Haenel Schmeisser Model 1

Description

7/16/25 - This is an original Haenel Schmeisser Model 1 pistol. Made in the late 1920s. The C.G. Haenel company was founded in 1840 by Carl Gottlieb Haenel. The company was reportedly sold around 1890, but members of the Haenel family continued to be associated with the company until its demise at the end of World War II.  According to Hogg and Walter in the Fourth Edition of Pistols of the World, Hugo Schmeisser came to work for the C .G. Haenel company in 1921, and “...brought with him a pocket-pistol design that he had patented in 1920.”  First Variant Model I: The first variant Schmeisser Pistol is distinguished by the distinct “hump” at the rear of the slide which rises up to form the rear sight.  The grips have a monogram of an S intertwined about an H in an oval at the top. There are sixteen vertical triangular-cut slide serrations at the rear of the slide. The serial number is on the right side of the frame just above and behind the trigger. The inscription on the left side of the slide is in sans-serif characters on one line and reads C.G. HAENEL SUHL, SCHMEISSER’S PATENT. A few guns have been noted without the comma. Walter, in his Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers, states: “That Haenel rose once again to a position of prominence within the German gunmaking industry was largely due to Hugo Schmeisser, chief designer and technical director from 1928; his brother Hans served as sales director.” This one is all matching and has a "GERMANY" export marking on the right side of the frame. It has retained about 90-92% of its original bluing with wear primarily along the high edges of the slide. Fitted with excellent period-correct black hard rubber grips. Comes with one proper magazine. The bore shows minor pitting throughout.