[Schupo]

View of the markings on the front grip strap. Notice the large daisy (asterisk or star shape) stamp. There is also a plain star (asterisk) marking on the right side of the barrel.

I have not seen these exact markings before. I have observed plain asterisk shaped stamps on Weimar Republic reworks of S98/05 bayonets but their meaning is unknown. Police star inspection/acceptance markings differed from these plain stamps. Weimar Republic Police inspection markings (Prussian) consisted of a star (asterisk) with a letter below it. DDR Volkspolizei inspection markings consisted of a star (asterisk) with a number within a shield in the center. I have seen old forced serial numbers cancelled with a small plain asterisk but the cancel marks on George's pistol are parallel lines through the swastika so this stamp has a different meaning on his pistol.

I am at a loss for the interpretation of the "S XVII *" gripstrap marking. I suspect that this is not a VOPO marking per-se but is perhaps a residual marking on the frame. I have never seen this daisy (asterisk) on a gripstrap marking before. The markings do not conform to any marking protocols that I am familiar with and the Roman numeral is too high a number to designate VP administrative areas (there were only 15 in the DDR) or Weimar Republic Police precincts or centuria that were designated by Roman numerals.