depaor01 Posted 8 January , 2012 Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Evenin' All, I have acquired a 7.7cm German shell casing and browsed the forum for useful info. Two questions remain unanswered. Interpretations kindly supplied previously by fellow members translate the markings as follows: ST278 = Stark (reinforced casing) SP255 = Spandau checker's ID and inspection mark. MRZ and 1917 = Made in March 1917 One question is relating to the "letter C in a shamrock" logo before and after the Karlsruhe. Is this a trademark, or an approval mark? Second question is whether there is more information as to who checker 255 was, or indeed what the number 278 after ST refers to. May be asking too much here, but worth a try! Thanks in anticipation (eager!) Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 9 January , 2012 Share Posted 9 January , 2012 One question is relating to the "letter C in a shamrock" logo before and after the Karlsruhe. Is this a trademark, or an approval mark? Those marks are found on both sides of the cartridge, and my guess is that they are just decorative 'break points' to denote a stop in the printing/lettering. So purely for aesthetic purposes I believe - but I shall now eagerly wait in anticipation as well, to see if someone more knowledgeable can set me straight.! Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieBris Posted 9 January , 2012 Share Posted 9 January , 2012 The mark is a trademark, like Krupps 3 rings - occurs on many of the cartridge cases made by Patronenfabrik Karlsruhe. 278 is a batch number I think. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted 9 January , 2012 Share Posted 9 January , 2012 As Chris says, it is part of their trademark. I have never thought of it as a shamrock though, more a ribbon bow or garland. The "278" will be a lot number as stated. I don't think you will ever be able to find out which inspector was 255, unless the information is buried deep in the bowels of the archives at Koblenz or elsewhere. I am more familiar with the British situation and it has not proved possible to discover or relate the names of the numbered British inspectors, not even that of Lord Reith (of BBC fame) who was an inspector in America and would have been one of the "A" numbers. The only inspectors one can identify are the Italian and American inspectors who very kindly used their initials! Oddly though, the names of the Italian inspectors whose initials appear on ammunition in WWI and II is still technically a state secret, a bit like French speed camera locations! Regards TonyE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 9 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2012 I have never thought of it as a shamrock though, more a ribbon bow or garland. Fair point. It's a bit like an Artillery-related Inkblot test... Thanks gents for your contributions on this. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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