DWM 1918 unit markings

[Ron Smith]

Just a WAG, but it's possibly Landwehr Infantry Regt. 3 weapon 87. Considering that it appears stamped by a unit armorer(unit marking was ordered discontinued in 1917) without the use of a mandrel. It's conceavable that he missed placing the period between 3 and 8. My vote would be that it is a Landwehr unit mark. I doubt very seriously that it is a Russian mark.

Jeff Noll's book, at least to my knowlege, has very few reported errors. The mark is also identified as Landwehr in "Deutsche Truppenstempel bis 1918"

Another thing to consider is that by 1918 they were drawing troops and conscripts from every available source. With the Landwehr being made up of "old" troopers. It's possible that there were 387 weapons issued as they began to "recruit" the older men to fill the ranks.

Ron