Need a little info on Luger pistol

[joem]

I have a Luger pistol and it has these markings on the grip. S.A.I. 1. 36. It also has a 1917 stamp on it. I've been told that this designates the branch of service. Is that true and what do these letters mean?

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

It sounds like a Weimar police marking. Does the pistol have a sear safety? The sear safety is a bar pinned to the left side of the receiver and extends out over the side plate.

[Patrick Chadwick]

It sounds like a Weimar police marking.

Indeed it is!

Schutzpolizei, Aurich, I Kommando, 1 Hundertschaft, Waffe Nr. 36

Constabulary, Aurich (town+district), 1st commando, 1st century, weapon 36

1st commando, 1st century* is likely to be from the town constabulary.

*As Patrick Villiers has rightly pointed out, this is an organizational unit (think "Roman centurion", not time or cricket score!) that could be translated as "company".

[joem]

Yes the safety is on the left side. I didn't mention that it's a artillery model. I also have the board stock, but it's most likely a reproduction.

[villiers]

Yes, the safety IS on the left, above the grip. BUT the police insisted on an extra safety device: a "sear safety" is a thin spring steel strip riveted onto the top of the sear with a pin that slots into the sear and stops the gun from firing when the action (and barrel) is off the grip. Apparently this caused a number of accidents when the gun was stripped for cleaning with a round in the breech and someone had his thumb on the sear. You can try it yourself. Just remove the action from the grip, load a round and press the sear. No great accuracy can be expected.

Patrick mentioned a "century". This is an organisational group of approx. 100 police (something like an army "company")

[Johnny Peppers]

Frame may not be original to receiver/barrel. Need pictures.

[joem]

Frame may not be original to receiver/barrel. Need pictures.

I guess I'll have to buy a digital cam. Thanks to all for the help.

[Tom in N.J.]

8" Lugers with board stocks were standard issue to the machinegun squads in the "Assault Batalions" formed in 1918 on the Western front. Known then as Stoss Abteilung, latter as Sturmtruppen. Markings on the, field applied, front strap could be S Stoss A Abteilung I First Bataillon, 1 First Kompagnie, 36 Waffen #36.
Second man from the right has a pistol stock on his belt.


Attachment 40391

[joem]

Thanks, that makes sense to me. I don't know why a police officer would need a 8" barrel on his carry pistol.

[Johnny Peppers]

Unit markings pretty well ended in 1916. While nothing is impossible, it would be unusual for a LP.08 issued in 1917 would have a unit mark applied in 1918.