Need help with unit marking

[maddog350gt]

Hi all,

I haven't posted in a while, too many things going on. I hope to get more active in the near future.

I Just bought a new luger from another forum member; neither of us has seen a unit marking quite like this one, so I am hoping for some help. I don't have access to my camera right now so I will post pictures in a couple of days when I return from San Diego. The Luger is a 1915 DWM with military proofs, no sear safety or mag safety, no double date. It is unit marked on front grip strap "InF.F.VI.8." The InF font is smaller than the second F and the VI by about 1/3. The 8 is about 1/2 the size of the second F and VI. I am rife with speculation but will hold my thoughts until I hear from the forum.

What has me perplexed is the Roman Numerals, I've seen them used for Army groups or police districts but I don't recall them as regiment numbers. Any thoughts appreciated

Thanks,
Bob M.

[Ron Smith]

Hey Bob,

I was just wondering where you disappeared to.

Cool unit mark! I would love to have one. I have heard of one other.

Reichswehr Infanterief�¼hrer . 6th Division. weapon #8.

Infanteriefuhrer = Infantryleader.

The Command Brigade or Regiment for the 6th Army Division. Consisting of the Staff officers and 2 to 3 Infantry companies.

If you ever need to sell it. Let me know. Can you post some photos??


Ron

[LU1900]

Hello Bob ,
On the G�¶rtz & Bryans' book page 63 & 71 :
Army official gazette , 3 june 1922 :
Inf.F.I. = Infanterief�¼hrer der 1 division
So it's a Weimar unit.
Regards ..Pat

[LU1900]

Well , Ron fire faster than me , damned !!!!

[Ron Smith]

Hi Patrice,

I had already researched it, and knew what the translation was. Thanks to Klaus Schad I was informed as to what type of unit it was.

I know of another Luger with a similar marking. I am hoping the owner will consider selling it soon.

Ron

[George Anderson]

I think I've heard of a third example recently surfacing...how far back can you trace the ownership of this pistol?

[Russ]

I bought trhis gun and sold it to bob. The guy I got it from had it for 25 years.

Russ

[Brent B.]

Bob: I did a google seacrh for "Reichwehr" and the first thing that came up was feldgrau.com/pre1935 and when I checked it out it had a number of areas that you could go to including the Infantriefuhrer 6th division. You might want to check it out. Brent B.

[Edward Tinker]

Reichswehr I believe is just the designation of the army / military during the weimar period... So, the other info is the most important and needed to figure out itss possible history...

[maddog350gt]

Hi all,

Thanks for the information. I am in San Diego on business and will post some pictures when I get home on Wednesday.

Bob M.

[maddog350gt]

Hi all,

Well I did get back from San Diego, and I haven't forgotten my promise to post some pictures of my unit marked 1915, but for some reason I just can't seem to get a decent picture of the gun. I either have too much light or not enough or too much on one side; I am going nuts. I think I'll try to build a light box to distribute equal light on all sides of the gun, it may take a week or two. Anyone have suggestions? If I get something that works I'll try to do a drawing of it and post it.

In the dark, almost;
Bob M.

[Edward Tinker]

Bob, I have not done this yet, but I would build a box 4-6 inches longer than an artillery and 8 inches deep.

It would have 4 lightbars using "natural" lighting, hidden so it provides a backglow effect, and there would be black velvet on the bottom with glass about 2 inches above the bottom. This "should" make the gun appear to be floating?

Then use a set up of natural lighting from three angles...

So, I have thought this out, but never done it.

You can also place the luger "near" a window for natural light affect, but not in direct light.

Ed

[Ron Smith]

Ed,

Most of us will be dead by then.....

[Edward Tinker]

I was thinking that maybe Bob would make me one at the same time I'd pay him .25 cents?

[maddog350gt]

Ed,

Thanks for the idea! I like the box and the hidden light sources; I have been thinking along those lines as well. I am not sure about the glass as this could reflect light; although it shouldn't be an issue if you don't use a flash. I want something that's repeatable and gives good uniform lighting on the gun. The cloth backing is another good idea but I might try a couple of colors to get the best contrast between the gun and the back drop. I might try to accommodate both the gun on it's side and a gun on a display stand by adjusting the size of the box; I'll have to think about how to do that. If we can come up with a method that works, maybe adjustments won't be that difficult.

Ron, it might take me longer that it will Ed, but I have made a couple of commitments to take some pictures, so who knows, my conscience might get the better of me and lead to something.

Thanks for the ideas, I'll try to let you know if anything works.

Bob M.

[Ron Wood]

Years ago I made up a box for photographing guns but I used external lighting. I used "non-glare" glass like you find in a lot of picture frames and easily available. It eliminates the light reflection on the glass but still gives the "floating" effect. Now I just shoot the pics on a cloth or craft foam background and adjust the lighting to reduce shadows, usually by shooting outdoors on a partly cloudy day.

[maddog350gt]

Well so far I haven't done very well at getting these loaded. I hope this works. These are the pictures I promised to post of the InF.F.VI.8. unit marked 1915 DWM.

Thanks,
Bob M.