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Herbert Schmidt Ostheim was a German gunmaking company, that was also known as HS - Herbert Schmidt Waffentechnik. The company was based in Ostheim, (Rhön).
The company was founded in 1919 by the two Brothers Franz and Herbert Schmidt in Zella-Mehlis. The Schmidt brothers started in their own living room, using a foot driven drilling machine, a mobile forge and some smaller tools. Four persons manufactured shotguns in 12, 16 and 20 gauge, as well as in .410 caliber; they also produced some screwdriving tools.
Slowly, this small team developed a small factory. But in 1928 a fire destroyed almost the whole production unit; it was then rebuilt quickly.
In 1945, the company was evacuated to Baden Württemberg in Germany, where it began to produce axles and pedals for bicycles, as well as ovens and table lamps. Then Herbert Schmidt moved a part of the company to Ostheim, (Rhön), near Frankfurt on Main.In 1950, Herbert Schmidt got the license to produce starting pistols and blank-firers, which were then made in a rented location. The first model was a single-shot alarm gun (for yachting purposes). In 1951, the production hall was completed, and the model range had been increased, to include a double-action revolver in .22 caliber. The production of own cartridges began at the same time. In 1959, a single-action revolver in the Western style, the 120, 121, 121 a and the 121 S, were born; they were first made in .22 magnum.
Many different versions of this revolver followed and appeared in .22lr, .22magnum and 357 magnum, as well as 6mm blank and 9mm blank.
After Herbert Schmidt died in 1974, the factory was run by his wife Christa and his son Wolfgang. Many different sorts of guns were in production at this time. In 1977, the company began to produce swords, knives and bayonets, as well as survival knives. In 1994, the company introduced a single-action revolver,
the "Texas Scout", which was convertible from .45 long Colt into .22lr. A switchable firing pin, interchangeable cylinder and an inlet barrel made this possible.
The gun was available in 3" and 4" version. Some more interesting guns then began to be made, and the "Texas Scout" also became available in .45 blank.
Herbert Schmidt then also made a double-action revolver, the "Buffalo Combo", a .38 - .22lr convertible. Some time in the late 1990s, the company disappeared.
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