The RW stamp on Mauser lugers

LU1900 · 12-07-2005, 08:56 AM

...........

Herb · 12-07-2005, 11:02 AM

This RW stamping is a quality control inspectors stamp found on the bottom frame rail and the back of the reciever slide and the middle toggle link. Noted on 38 thru 41 mausers. Some think the inspector was Richard Weiss.

Lugerdoc · 12-07-2005, 11:39 AM

IMHO I also accept the theory that this was the symbol (initials) of a Mauser inspector. His stamp was later used during the French occupation of the Mauser plant as a proof mark on the left side lower trigger guard web of post war HSCs. Th

Dwight Gruber · 12-07-2005, 11:49 AM

Pat,

This mark is controversial. For many years it has been associated with Mauser. It has been identified as the mark of Mauser Factory principal inspector Richard (?) Weiss (Walter, 1986); and Costanzo notes that it is found on the middle toggle link of 1938 through 1941 models.

In the August 2005 issue of AutoMag Jim Cate presents it as present on Saur drillings and postwar Mauser HSc, and assigns it the meaning "Werksreparatur". In the October 2005 AutoMag Alan Burnham notes its presence on a WWI era Rheinmetall Dreyse, and reports that Dr. Prof. Rolf Gminder asserts that the letters signify "Werks-Revision".

I have a Simson rework of a 1908 First Issue DWM http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...son+AND+rework wich has the RW mark stamped underneath the rear toggle. The part itself may originate at Erfurt, and in any case there is no evidence that the gun ever got anywhere near Mauser. Although the presence of this mark on this pistol does nothing to confirm any particular theory, it does tend to reinforce speculation that it is something other than a Mauser-specific mark.

It is worth noting that some of the examples reported are not of the same configuration as the traditional RW monogram; mine, however, is.

--Dwight

Vlim · 12-08-2005, 10:40 AM

Hi,

1945 reports on the organizational structure of Mauser offer a bit of insight on the who's who of the Oberndorf site.

The only Weiss present was our wellknown mr. August Weiss, listed as 'Foreman Weiss' in the report.

For completeness sake:

Oberndorf location:
General Manager: Dr. Ingn. Kurt Fleck.
Assistant: Wilhelm Rieker
Secretary: Toni Keilbach

General administration:
Staff and social department: Dr. Reinhold Lutz
Economic plant / catering: Ernst Schattle

Business administration:
Sales, purchasing, stock: Dr. Eugen Riedl
Weapons sale: Herbert Unterkofler
Calculator sale: Walter Wisch
Measuring tools sale: Konrad Probst
Purchasing: Hugo Wittig
Stock: Christian Brehm
Finances: Dr. Karl Werle

Technical administration:
Special technical tasks: Obering. Helmuth Groepper
Organisation: Chief Engineer Dr. Julius Malkomes
Department of education and apprentices: Chief Engineer Hans Buhring
Testing of materials: Chief Engineer Dr. von Graff
Building department, including workshops: Master builder Ulrich Hutten
Power: Chief engineer Josef Mittnacht

Manufacture of weapons including the forging
Director: dr. Gerhard Harnisch
Manufacture of guns: Chief engineer Konrad Rauch
Manufacture of pistols: Foreman (August) Weiss
Manufacture of machine guns: Foreman Ender (20mm flak 38) and Foreman Figge (MG151 and MG81).
Forge: Foreman Schneiderhan
Tools and equipment production: Chief engineer Theodor Koch
Manufacture of measuring tools: Chief engineeer Emil Meier
Construction matters: Ing. Haug
Manufacture: Foreman Schmelzer
Embossing and stamping: Obering. Heinrich Starmanns
Manufacture of calculating machines
Chief engineer Josef Berrendorf
Construction mateters: Dipl. Ing. Hirth
Manufacture: Foreman Hoffmann.

No mr. R.W. or Richard Weiss can be found in the 350+ page report.

Lugerdoc · 12-08-2005, 11:17 AM

Dwight, If I were inspecting your Erfurt PO8, I would assume that it had a Mauser inspected replacement rear toggle link. TH

LU1900 · 12-08-2005, 12:23 PM

...........

Dwight Gruber · 12-08-2005, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lugerdoc
If I were inspecting your Erfurt PO8, I would assume that it had a Mauser inspected replacement rear toggle link. TH

Tom,

You might, unless you saw the Simson Eagle/6 stamped on the top...

--Dwight

12-07-2005, 08:56 AM	#1
LU1900 User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: FRANCE Posts: 905 Thanks: 37 Thanked 466 Times in 195 Posts	The RW stamp on Mauser lugers ........... __________________ Best regards from France...Patrice https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2016/03/1...nd-snail-drum/

12-07-2005, 11:02 AM	#2
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	This RW stamping is a quality control inspectors stamp found on the bottom frame rail and the back of the reciever slide and the middle toggle link. Noted on 38 thru 41 mausers. Some think the inspector was Richard Weiss. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

12-07-2005, 11:39 AM	#3
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	IMHO I also accept the theory that this was the symbol (initials) of a Mauser inspector. His stamp was later used during the French occupation of the Mauser plant as a proof mark on the left side lower trigger guard web of post war HSCs. Th __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

12-08-2005, 11:17 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Dwight, If I were inspecting your Erfurt PO8, I would assume that it had a Mauser inspected replacement rear toggle link. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

12-08-2005, 12:23 PM	#7
LU1900 User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: FRANCE Posts: 905 Thanks: 37 Thanked 466 Times in 195 Posts	........... __________________ Best regards from France...Patrice https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2016/03/1...nd-snail-drum/

12-07-2005, 11:49 AM	#4
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Pat, This mark is controversial. For many years it has been associated with Mauser. It has been identified as the mark of Mauser Factory principal inspector Richard (?) Weiss (Walter, 1986); and Costanzo notes that it is found on the middle toggle link of 1938 through 1941 models. In the August 2005 issue of AutoMag Jim Cate presents it as present on Saur drillings and postwar Mauser HSc, and assigns it the meaning "Werksreparatur". In the October 2005 AutoMag Alan Burnham notes its presence on a WWI era Rheinmetall Dreyse, and reports that Dr. Prof. Rolf Gminder asserts that the letters signify "Werks-Revision". I have a Simson rework of a 1908 First Issue DWM http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...son+AND+rework wich has the RW mark stamped underneath the rear toggle. The part itself may originate at Erfurt, and in any case there is no evidence that the gun ever got anywhere near Mauser. Although the presence of this mark on this pistol does nothing to confirm any particular theory, it does tend to reinforce speculation that it is something other than a Mauser-specific mark. It is worth noting that some of the examples reported are not of the same configuration as the traditional RW monogram; mine, however, is. --Dwight

12-08-2005, 10:40 AM	#5
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,045 Thanks: 1,034 Thanked 3,939 Times in 1,196 Posts	Hi, 1945 reports on the organizational structure of Mauser offer a bit of insight on the who's who of the Oberndorf site. The only Weiss present was our wellknown mr. August Weiss, listed as 'Foreman Weiss' in the report. For completeness sake: Oberndorf location: General Manager: Dr. Ingn. Kurt Fleck. Assistant: Wilhelm Rieker Secretary: Toni Keilbach General administration: Staff and social department: Dr. Reinhold Lutz Economic plant / catering: Ernst Schattle Business administration: Sales, purchasing, stock: Dr. Eugen Riedl Weapons sale: Herbert Unterkofler Calculator sale: Walter Wisch Measuring tools sale: Konrad Probst Purchasing: Hugo Wittig Stock: Christian Brehm Finances: Dr. Karl Werle Technical administration: Special technical tasks: Obering. Helmuth Groepper Organisation: Chief Engineer Dr. Julius Malkomes Department of education and apprentices: Chief Engineer Hans Buhring Testing of materials: Chief Engineer Dr. von Graff Building department, including workshops: Master builder Ulrich Hutten Power: Chief engineer Josef Mittnacht Manufacture of weapons including the forging Director: dr. Gerhard Harnisch Manufacture of guns: Chief engineer Konrad Rauch Manufacture of pistols: Foreman (August) Weiss Manufacture of machine guns: Foreman Ender (20mm flak 38) and Foreman Figge (MG151 and MG81). Forge: Foreman Schneiderhan Tools and equipment production: Chief engineer Theodor Koch Manufacture of measuring tools: Chief engineeer Emil Meier Construction matters: Ing. Haug Manufacture: Foreman Schmelzer Embossing and stamping: Obering. Heinrich Starmanns Manufacture of calculating machines Chief engineer Josef Berrendorf Construction mateters: Dipl. Ing. Hirth Manufacture: Foreman Hoffmann. No mr. R.W. or Richard Weiss can be found in the 350+ page report.