I bought this at the same auction I went to last week, it had a dark blue on the barrel and 1/2 of the frame, the other half looked like it had been dipped in something.
So, using vinegar, it stripped the bluing in about 20-30 mins!!! Keep that in mind!
So, did a search and on the rear grip strap is this marking, a search of the internet showed that it 'might' be post war police marking?
comments?