Oh... OK; Hardshell Case. Now I get it.

Back when I was an idealistic (ergo niaeve) young New Hampshire State Trooper, an "HSC" was a MAUSER HSC double-action semi-automatic pistol in caliber .380 (9MM Kurz) which I carried off-duty not on my back, but in a covert little holster tucked under the waistband over the right hip, where it rode generally out of sight but quickly accessable.

One day in the grocery store I squatted down to retreive a can of something from a lower shelf; when I glanced over my shoulder (one gets in the habit of doing that frequently in "the business") there was a lady standing there frozen in obvious terror, ashen white and "deer in the headlights" eyes. Realizing that my shirt-tail had pulled up revealing the handle of that mean little pistol residing beneath, I quickly and appologeticly flipped open my black leather ID case and displayed the ID and big gold badge (the NHSP has about the prettiest badge you are apt to see, BTW)much to her obvious relief.

Thankfully, the only "duty" the HSC was called upon to render was to administer the "Coup de Grace" to a mortally injured racoon I happened accross one night on the way back to the barracks after "O-Days". It did it's job quickly, effectively, and with precision accuracy.

A work of German genius, the HSC was way ahead of it's time in WW II and I was one of the first Lawmen in NH to start carrying one offduty. There were times when it went into a "Domestic disturbance" call in the uniform trouser pocket as a "backup" to the .357 Magnum S&W M-66 service revolver.

Times got tough around '77 (burned out of the SP in '76) and I sold it to a Local Officer who, last I knew, was still packing it when out of uniform.

...But thanks for the clarification.