Haenel Schmeisser 25acp

That’s in incredible shape for a prewar gun. Congrats!

VERY nice find. That little guy would have come home with me too.

OK, I'll bite: where does the spent case go?

There is a brief article, with a bibliography, about the Haenel-Schmeisser pistols here: https://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/HS25/hs25.html

The same website also has an article about the similar Zehna 6.35mm automatic here: https://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Zehna/zehna.html

It's a very nice website for handgun collectors. This is the main page for the section about pistols: https://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/

I look for these once in a while on GunBroker, but they tend to sell for more than I feel like spending.

BTW, if I remember correctly, these pistols had the safety catch linked to the magazine release, so you had to put the safety on to remove the magazine. In theory, this prevented "I forgot the round in the firing chamber!" accidents. The Phoenix HP-25/22 pistol, introduced in the 1990's, copied this feature, which was one of the reason I bought one. Perhaps this was a feature of the Zehna that was dropped on the Haenel-Schmeisser.

PS - Thanks for putting up such good pictures of this gun, Eugen. I wish I could take pictures like that!

What a unique piece. Thank you for posting about it. Learned something new today.

Eugen said:

The firing pin, like many of these 100 year old vest pockets, serves extra duty as the ejector.

Click to expand...

I never heard this before. Did that design go away when firing pin blocks became commonplace?

Eugen

I have heard of the Haenal Schmeisser pistol but never saw one, either in person or in any photos. Very interesting design and in nice condition for a 100 year old gun!

Thanks for sharing it with us!

somethingbenign said:

Did that design go away when firing pin blocks became commonplace?

Click to expand...

Firing pin blocks are the stuff of the 70s & 80s, about half a century after this gem. In days of old, before lawyers darkened the plains in their herds, people were expected to take adequate care of their firearms, loaded or unloaded. Or suffer the consequences.

I'll wager we don't see many of these as they'd not pass the GCA 68 "points test" to be aa "sporting" handgun.
Now, I'm curious if Ian has covered this one, it's a unique bit of kit in its way.

Nice piece!

There is just one Haenel-Schmeisser for sale on GunBroker. It is not nearly as nice as Eugen's, and it is $600 to start: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/893237420

I assume the long pin sticking out of the back of the slide is a cocking indicator. If it's a loaded chamber indicator...then the seller is one wild and crazy guy. But hey, then you get some ammo with the gun!

Eugen said:

I noticed that one on GB when I was looking for a spare mag and a spring set. These pistols do have a loaded chamber indicator/pin on the back of the slide. But, there is something very wrong with that one listed. It is protruding too far. The seller did admit there is a functional problem.Bubba must have 'worked' on it. I'd certainly say so! I'd be surprised if that pistol sells at that price, but it is gone now.

Click to expand...

Dang, I did not read the auction listing closely enough. He wants $600 for a gun in that shape with a mechanical problem? Wow. For me, the listing is still there and unsold.

I think I have noticed that particular seller a number of times in the past. He gets interesting stuff, but it is often priced to hilt, or has a hidden reserve.