An extremely rare example of the Mauser Model HSv pistol designed in response to the Wehrmacht request for submission of design for a replacement for the Luger P.08. The HSv is a 9 mm, double-action, short recoil pistol with an eight round magazine capacity. Components are milled and have a high polish blue finish. The two piece grips are walnut with checkered panels. The left side of the slide is marked with the Mauser banner followed by "MAUSER-WERKE A.G. OBERNDORF A.N. HSv 9 MM" in two lines. The lightening cut on the opposite side of the slide is numbered "V1030." The magazine floor plate is numbered "V1030/2" in two lines. A double stamped Mauser/DWM Oberndorf commercial proof mark is located on the right front of the slide and a similar proof is stamped on the left front portion of the barrel beneath the slide. The Mauser HSv is one of the great rarities in German World War II military pistols. A superbly made and elegantly designed pistol. Very few were manufactured. This pistol is the only known example of a Mauser HSv. It would be the centerpiece of the most advanced German or European automatic pistol collection. This pistol is the subject of a featured article in The American Rifleman magazine of August 1946. Capt. C.H. Howell Jr. was the author. The subject of the article was a comparison of the HSv to other well known pistols such as the Luger, Colt Woodsman, 1911, and Walther HP. This article was later reprinted in the Auto Mag Vol. XXVI issue 8 November of '93. The HSv is also featured in The Walther Pistols 1930-1945 Vol. I by Buxton. He states "extremely few of the Mauser guns (HSv) were made, only one definitely known to exist now." This pistol is also listed in System Mauser by Breathed Jr. and Schroeder Jr. It is listed as one of the experimental pistols on page. 268 and photographed on pg. 269. This pistol is widely recognized as the most important Mauser pistol of the post WWI period.

Very fine. The pistol retains 80% plus of the original blue finish. The finish on the barrel and trigger guard shows little wear. The slide has some edge wear on the high points and the blue finish on the rear of the slide has aged to a plum brown. The grip straps exhibit the most wear and have about half of the original finish intact with the balance fading to an even gray patina. The trigger and safety lever have 40% of the original "straw" finish intact. Markings are crisp. The walnut grips are excellent with some minor handling scratches and finish wear. Checkered panels are generally sharp. Condition is exceptional for a trial pistol which could expected to be subjected to extended and hard service in adverse conditions.