It is V746119 and I was told likely Jan. 1945. Has the usual cornucopia of British proof marks and "Not English Made" on frame and barrel. But there is something I have not seen before on the frame below the cylinder on the left side. It says: POL.OLD. 430

I want to say POL. is for Police but what about OLD.? Agency or town name? I am guessing it went to work with a police department after the war or maybe instead of going to war. I guess 430 is a rack number and it must have been a large department to have that many pistols in a country where most cops were unarmed.

The finish is very thin but looks original. No rust or pitting. Correct smooth stocks but not original being numbered V52575 which I think would date from early to mid 1942. Stocks were bad shape so I put on a set of checkered Magnas numbered 910943. Looks and feels better and I happy with my $250 pistol.

So, any ideas on the POL.OLD.?

Perhaps it was used by the town police in Oldham, England.

Just a guess and a bump.

Bruce

Or "Polizei", OLD being an abbreviation for a municipality in Germany ?

It is likely a postwar German police gun as jpage noted. A Forum member knows the abbreviations and should be along shortly.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I have heard of VMs being transferred to civilian German PDs after the war. Do you suppose this gun ever saw military service or do you think it went straight to the Germans?

Old. could also be in Austria. And the gun would have been provided to them from British Army "stores", not a direct purchase.

T-Star

Took a photo of the stamping. Amazing how detailed a 14.6 MP camera can get.

Chances are 99% that it is a post WW2 German police unit, in the British sector, in an area whose name began with "OLD." and 480 is an
inventory number. Some of our German members can probably tie this down.
Ed.

Oldendorf, Germany.

How appropriate, located in Saxony.

I just realized. This was carried by a cop in Saxony. In other words...

A Saxon Pig.

It is always a pleasure to have a conversation with a clever man.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Is the caliber .38 S&W or .38 Special? Should tell if it was British or American.

I have a British model Victory that has the stamp on the back strap POL.LUN 76, which stands for Polizei Luneberg Waffe 76. Luneberg is a town in Northern Germany.

Don't know what town OLD stands for, but one of our German members can tell you.

M- No question it's a Victory Model for Great Britain. The issue was the markings suggesting police use. Apparently some VMs from the British were transferred to German civilian PDs after the war.

N- The OLD is for Oldendorf.

here's a site that lists German markings on M1 carbines, which seem to be the same as the ones found on German victory's :

http://www.bavarianm1carbines.com/armory.html