Dutch East Indies

[Ron Wood]

Don,
You are describing a Dutch KOL Luger. Lugers marked in this fashion were delivered under contract to the Dutch East Indies Army in August and September of 1928 and were fabricated by BKIW (Berlin-Karlsruher Industrie Werke, the successor to DWM). The serial numbers for this contract were from 10182 to 14001, which would include your example. For a long time folks thought the KL marking in a circle indicated “Koninklijke Luchtmacht” or Dutch Royal Air Force, which would explain your reference to “DEA air force run” (I think you meant to type DEI rather than DEA ). However, in 1928 the Dutch air service was still part of the Army (much like the air force was originally part of the US Army and later became its own separate branch, US Air Force). Likewise the Dutch Royal Air Force did not become its own branch until after 1930, therefore obviously KOL could not be a Royal Air Force designation in 1928. So until information to the contrary is discovered, It is now generally accepted that the marking may represent “Kolonien” or “colonies”.
Ron