What is it?

[unspellable]

A friend has this pistol. I only had a quick look. Went by today and had another look. It does have the sear safety although it is not working. Seems to be all there. Maybe the p[in is shortened inside where I can't see it.

Why the pin hole in the side plate? This pistol has no pin hole in the side plate. The upper lip has been cut away to make room for the sear safety spring.

It has a magazine with an aluminum bottom. I am thinking a 1916 would have a wooden bottom. During its police career would a new magazine have been numbered to it?

It is all matching, save the aluminum bottom on the magazine which does carry the same serial number. The holster doesn't match, has a 1940 date. Serial number is in the "i" block if I read the suffix correctly. I'd think 1916 would have been a high volume year.