1914/1920 Erfurt Unit Markings

[Don M]

Jack, your observation about the Oppeln marking is a very good one and would suggest that it is the older one. However, I still feel the pistol started in Merseburg and was transferred to Oppeln. Todd has sent me additional photos showing the gun has a sear safety and a disabled mag safety. This indicates the pistol belonged to the precinct police (Revierpolizei) in the mid-30s and not the barracked Schupo (Bereitschaftspolizei) who were transferred to the Army in the mid-30s. The Merseburg marking is a Bereitschaftspolizei marking while the Oppeln marking could be either. Other evidence suggest that the Schupo in the Merseburg district were downsized during the 1920s while the Oppeln Schupo contingent was exapanded.

The positioning of the markings supports this sequence. Usually, the first marking was stamped near the middle of the of the grip strap. Unless it was ground off, subsequent markings had to be fit into the available space.

Still, I would put the probability that this is correct at only about 60%.