Frink

Thank you Chip for the scan, and E Williams for the tip on the Gortz and Wacker book!

Is it the same unit marking with just a different weapon number, or is it my exact pistol? Is the serial number visible? I have been looking for a reasonably priced copy of this book for years! Would you mind scanning or photographing page 90 for me?

Definitely not a new issue gun. The P08 was manufactured in 1915 and the battle was in 1917.

What a great Christmas gift that this thread has been brought back from the dead and and valuable new information added! The link to a source of unit histories is very appreciated and will be a great resource in the future. I have several unit marked firearms whose histories I would like to explore. It's a shame I don't speak German. This regiment clearly took great pride in the honor of taking the Kaiser's name. As you may know, Imperial unit marks normally are very simple property marks stamped into the front of the pistol grips by unit armorers. The position and format of the numbering was set out in military guidelines. For example 164.R.1.21 signifies the 21st pistol of the 1st Company of the 164th infantry regiment. The requirement that equipment be so marked was lifted in November 1916 and is rarely seen after. The Luger pistol that spurred my interest was marked in a non-standard format in a non-standard location as seen in the attached photos, and looks to me to be the work of a very enthusiastic unit armorer. Thanks again, and Merry Christmas to all!

According to info I can find online, they were Ulster Volunteer Forces, not Volunteer Regiment. Good idea though. According to Wikipedia, the MKII was adopted in 1895 and the next Webley to be issued (the MK IV) was issued in 1899. I imagine that in far flung areas, like South Africa, the MKII was available for some time after 1899. Bottom line, this revolver is right in the Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles time frame. I think Volunteer regiment or Volunteer Rifles are the most likely candidates. Can anyone think of other Commonwealth areas that start with the letter U? I will follow up on the Uitenhage angle... Thanks everyone for the input!

Trust me, the engraving is is pretty beat up with light pitting over the engraving. I have no reason to believe the engraving isn't more or less contemporary with the revolver. By the way, I examined the revolver more closely and it is not a Mark V as stated in my original post. It is in fact a Webley Mark II.

I am seeking information on an inscription on the barrel of a rather rough condition Webley revolver. I believe it is a Webley Mark V (though all the birdshead Webleys look about the same to me). Engraved in flowing script on the right side of the barrel is : Lieut. R. Ruddle. UVR It is a little hard to read due to the flourishes in the lettering. I have attached a picture. What does UVR stand for, and can any information be dug up on Lieutenant Ruddle? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

As you probably know, Histories Of Two Hundred And Fifty- One Divisions Of The German Army Which Participated In The War (1914-1918) states: "The division (meaning the 226th) occupied the Sector of Smorgoni-Krevo from January until August, 1917. In this sector it received the Russian attacks of July 2 and 23, which caused it very heavy losses, in consequence if which Emperor William II called himself commander of the 2nd Landwehr Regiment." These were likely some of Russia's final battles in the Great War. The Smorgon region was in Russia at the time of these battles, ceded to Germany as part of Russia's peace treaty, part of independant Poland between the World Wars, part of the Soviet Union after World War II, and part of Belarus today. I have have seen it written Smorgon, Smorgoni, and Smorhon. Any information or photos you can dig up would be greatly appreciated. I fear this may be a long term project! :banger:

I recently acquired a Luger with machine gun company unit marks and "L.J.R.K.W.II.N.2.". I have been able to determine that this pistol served with the 2nd Landwehr Regiment, and that this regiment was renamed after the Kaiser in honor of their valor in battles with the Russians in July 1917 in the Smorgoni-Krevo sector. I have been obsessively attempting to get more regimental history with little luck. I am requesting any additional unit history from 1915 onwards, and I am especially interested in what specific actions led them to be honored by the Kaiser. It seems odd that such an honor would be bestowed on a Landwehr Regiment, especially one from a division considered "4th class" as described in Histories Of Two Hundred And Fifty- One Divisions Of The German Army Which Participated In The War (1914-1918). I am also very interested in any references to battles in the Smorgoni-Krevo sector. Here in the USA it is difficult to find info on the Eastern Front. Lastly any machine gun crew photos from this or other Landwehr regiments is always appreciated. Thanks in advance and congrats on this great forum!