I bought this one on auction a couple weeks back, it is a Police re-purpose of a 1918 DWM with Weimar 1920 property stamping.
The "things" that are a little different include:
-Scrubbed receiver sides and re-number/inspect/re-prove markings, but scrubbed #s are 73?3 WEIRD
-Sear and Magazine safetys, with the mag safety clipped -
NO SURPRISE
-Simson E/33 barrel, 3 date, 8.82 bore diameter -
MANY SIMSON BARRELS WERE SITTING AT THE POLICE ARMORY
-Front grip markings: S.W.1(roman).1113, canceled with Xs
So it served the Schupo of Frankfurt A/M as pistol 1113 sometime after 1922 marking orders.
-matching magazine, star/K on base, star/k on lower rear spine
-as new grips, each with star/K stamped on the inside
-replaced parts include bolt C/N #03 added, striker(e/6) no #,
I THINK THE FIRING PIN IS JUST A FIRING PIN, ALTHOUGH POSSIBLE IT WAS PUT THERE BY SIMSON, BUT THEN WOULD HAVE BEEN NUMBERED. COULD BE A ARMORER REPLACEMENT.
mid toggle link has #03 on bottom inside, rear toggle scrubbed and
re-# 03, sear bar canceled, altered, and # 03 added, toggle
axle #03
-Crown G inspection on right chamber and Imperial eagle proof --
NOTICE THE LACK OF MORE THAN ONE ACCEPTANCE MARKING - I THINK ITS A VERY LATE WAR 1918 AND PROBABLY NEVER ISSUED
-number font on lower is smaller than upper and appears original and same size on lower parts; upper has been re-numbered with a larger font size, Toggle train replaced and re-numbered with this larger font
THIS WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF DONE BY POLICE
I can theorize a story on this one that goes something like this:
1-An early re-work re. the C/G, perhaps 1919-1920, or after 1920 property stamping, but before 1932 when safetys were authorized.
2- A second, complete re-work after 1923, could be as late as
1932-36 when sear and mag safetys, barrel and toggle train, and perhaps upper were added during repair/refurb, refinished at that time. Toggle axle numbered. Received new magazines and grips when refurbed.
3- A third visit to a Police armory after 1937 persuant to the order to have the mag safety removed or in this case disabled by clipping the arm behind the trigger and the tab into the mag well. May have had the grip markings canceled at this time.
Now, please comment on my observations and "life story" of this
interesting Police P 08! Right or wrong, I'm here to learn.
Here are the pictures