1920 Police

[Don M]

Bill,

III makes more sense.

As a result of my recent research, I can make a better estimate of the history of this rig.

I believe both the holster and the pistol were "married" in about 1921 as part of the formation of the Prussian Schupo. Both were assigned to Group North of the Berlin Schupo, Inspectorate (district) II, Hundertschaft (company) 1. They were both marked S.B.No.II.1.xx.

In about 1926-27, this rig and perhaps its owner were transferred to Schupo Command III of the D�¼sseldorf governmental district. The Berlin mark on the pistol was ground off and the mark on the back of the holster x'd out. They were replaced with S.D.III.R.152. indicating they were the property of the precinct police (Revierpolizei). I don't know which city corresponds with III but it was not D�¼sseldorf or Wuppertal (Elberfeld-Barmen) and probably not Essen. My best guess is Duisburg.

New marking orders were issued in February 1932 that did not provide for designating Revierpolizei weapons with R. At that time the R. on the pistol was x'd out and the holster was stamped S.D.III.152. on the back.

The rig remained in police service at least until 1934 because the pistol is fitted with a sear safety. Do the capture papers say anything about whether the rig was taken from a policeman or soldier?

All in all, an outstanding rig with a fairly clear history, at least until the mid-1930s.