[Wreck Checker]

Mauser HSc JE Slide Marking Question Solved

I recently purchased a nice HSc, Ser. No. 758449. Usual Commercial Eagle N markings present. Stamped on the left side of the slide between the Mauser Banner and Mauser address is what appears to me to be an "E" or perhaps an "F". Has anyone else seen such a stamping or know what the significance may be???

 

[Mark]

Are you are sure it is stamped? It looks like it was engraved. However, it is not a factory marking and must have had significance to the person who put it there?

 

[adler]

I believe that Mark is correct in describing it as an engraving. Any chance of getting an enlarged close-up photo?

 

[Wreck Checker]

Now that I look closer, I believe that you are correct that this is an engraving. It also now looks more like an intertwined JE to me. Maybe just the original owner's initials. Could it be some distributor's marking? Do you think that this Non-Factory engraving would lessen the value of the pistol and if so how much?

 

[Wreck Checker]

Would this be a proper WWII era holster for the pistol? There are no markings what so ever.

 

[Malysh]

There is an HSc in Pender's "Mauser Pocket Pistols" with the same marking in the same area of the slide. The example in the book also has the left grip "stamped with a circle and "Jon Ecker-WELS" in circular arrangement inside the circle" It is serial number #833301.
Pender said "all research failed to turn up any information on the German retailer". -
pages 242-243, "Mauser Pocket Pistols" 1971, Roy G. Pender III.

Pender thought the markings indicated a private firearms retailer. Since both the pistol in the book and W.C.'s pistol are commercial HSc's we have a bit of supportive data.

New info: Thanks to the internet and search engines we have access to information that Mr. Pender didn't 38 years ago:

from Wilkepedia: Wels is the second largest city of the state of Upper Austria, located in the north of Austria, upon the Traun River near Linz. It is not part of its surrounding Wels County (Bezirk Wels-Land), but a so-called Statutarstadt (independent city). However, Wels is the county seat of Wels-Land.

So, if Jon Ecker was a firearms retailer we can now confirm he traded in Wels, a city in North/Central Austria.

 

[adler]

Good catch, Malysh! I also own Pender's book and I am humbled...there it was right in front of us!

 

[Mark]

Very interesting ..... !

 

[Malysh]

Thanks.
I wasn't able to find any information about Jon Ecker, though. I am going to try to find out more about him. If there is anything on Ecker I will update the post.

 

[Wreck Checker]

Thanks Malysh for the excellent research.

 

[rob67gt]

Excellent

Super job Malysh! At first glance yesterday I wrote this off as a typical "vet mark" but your link to Pender's book (gotta get that one) and especially the grip mark that ties the two markings together is close to "divine intervention"! Now you can track the origin of this commercial pistol! Unlikely that they kept (or more accurately still have) records of the purchaser but it is a starting point. A "generic" link to a pistol's origin would likely increase the desireability of this commercial model somewhat. How much is difficult to assess IMO and something that would have to be borne out by the market. Right buyer with a link or focus on the city of origin in Austria would fly high. For those who prefer military accepted pistols, this variation would likely have little drive to increase their interest. Whole different story if you can put it in a specific officer's hands through a documented purchase confirmation. Such a trace can't be done with military models that I am aware but I suppose there could be a possibilty with commercials - you know the German desire to document!). The fun is in the hunt....enjoy Wreck Checker and good luck if you follow up!

Learned something in 2009....YEAH!!!! Happy New Year HSc fans!

 

[Malysh]

The Pender book may be getting old, but if he hadn't written his observations about this particlular commercial HSc, we would have had nothing to go on for W.C.'s commercial HSc.
We always build on what's come before us, don't we? This is another example of how valuable a tool the internet can be.

I have two guys I'm going to contact in Europe and see if they can find out anything about Jon Ecker of Wels.

The Kriegsmarine, Police, and Army types seem more desireable to collectors but the commercial ones appeal to me. You never know where they wound up or who had them. Even though they are commercial you can pretty much assume they weren't sold to "Gunther Weber" the local baker, for example. I don't think the Nazis and their satraps in Austria really allowed too many civilians to own guns privately.

I am happy if I was of some help!

 

[Malysh]

I've got some more information. I took a careful look at the photos in Pender's "Mauser Pocket Pistols" pages 242 & 243.
Pender described the marking as Jon. Ecker - WELS.
With a magnifier it looked to me to be:
Joh. Ecker - WELS. I thought this indicated the first name to be Johann, not Jonathan, Jon, or John.

On that assumption I did some searching today and I found verified there was a gunsmith in Wels, Austria named Johann Ecker.
I found a link to a shotgun he made that was for sale on the internet:

http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/prewar-german-double-barrel-hammer-shotgun-with-k-1-c-b0gykbq9ak

So now we know for sure there was a Johann Ecker from Wels that was a gunsmith.
If I find any more information I will update the post.

 

[Wreck Checker]

I wonder if they could still be in business? I'll try emailing this company.

http://www.waffen-ecker.at/index2.php

 

[Malysh]

Could be. I wouldn't be surprised. Waffen-Ecker is in Wels and they appear to be in sporting goods.
Good luck, W.C.

 

[Ron Smith]

Joh. (Johann?) Ecker " Ispezialgeschaft fur waffen munition jagdgerate." ("Special shop for guns , ammo and hunting equipment".)

is / was a dealer in Wels Austria near Steyr.

 

[Malysh]

Here's a link to an auction "Charlie Chaplin" won a 22lr Mauser target rifle on Auctionarms recently. He posted the auction #(8881106) on Gunboards and I've linked it here because the 4th picture from the bottom shows a Johann Ecker sticker on the botton of the Mauser's forearm. I found it by copying and pasting Ron's german language post on Google and the Gunboard post came up. I guessed the auction was from Gunbroker or Auction Arms. The pics are linked without permission of the seller.
So we probably have gone as far with this JE marking for the HSc as we can. Now it's up to
W.C. to contact the company if he can, and see if they can find out who his HSc was sold to from Ecker:

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8881106

 

[adler]

Malysh:
That's some extraordinary super sleuthing! Have you considered investigating opportunities with the CIA or NSA?
It'll be interesting to see if anyone can verify if Ecker is still in business and if some sales detail can be uncovered on this HSc...
Peter

 

[Malysh]

Thanks Adler. The compliments from you are greatly appreciated! And also from rob67gt, thanks.

You are my HSc "rabbi". I always appreciate the help you give me and the personal collecting advice via our emails.

It's up to you now, Wrecker Checker. Here's wishing you good luck in the hope you can find out more information on your HSc pistol!

 

[k9mike]

Amen to that one Malysh! Very impressive. This is what I love about the hobby. The history, research, and the interest of our fellow collectors. Great work!
Mike