In correspondence with Herr Reinhard Kornmayer of Singen, Germany, the question of the Crown/RC stamp was addressed. The "RC" signifies a Special Commission whose inspectors conducted a second examination of failed parts. They then proof stamped parts with the C/RC that did not meet strict specifications but nonetheless functioned properly. The normal inspectors, who were Prussian Army officers, were then held blameless if any C/RC stamped part subsequently failed. The majority - if not all - of my 1/2 dozen or so Erfurts have the C/RC stamp somewhere on them.
I have read elsewhere that "RC" stands for "Revisions Commission" but in reviewing the letter from Herr Kornmayer (dated exactly 8 years ago today) I note that he doesn't make that statement. I can't recall exactly where I read it. He does, though, state that the C/RC definitely does not indicate repair and calls it a mistake of many collectors.
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