Did Israel ever use the Renato Gamba made Mauser HSc?

[JeffTC]

Hello everybody, I've got a Renato Gamba made Mod80 Mauser HSc .380. I bought it at a pawn shop a year or two ago and was told that the person who sold it to the pawn shop that was a surplus weapon that was previously owned by an unnamed Israeli police organization. I know that the Israeli's used a wide variety of small arms from a wide variety of manufacturers, but I've found no mention that the Renato Gamba HSc was among them. It really makes no real difference to me, The gun was still brand new in the original box complete with manual, cleaning kit and mags when I got it and after a brief break-in period (and figuring out that the hotter European .380 military grade ammo works best in it), I've found it to be an excellent small form factor handgun, very reliable and very accurate and rather nice looking for a handgun, but I digress... If anyone has heard the same that the Israeli's used the gun, or knows of any place on the internet I might find out, I'd appreciate hearing from you. I believe every gun has a story to tell, and I'd like to know more about the story mine has to tell!

 

[Jim Watson]

Is there an importer's mark on box or gun?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

While it is all but impossible to say that any gun existing during Israel's formative years was NOT used by them, the fact that it is so old and yet *new* with box and papers speaks a bit against that use.

While still possible, it is rather stacked against the likelihood.

As above, are there any import/re-import marks or information on the gun or the paperwork?

As to your appreciation of the gun for its own sake - I mirror that attitude.

Do not dry-fire without high quality snap-caps in it.

Todd.

 

[unklebuck]

The Model 80 you speak of was chambered in 9x17mm and also .380 acp. Since the 9 x17mm ammunition is very hard to find, some have fired .380acp.in it.The 9 x 17mm had many problems, including the chamber pressure being excessive. The pistol should be marked .380 acp. if it is. It was imported into the US by Interarms of Alexandra, . I haven't found any reference to use in by Israeli Police.

 

[Jim Watson]

Please elaborate, I think 9x17 IS .380 ACP in US terminology.

 

[Dr.Rob]

New in the box and 'surplus' are not used in the same sentence with rare exception.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have heard of new department spare police property being sold surplus. Usually on a caliber or brand change.

Probably not an Italian copy of a German gun, though.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Probably not an Italian copy of a German gun, though.

Too funny!

Todd.

 

[unklebuck]

The Model 80 you speak of was chambered in 9x17mm and also .380 acp. Since the 9x17mm is very hard to find, some have fired .380acp.in it.The 9x17mm had many problems, including the chamber pressure being excessive. It was imported into the US by Interarms Alexandra, . I haven't found any reference to the use by Israeli Police, but there were millions of these manufactured.

 

[unklebuck]

Jim Watson is right. I did use the wrong number in my reply. The actual caliber, besides .32 and .380, was the 9x18mm, also known as the 9mm Ultra, or 9mm Police. I found several websites with information about the HSc. guns.com has a very interesting article on your Renato Gamba.

 

[Bcwitt]

Israelis used a tremendous amount of post WW2 surplus from all over Europe. I would be surprised if they didn't use it.

 

[vintovka]

Owned a beautiful .380 Hsc with all the "original mauser" markings but apparently made by Gamba. Was nearly NIB when i got it for cheap and found our why in a hurry. Would not reliably feed any brand of .380 and not sure how the factory even got it to fire the rounds on the "test" target included in the box. I have heard many similar complaints over the years so not alone in my disappointment. Very little interest in it when i sold it and barely covered my original cost.

 

[Bcwitt]

By "Gamba" do you mean "GMBH"? That is German for "LLC". Appears on many German made firearms.

 

[vintovka]

By "Gamba" do you mean "GMBH"? That is German for "LLC". Appears on many German made firearms.

I must admit that its been a long time and you may be right (at least in my case) I looked on line and i can see one like mine was "made in Germany" and (with my failing eyesight) might be easy to mis read GMBH ( Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, meaning "company with limited liability") as Gamba. What i am deadly sure is while beautiful they have a rep for not feeding well resulting in many being "like new" after all these years.

 

[Bcwitt]

Hey this is cool, I casually researched it, & it seems there actually is an Italian manufacturer named "Gamba" that did manufacture hsc pistols?

 

[Bcwitt]

I think GMBH is post war. Not sure.

 

[Bcwitt]

I've never owned one.

 

[vintovka]

http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-g...-italy)-mauser-hsc-semi-automatic-pistol.aspx

 

[Archie]

Israel, the modern nation (1948) used anything they could get for the first five to ten years (roughly) of its existence. Not so much in the last thirty years or more. Most items (imported) for government (e.g. Army) use was marked as Israeli proper at least with a discreet Magen David (star of David - interlocking triangles) or mem (מ) in the same manner U. S. property is marked "U. S. property".

If not so marked it was not part of the official Israeli government - might have been a 'clean' gun, but one cannot tell.

I would not think Israel would use such an odd caliber or a 'discreet' gun. I should think a 9x19mm with People's Republic of China head stamp would be more likely. But what do I know?