Pistols > Mauser Revolvers

Mauser revolvers 1980 - 1998

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vlim:
As we discussed in other threads, Mauser was struggling to come up with a game plan for the last decades of the 20th century. Investing in major production lines was not feasible due to the limited markets available, so Mauser started shopping around. They used subcontractors to produce pistols and revolvers bearing the Mauser brand name throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1980, German revolver maker Willy Korth had contacted Mauser with the suggestion to sell his company's production facilities to Mauser. Mauser investigated this idea, but decided against it.

Other projects did go through, however and two of those products were also revolvers. The first was the Mauser .38 Special revolver, produced by Renato Gamba (their 'Trident' revolver) with either a 2 inch, 2.5 inch or 4 inch barrel. Variations included one with an additional safety just behind the hammer. The pistols were finished at Mauser, so they could be proofed in Ulm and marketed as 'Made in Germany'.

The second revolver came a good deal later. The "Hunter" model, also a .38 Special revolver, was produced in 1997 for Mauser by the relatively new company of Kora in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1990, Kora set up a line of revolvers in gas and signal calibres as well as popular small calibres like .22lr and also their .38 Special version. The last pistol, the .38 Special Kora BRNO model, was produced in a limited series for Mauser, who marketed it as their "Hunter" pistol. The foreseen buying public being hunters, who needed a pistol or revolver beside their rifles for the 'mercy kills'.

The Mauser Hunter:
The Mauser Hunter is marked on the left side of the barrel with :

Mauser-Werke Oberndorf
"Hunter" Cal. 38 Special

On the right side of the frame, on the detachable sideplate, the Mauser banner is cast in.

The frame of the Hunter is made of a light alloy, in which the steel barrel and cilinder are placed. Grips are of a contoured walnut type, sometimes with a lanyard loop added.

The proof marking is that of the Prague proof house, a Lion/N marking. It is present on the barrel, the frame and the cilinder. The proof year (97) is stamped unter the Lion/N on the left side of the frame.

The Mauser .38 Special (Renato Gamba 'Trident')
This revolver was part of a deal with Renato Gamba in Italy. Renato Gamba got the right to produce and market the HSc pistol in Italy, and Mauser was allowed to market the Renato Gamba Trident revolver on their Markets.

The first Mauser .38 revolvers were sold in 1980. A purchase receipt for a .38 special revolver dated the 6th of November, 1979 mentioned that the delivery time would be around 100 days, so well into 1980. The few revolvers encountered all seem to date from the same era, around 1980. The revolvers were available in 4", 2.5" and 2" barrel lengths, wit an additional hammer safety at request. The revolvers had highly polished walnut grips, a deep dark Mauser blue similar to that used on the Mauser Parabellum and HSc, so it was most likely also provided by Brünofix.

The 2 inch and 2.5 Inch version has the following text on the left side of the (short) barrel:
MAUSER WERKE
OBERNDORF

On the right side there is the caliber:
CAL. 38 SP.

The grips have a small round brass plate inserted, the plate on the right side is blank, the plate on the left side has the Mauser banner stamped on it.

The pistols show Ulm proof markings, the Eagle/N, a 2-letter date code IA for 1980 and the Ulm antler on the bottom left of the frame. Cilinder and barrel also have the Eagle/N proof marking. The cilinder is marked with the pistol's serial number. The serial number is struck on the right side of the frame.

vlim:
Recently, a 'new' variation surfaced that I was not aware of.

The pistol is called the Mauser Model L22, chambered in .22lr, but although it looks like a revolver and the cilinder rotates open like any other revolver cilinder, it actually is a single shot pistol, shaped to look like a revolver.

They appear to have been made under license from Mauser by Umarex, probably for a market where single shot .22 pistols were easier to own legally. Pistols exist with 1993 proof markings, suggesting they were made at that time.

jcorl:
The trident looks like a nice traditional design to me.  Thank you for posting.  I have not seen one locally. 

Colin:
I have the Mauser Hunter with 6 inch barrel.  It came into a San Antonio TX gun show complete with box and papers.  Fun gun to shoot.  I checked the Kora site.  One of their most intresting guns is a carbine version of their 22 revovler.  A revolving rifle in 22 has to be just puddles of fun to shoot.  Pity they don't import it.

vlim:
The 6 inch Hunter has been confirmed.
The 4 inch version seems to be more common although I haven't seen more than handful come up for sale.

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