Police Erfurt with matching holster but mismatched bbl/receiver

[DonVoigt]

This rig sold at a reasonable price at auction- so I could not pass it up.

The holster, is very nice 1933 Wunderlich made Berlin police type; numbered to the pistol, 4286, on the front and with a Berlin Schupo marking on the back; and a numbered but mis-matched Weimar loading tool. Interesting to note that the "193" of the date was stamped first and with a 3 number die; then the last "3" was added in a different font.

The pistol is an early Erfurt 1911-1913 frame no lug but with hold open added, number 4286; with matching number two police style numbered magazine, with an marking above the number which I can't quite make out.

The pistol has matching numbers except: the right grip, the trigger is over stamped 86, and the original striker is grooved. Barrel, receiver and sear bar are matching to 6235; the toggle is the original 86 numbered Erfurt part, as is the side plate. The toggle axle has been numbered 86. The police "mods" done according to 1932 orders, but no sign of a magazine safety or unit markings on the grip frame.

The 1917/1920 PS DWM artillery upper # 6235 has been re-barreled with a new bbl with a Weimar eagle visible on the top rear and numbered 6235 to match the receiver; the sear bar is cut and numbered "35."

I find this combination of parts "odd", especially with the holster and magazine still numbered to the pistol.

I can imagine a couple scenarios to account for this- from a field repair to bubba!

Just interesting to me that so many "matching" parts have stayed together since 1930- and quite likely saw service in WWII. Some or even many of the Berlin Police(and from elsewhere) were called to active duty in the occupied areas for various periods of time.

I'm not exactly where this fits into the "collection" shooter or keeper or what.

Enjoy the pictures, questions and comments welcome.

[RShaw]

I know 'm new.... but I find this combination also a bit "odd" as you say.. especially with the holster as well as the mag matched to the pistol. A holster match is VERY unusual isn't it? An overstamped trigger with an attempt to match to 4286, (looks like the original 2 digits are "17" and the new barrel cut sear "35" do make this pistol as a whole "mismatched."

If the holster as well were not matching, I would tend to see this gun as a shooter. The matching holster, however, makes it more difficult to dismiss it's collector value. My tendency would be to see it as a shooter.... but I would be very interested in what the experts have to say on this one.

Interesting story!! Perhaps if you could piece together and document the story behind this rig, then it could be more of a collector?

I like this post. Nice photos. Interesting

[DonVoigt]

Thanks RS,
that is the reason I posted it- different and interesting to me. Seeing a 1913 or earlier luger re-purposed to the Weimar police and maybe into WWII service is kind of neat.

Matching number police holsters do show up regularly- but I've not thought much as a % of rigs seen for sale. It has to be pretty low.

This is my second one matching a police pistol I own; many others are numbered but "loose".

It will always be mismatched, and its story probably lost to history; I did ask the seller if he had a "story" with it, but so far the only info was it was a consignment to him for sale. I asked him to refer the question to the consignor- so we will see if anything comes of the inquiry.

[Edward Tinker]

I don't know why, but front numbered holsters I like - very interesting combination

[DonVoigt]

Looking at the magazine base, I've about decided the letters above the 4286 are "P.A.L.".

P.A.L. would be PolizeiAmt Leipzig; so even the magazine is "re-cycled"!

Anyone else want to take a stab at those letters?

[RShaw]

I see a "PA" above the first digits "42" on the base of the mag if I don't expand that photo too much. An "L" I can't make out myself. Are there any other possibilities?
This rig as a whole is more interesting than just a mismatched pistol and lose accessories. Therefore it's more of a collector. Unique in its own way I think

[DonVoigt]

RS,
If not P.A.L., another P.A. choice would be P.A.Ch. - for Chemnitz- both cities are in Saxony.

[Don M]

I'm virtually certain it is P.A.L. You can see the vertical serif at the toe of the L.