1914/1920 Erfurt Unit Markings

[Don M]

These are very interesting police markings. It would help a lot if we knew whether this pistol has or had sear or mag safeties. Also, knowing the serial number would be helpful to me for my database of police markings.

S.Op.III.117. represents the Schutzpolizei of either Hindenburg, Beuthen or Ratibor in the Oppeln administrative district of the Prussian province of Oberschlesien (now in Poland).

S.Me.III.2.115. represents Hundertschaft (Company) 2 of the barracked Schutzpolizei, possibly at Wittenberg, in the Merseburg administrative district of the Prussian province of Sachsen.

Both markings are quite rare and both have been canceled, so it is difficult to know which came first. I suspect that the pistol was transferred from the Merseburg district to the Oppeln district but could be wrong. Knowing whether the Luger has or had a sear safety could shed some light on this. Also, a somewhat wider photo showing the positioning of the markings on the grip strap may help.

I really can't explain the uncanceled 29. The 2 seems to be in the same font as the 2 in the Merseburg marking.