Help 1913 unit marked

[Don M]

Henry,

Thanks very much for the additional information. Your pistol has a very interesting history and has contributed significantly to my research and eventual book on German police markings. After WWI, the pistol was reissued to the Schutzpolizei (municipal police) of the district of Gumbinnen in the province of East Prussia. In the very early 1920s, there were Schupo garrisons in five cities in the Gumbinnen district but these were reduced to two locations, Insterburg and Tilsit, by the mid-20s. The observed markings from this district are S.G.I and S.G.II which undoubtedly are Insterburg and Tilsit but until I saw your post, I didn't know which was which. Thanks to your information, I now believe that S.G.I was Insterburg for two reasons: (1) the Insterburg Schupo contingent was progressively reduced to a single independent company (Bereitschaft) and a Bereitschaft number would have been unnecessary as in your marking (S.G.I.4.) and (2) transfer of surplus weapons from the downsized Insterburg Schupo is consitent with the cancelation of the S.G. marking and transfer to the Kassel Schupo. This transfer probably occurred in the late 1920s or early 30s. Incidentally, the S.Ka.I marking is from the city of Kassel in the Kassel administrative district.

I hope this fills in some of the history of this pistol. If you have a high-resolution photo of the grip strap marking on this pistol that I could include in my book, I would be very grateful and will, of course, credit you.

P.S. Yours is only the second S.G.I marking in my database of nearly 2000 German police markings and the only one on a Luger. The other is on a Mauser C96.