I have examined this piece and there is no evidence of scrubbing any part of the marking; it appears to have been struck all at one. Proposed solution:
Grenadier Regiment 4, 1st Volunteer company Rastenburg, weapon number 1 within the company.
GR 4 was garrisoned at Rastenburg.
The first Fw. units were raised ca. 15 Nov 1918 and by 1920 were dissolved or absorbed into the Reichswehr. The marking was probably applied within that time span.
This probably an improvised marking following the pattern of regulation markings in the format regimental number, company/squadron/battery number, weapon number.
There are at least four post-WWI histories of GR 4 covering the WWI period, none of which I have. Perhaps there is some reference to the Fw. company or companies in one of them.
|