[Shelly]

This Broomhandle is a Versailles modification, police marked "P.O.91." and came with a holster marked "P.L.12."


Download Attachment: C-96 Weimar Police L and holster B.gif
259.57KB


Download Attachment: C-96 Weimar Police R and holster F.gif
267.74KB


Download Attachment: C-96 Weimar Police L - GS.gif
225.93KB


Download Attachment: C-96 Weimar Police T - 1920 stamp.gif
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[Jan C Still]

Shelly
Excellent photographs of your reworked (shortened barrel, fixed sight, 1920 property stamp)Broom with holster. The P.O.91 signifies Police School Ostpreussen according to the 12 April 1922 markings instructions(page 93, German Small Arms Markings) .
Thanks
Jan

 

[donmaus]

Shelly,

Wow! Your post is a Godsend! I have been researching Weimar Police School marks and have assembled a database of nearly 500 Weimar police marks (less than 5% of them are from police schools). Both your C96 and holster represent unique additions to this research:

1. Your pistol is the only C96 known to me to be marked in accordance with Prussian regulations on the front grip strap. The other three in the database with "apparent" police school marks are stamped on the front of the magazine well or an unknown location. Because of this discrepancy, I have not considered them as confirmed Prussian police school marks -- yet.

2. Based on my research, I believe the holster is marked for the Polizeischule für Leibesübungen (Physical Education). Although the mark does not correspond exactly with either the 1922 or 1932 marking orders, my research has conclusively proven that "transitional" marks utilizing the format of the 1922 orders and the abbreviations of the 1932 orders were in use between 1922 and 1932. (I will be publishing this research soon in AUTOMAG and later posting it on the forums.) Yours is the only example of a mark for this organization I have found.

Taken together, I believe your pistol and holster make a strong case for the employment of C96s in the Prussian police schools in the early 1920s. Thank you very much for sharing this information.

Two requests: May we know the serial number of the pistol and whether or not there is a date on the holster?

 

[Shelly]

Don:

Glad to help. The serial number on the gun is 120399. I don't believe the holster had any other marks.

I think I have one or two more Police School guns and maybe a holster. I'll add to this post shorty; these items need to be excavated and inspected. I'll take photos if there is a possibility of Police School markings.

Shelly

 

[donmaus]

Shelly, anything that looks like it might be a police school mark would be of great interest to me. Thanks very much. Do you have any more information on the holster that might help establish its authenticity/provenance?

 

[Shelly]

Don:

The holster and the gun came together from somewhere in the depths of Arkansas. No story came with them.

Shelly

 

[donmaus]

Shelly,

What are the heights of the Roman letters and Arabic numbers on both the pistol and the holster? I'm curious as to whether they conform to the heights specified in the Prussian 1922 marking orders. Thanks very much.

 

[Shelly]

Don:

On the pistol: 5mm (letters) and 3mm (numbers). There wasn't room to make the letters any larger.

The letters on the holster are 4.75 MM tall, the numbers are 3.75mm tall.

Shelly

 

[Shelly]

Please note that the serial number is 120399 - I misread my printout.