C-96 help with unit marking

[Schupo]

Gentlemen,

An interesting marking. I too would like to see a photo of the marking. I suspect it reads: "S.L.Pol.1013" but the spacing and size of the font are important to decyphering these markings.

Ron,

I don't believe this is a Prussian Police marking. It does not comply with either known set of published police marking regulations and the L�¼neburg designation was changed from the 1922 stamping instructions to the 1932 instructions.

Don,

I agree with you that this may well be a marking for the Saxon Landespolizei. The standard Saxon Police marking is as you have described. Even though there are no known Saxon Pol marking instructions, surviving examples of Saxon Police weapons survive to show the manner in which they were marked. Here is a page from my book, "Seitengewehr: History of the German Bayonet 1919-1945" that shows the usual Saxon Police markings. This marking is for the Leipzig Polizei but shows the proper style. This particular Seitengewehr was only worn by the Saxon Polizei and cannot be confused with sidearms from other states, such as Prussia. The text explains the sizes of the various die stamps used. These exact same markings will be found on pistols.

I hope this is helpful.

George