Need help on DWM 1918

[Don M]

Steve,

You should be able to determine if a sear safety was removed by the Vopo as suggested by George. There would be a hole or filled-in hole in the reciever where the sear safety was riveted and the sideplate should have a slot milled along the top edge (unless the sideplate has been replaced). Finally, there would be a hole in the receiver under the sideplate.

Even if there is evidence that this pistol once had a sear safety, I think the fact that it was captured by the Russians suggests strongly that it was in use by the German Army at the time. If it had remained the property of the police school at Bonn, it would have been captured by U.S. or British forces.