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Unread 02-23-2017, 11:41 AM   #7
Don M
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I agree with Marc that the toggle train has been replaced, perhaps with the misguided intention of creating a "match" with the police inventory #33. The rig, however, is quite interesting. If the gun does have a 1921 chamber date, it was manufactured by DWM in that year as a 9-mm P08. The barrel appears to have a Dove/ArA4 stamp, so it is probably original to the gun. I'm not sure what the stamp on the sear bar is. I do not think the gun has been reworked except for the replacement of the toggle train.

The police property marking on the front grip strap is that of the Schutzpolizei of the district of Frankfurt an der Oder (not Frankfurt am Main) and is very rare. It appears to have had the command (Roman numeral) and Hundertschaft (Company) designations ground off. This is consistent with the history of the Schupo in the Frankfurt (O) district (HWIS, p. 151) which was reduced from three commands stationed in Frankfurt, Cottbus and Landsberg in the early 1920s to a single command in Cottbus by 1928. Removal of the command and Hundertschaft designations would have been consistent with the revised marking instructions issued in 1932. The apparent lack of a sear or mag safety is consistent with the fact that Schupo in Cottbus were barracked Bereitschaftspoliizei that were transferred to the military in 1934-5.

The 1939 military-style holster was manufactured in Cottbus, further supporting the above interpretation and strongly suggesting that it was used with this pistol from 1939. It probably replaced an older police-style holster.

While I suppose it would not be catastrophic if a part was broken as a result of shooting it, this rig has a rather unique story to tell. Please keep the gun and holster together.
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Don
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Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936
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