrop aWinthrop@juno.com
Identifying your Mauser pocket pistol can be a little tricky. It
could fall into one of four categories: a Mauser Pocket Pistol 1910; a
Mauser Pocket Pistol 1914 (or its slightly modified 1934 version), a Mauser
Vest Pocket Pistol or the Mauser HSc.
The Mauser Pocket Pistol 1910, somewhat larger and with a longer
barrel than competing pocket pistols and therefore considered more reliable
and accurate, was chambered only for 6.35mm (.25 ACP). There were two basic
versions of this pistol: one made between early 1911 and July 1913, and
another, updated version introduced in January 1914. Those made before 1914
have serial numbers between 1 and 61,000 and those made during or after
1914 have serial numbers between 61,000 and 152,000 (1914-1917) and between
200,000 and 403,000 (1919-1934). The latter figures include 1914 models in
both 6.35mm and the larger 7.65mm (.32 ACP), added to Mauser's pocket
pistol offerings in July 1914. No numbers are known to exist between
152,000 and 200,000.
The pre-1914 versions have come to be known as the "Side Latch" or
"First" models. The side plate on these pistols incorporates a latch that
allows the plate, trigger\sear assembly and trigger bar and spring to be
removed, without having to remove the slide. The pistol had a very good
finish and was from the beginning a commercial success in Europe, North
America and elsewhere. Mauser reported the following total sales figures:
1911, 11,012 sold; 1912, 30,291; 1913, 18,856. These early 1910s are scarce
and it is very difficult to find parts for them. Even the largest North
American parts dealers failed to identify my early 1910 and none had parts
for it.
In July 1914, Mauser came out with the second of its pocket pistol
line, a scaled-up version of the 1910 chambered for 7.65mm. This version
was revised slightly in 1934, allowing the use of stamped rather than more
costly machined internal parts and sporting a curved, more comfortable
grip. Otherwise, the 1934 models were nearly identical in construction to
the 1914s. Numbering of the 6.35mm 1934s started around 403,000 and about
25,000 were produced. Production of the 1934s in both calibers continued
until 1939.
At about the same time the scaled-up 1914 came out, Mauser modified
its smaller 1910s to conform in design (but not in size) to the new 1914s,
incorporating improvements in both models that were originally realized
during testing of a Mauser 9mm 1912\1914 automatic military model. The
1910s produced in 1914 and later, sometimes called the "Second" or "Neues
Modell" ("New Model") 1910, do not have the side latch of the earlier 1910s
and the barrel retaining (or takedown) rod is secured by a spring catch on
the underside of the front of the frame. The early 1910's barrel retaining
rod was held in place by a slot cut into the underside of the barrel, just
behind the muzzle.
Because of the changes in the way the barrel is retained, pre- and
post-1914 6.35mm barrels are not interchangeable. In fact, few if any parts
of the 6.35mm 1910s made during or after 1914 are interchangeable with
those of the early 1910s because of a number of other design modifications
(different sized striker, different trigger bar pivot design, different
trigger sear design, etc.) Exceptions MAY be some springs (recoil, et al),
grip screws and magazines.
The 1914\1934 models in 7.65mm as well as in 6.35mm are often
incorrectly referred to as simply 1910s, without distinguishing them from
the earlier 6.35mm 1910s. For example, the National Rifle Association's
(NRA) Pistols and Revolvers Assembly manual uses a picture of a scaled-up
1914 model to illustrate its section on the 1910 and discusses the two
models as if they were the same. However, since the 1914\1934 model design
is derived directly from that of the 1910, all models are very similar in
external appearance, the size differences notwithstanding. The 1914\1934s
are 6.1" in length and 4.5" high, while the 1910s (both the 1914 and pre-
1914 versions) are 5.4" in length and 4" high.
A line drawing of the early "Side Latch" 1910 can be found on the Web
site of a Canadian gun parts dealer, MarStar, under its catalog heading,
Mauser Pocket Pistol 1909\1910. The exploded view of the gun's parts linked
to the drawing, however, is of a post-1914 version of the 6.35mm 1910. So
if you have a 1910 and it matches the drawing in EVERY detail, including
the latch shown on the side plate (left side) above the trigger, then the
parts depicted in the exploded view won't do you much good. However, if
your gun does not have the side latch, then the parts in the exploded view
will match yours and MarStar can provide you with a full range of parts.
Mauser's Vest Pocket Pistol was patented in 1918 and introduced for
sale in 1921 to take advantage of a rapidly growing market for VERY small
pistols for personal defence. The WTP (Westen Taschen Pistole) fitted into
the palm of the hand and was chambered only for 6.35mm. It came out in two
models: the WTP I and the WTP II, the latter coming into production in 1938
and featuring smaller, improved grips, a relocated safety and a "signal
pin", like those on Mauser's larger models, that protruded through the rear
of the slide to indicate by sight or feel that the striker was in firing
position. The earlier model's black, hard rubber grips were replaced after
1938 with brown plastic grips. There were about 50,000 WTP Is produced (on
sale in 1926 for 36 Reichsmarks) and far fewer WTP IIs made as production
ceased in 1940 to make way for military manufacture.
If your gun is a WTP, its grips stop well below the slide and it is
marked "W.T.P. - 6.35 - D.R.G." you have a WTP I. If the grips go nearly all
the way up to the slide and the gun is marked "T. - 6.35" you have a WTP II.
The Mauser HSc came out in 1939 and was produced by Mauser at least
until 1946 and later in France (and perhaps elsewhere) under licence into
the 1950s. The HSc was not derived from Mauser's earlier pocket pistols. It
was a totally new design, being more streamlined in appearance. Its quality
is considered to be inferior to the 1910s and 1914s but still good. It was
chambered for 7.65mm (.32). HSc serial numbers started at 700,000 and ran
to around 951,000.
Those HSc Mausers in the 745,338-781,415 serial number range that
were marked with the Eagle/135, about 4,000 in all, had the high-polish
blue finish of earlier commercial models and are among the most prised by
collectors. Later military models, marked with the Eagle/135 Waffenamt
(801,145-885,126 serial number range; about 31,000 made), were left
unpolished before blueing and show machining marks.
As for Mauser pocket pistol value, I have read on the Web that the
range for the post-1914 6.35mm 1910s runs between about US$150 for one in
average condition to US$450 for one in excellent condition. This is
probably true for the scaled-up 1914\1934s and for the HSc. Special
military or other markings can boost these values greatly. The early 1910s
are very scarce so my guess is that a Mauser collector might pay somewhat
more for these. The early 1910s originally sold in North America for
US$13.50 each, according to a Mauser rifle and pistol brochure published in
1912.
While the monetary value of most Mauser pistols is not very high,
every source I have come across in two months of on-and off-line research
says that Mauser 1910s and 1914s are among the best made and finished
pistols ever produced. This is why any of the Mauser pocket pistols are
worth the effort to restore.
With only a little work, I got my early 1910 looking and working
great. After carefully sliding its wrap-around walnut grip off to the rear
of the frame, I cleaned it gently with white car polish, wiped it dry and
applied a few coats of high quality car paste wax to it, making it look
nearly new. The metal parts just needed cleaning with a little Hoppes No.9
and then I gave everything a light coat of oil before reassembly.
My task was made easy because the pistol had been well maintained
(and little used, judging by the internal\external condition) by my father
and its two previous owners, a father and son, both German officers who
carried the pistol in WWI and WWII. The gun was surrendered to my father by
the son, an army captain, shortly after his US Army 155mm gun battalion
moved into a German village during the early days of occupation following
the war.
By far the best single Internet source of images (side views, field
stripped and complete parts layouts) and historical\tech information on
Mauser's 1910s\14s\34s and WTPs is the Web site of Gerhard Schoenbauer, an
Austrian collector (http://www.vestpockets.bauli.at/). Mr.
Schoenbauer's .JPG images are not scans of book reproductions, but rather
digitized photographs of pistols from his own collection that he took with
great skill and care. Some of Mr. Schoenbauer's historical\tech information
has been incorporated here. Mr. Schoenbauer's Web site also offers images
and information (in English as well as in German) on many other handguns in
his collection.
MarStar's exploded view can also be of help to you in disassembling
and reassembling your gun if it is a 1914 or 1934 model and they also have
images of and parts for the HSc. And the NRA's Pistols and Revolvers
Assembly manual will be even more helpful as it also includes images, parts
lists and other information on the HSc and the Vest Pocket, as well on the
1910s and 1914\1934s. It costs about US$14.
Other references on Mauser pistols include Roy Pender's "Mauser
Pocket Pistols: 1910-1946"; Walther H.B. Smith's "Mauser Rifles and
Pistols", and "Pistols of the World" by Ian V. Hogg and John Weeks.
Pender's book is out of print but suddenly in GREAT demand, perhaps an
indication of collectors' growing interest in Mauser pocket pistols.
Pender's son told me that his mother and uncle are trying to reprint the
book, which was selling at gun shows last fall for $100. Rutgers Book
Center, Highland Park, NJ, is offering copies at $200 each! Rutgers, a gun
book dealer, has most good publications on Mauser pistols and rifles at
reasonable prices.
Aside from MarStar (http://www.marstar.ca/catalog.html), you might
find parts for your gun at SARCO, a New Jersey parts dealer; World Wide Gun
Parts, San Diego, CA; Milarm, a Canadian gun parts dealer, and Gun Parts
Corp., Hurley, New York. Their Web site addresses and others appear below.
Jack First of Rapid City, SD, the only person able to identify my early
Mauser 1910 correctly, is also a good parts source but he is not on the
Web.
I offer this information because over the past two months a lot of
people on the Web helped me in my search for information on my Mauser
pistol and how to find parts for it, and I would similarly like to help
others. These people were mostly gun dealers and collectors so they know
what they're talking about. Still, it is always a good idea to keep an open
and critical mind because even the experts are sometimes wrong. And since
I'm no expert, view my information with an especially critical eye. I've
checked and double-checked my information but there still may be errors. If
you find any, please let me know.
Below are spec sheets for two of the pocket pistols mentioned above
as Mauser presented them in a 1912 sales brochure (the early 6.35mm 1910)
and a 1914 owner's manual (for both the 6.35mm and 7.65mm 1914 Mauser
Pocket Pistol models). I have also included specs for both WTP models as
they appear on Mr. Schoenbauer's Web site. Should you run across similar
information for the other Mausers discussed here, I would appreciate
receiving it.
Also below, is a guide to on- and off-line reference materials and
parts dealers.
A. Winthrop
AWinthrop@Juno.com
=============================================
MAUSER POCKET PISTOL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
--------------------------------------------
MAUSER POCKET PISTOL 1910 - 6.35mm (.25 ACP)
1. "First" or "Side Latch" model (early 1911-July 1913); about 61,000 made.
"Second" or "New" model (1914-39)
2. Manufacture date: From early 1911 (Revised in 1914, 1934)
3. Action: Blowback\striker
4. Length: 5 1\2" (Barrel: 3 1\8")
5. Height: 4"
6. Pistol weight, magazine empty: 15 oz
7. Pistol weight, magazine full : 17 oz
8. Empty magazine weight: 1.23 oz
9. Thickness: .85"
10. Length of line of site: 4.6"
11. Cartridge: 6.35mm (.25 ACP)
12. Weight bullet: 49 grains
13. Charge of nitro powder: 1.23 grains
14. Muzzle velocity: 750 feet\sec.
15. Muzzle energy : 61 foot\lbs.
16. Penetration:
in pine at 10 yds., 2 1\2"
in pine at 25 yds., 2 1\4"
17. "Guaranteed" shot pattern:
at 10 yds., 2" circle
at 25 yds., 6" circle
18. Nine-round magazine (ten-shot if one in chamber).
19. Wrap-around walnut grips.
20. Markings (These can vary):
a. Manufacturer: Waffenfabrik Mauser A-G.Oberndorf A.N.Mauser's Patent
b. Serial number: Stamped on back end of frame, front left
side of slide. Last three numbers only on takedown rod catch
and internal parts.
c. Mauser logo stamped on side plate, left side of gun, above grip.
d. One small crown, over another small crown, over a U on front
right side of slide.
-----------------------------------------------
MAUSER POCKET PISTOL 1914\34 - 7.65mm (.32 ACP)
1. First introduced in 1914 (Revised in 1934)
2. Manufacture date: July 1914 to 1939
3. Action: Blowback\striker
4. Length: 6.1"
5. Height: 4.5"
6. Pistol weight, magazine empty: 21 oz
7. Pistol weight, magazine full : 23 oz
8. Empty magazine weight: 1.75 oz
9. Thickness: 1.1"
10. Length of line of site: 5"
11. Cartridge: 7.65mm (.32 ACP)
12. Weight bullet: 74 grains
13. Charge of nitro powder: 3.08 grains
14. Muzzle velocity: 1142 feet\sec.
15. Muzzle energy: 148 foot\lbs.
16. Penetration:
in pine at 10 yds., 4.5"
in pine at 25 yds., 4.4"
in pine at 50 yds., 4.25"
17. Shot pattern:
at 10 yds., 1.4" circle
at 25 yds., 3.4" circle
at 50 yds., 5.75" circle
18. Eight-round magazine (nine-shot if one in chamber).
19. Wrap-around walnut grips.
20. Markings (These can vary):
a. Manufacturer: Waffenfabrik Mauser A-G.Oberndorf A.N.Mauser's Patent
b. Serial number: Stamped on back end of frame, front left
side of slide. Last three numbers only on takedown rod catch
and internal parts.
c. Mauser logo stamped on side plate, left side of gun, above grip.
d. One small crown, over another small crown, over a U on front
right side of slide.
---------------------------------------------------------
MAUSER VEST POCKET PISTOL 1918 (WTP I) - 6.35mm (.25 ACP)
System......... Self-cocking pistol with mass system and firing pin
Cartridges..... 6
Caliber........ .25 ACP
Barrel Length.. 60.7mm, 6 grooves right hand twisted
Weight Empty... 340g
Total Length... 115mm
Total Height... 79.5mm
Total Width.... 20.6mm
Trigger........ Single action
Sight.......... Fixed, groove with notch
Safety......... Lever
Finish......... Blued
Grips.......... Hard rubber
---------------------------------------------------------
MAUSER VEST POCKET PISTOL 1938 (WTP II) - 6.35mm (.25 ACP)
System......... Self-cocking pistol with mass system and firing pin
Cartridges..... 6
Caliber........ .25 ACP
Barrel Length.. 51.5mm, 6 grooves right hand turning
Weight Empty... 285g
Total Length... 102.4mm
Total Height... 71mm
Total Width.... 21mm
Trigger........ Single action
Sight.......... Fixed, groove with notch
Safety......... Lever and magazine-safety
Finish......... Blued
Grips.......... Plastic
-----------------------------
MAUSER HSc - 7.65mm (.32 ACP)
Calibre: .32 ACP (7.65 mm)
Action: Hammer - Double or Single Action
Overall Length: 162 mm
Height: 110 mm
Width over grips: 28 mm
Length of barrel: 85 mm
Distance between front and rear sights: 128 mm
Weight of pistol with magazine: 585 grams approx.
Weight of magazine: 50 grams approx.
Magazine capacity: 8 rounds
Weight of cartridge: 4.7 grams
Weight of powder charge: 0.16 grams
Muzzle velocity: 290 m/sec
Number of parts completely stripped: 40
================================================
MAUSER INFORMATION\REFERENCE MATERIALS AND PARTS
---------------------------------------
BULLETIN BOARDS - INFORMATION EXCHANGE:
Mauser Werke:
http://www.mauser-werke.com
Mauser K98\Pistol message board
http://www.paradise-web.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=tuco11&all=yes
Gerhard Schoenbauer's Mauser, et al, image\information archive
http://members.magnet.at/g.schoenbauer/
Reme Technology Museum (Firearms section), England:
http://www.eldred.demon.co.uk/reme-museum/arms/armindex.htm
-------------
MAUSER BOOKS:
- Roy Pender "Mauser Pocket Pistols: 1910-1946"
- Belford & Dunlop (1980) "The Mauser Self-Loading Pistol"
- Walther H.B. Smith "Mauser Rifles and Pistols"
- Breathed & Schroeder "System Mauser"
- R.J.Berger "Know your Broomhandle"
- Korn "Mauser Gewehre und Patente"
- Ian V. Hogg & John Weeks "Pistols of the World"
- Joseph J. Schroeder "Gun Collector's Digest"
- Jan Still "AXIS Pistols"
- Compiled by John Olson "The Famous Automatic Pistols of Europe - Vol. I"
Published by JOLEX
------------------
ON-LINE REFERENCE:
Book Dealers (General):
Rutgers Book Center
127 Raritan Avenue
Highland Park, NJ 08904
(732)-545-4344
E-mail: 105557.346@compuserve.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/rutgersbookcenter/
Blacksmith Corporation, Publishers
830 North Road #1 East
Chino Valley, AZ 86323-6048
(800)531-2665
E-mail bcbooks@northlink.com
http://www.northlink.com/~bcbooks
Herb Gopstein
South Brunswick, NJ
Tel: 732-821-4949
E-mail: herbg@cnj.digex.net
ttp://www.cnj.digex.net/~herbg/pricegd.htm
--------------------------
ON-LINE GUN\PARTS DEALERS:
Al Hoffmeyer's Polish Radom Pistols\Rifles
http://www.collectorsnet.com/hoffmeyers
Marstar Gun Parts, Canada (Nice graphics, "exploded" views)
http://www.marstar.ca/catalog.html
SARCO, New Jersey
http://sarcoinc.com/index.html
MilArm, Canada
http://www.milarm.com/"
Gun Parts Corp., Hurley, NY
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/stock.html
Wolff GunSprings Home Page
http://www.gunsprings.com/Resources/welcomeNOF.html
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