Strange Mark on EK1

[Brian R]

Guys-

I recently bought this Engraved Cased EK1 from Detlev. His description did not mention a maker mark but I've spotted a VERY small one below the catch. The mark is barely visible with the naked eye but I can see it pretty clearly with a loupe. It appears to be a WO. This is something I have never seen nor heard of. I was able to take a picture through the loupe to show you guys - perhaps someone has seen this before? The pin structure appears to be similar to a KO marked cross.

I have included a picture of the mark through the loupe and will also show the original picture from Detlev's site.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Brian

[Brian R]

Picture from Detlev's website...

[Rick Research]

What's the name? Is that a rank above it?

[Brian R]

Rick-

It is to a Lt. Hans Kirchstein.

For the record here is the reverse of a KO marked EK1 I recently had for sale on the e-stand...

[Brian R]

Here's a close-up of the KO mark...

[Brian R]

No one has any comments on this?

I checked the most detailed list of Imperial marks I could find and see nothing like a mark of WO. Could this possibly be a new mark we haven't seen before or am I just reading it all wrong?

Brian

[Mike Kenny]

Hi Brian,

It looks like a nice cross to me. Another possibility for the maker might be "We". Either way, We or Wo, it's not a maker I've seen on an EK1 before, but I don't have my references with me and it may be a known maker.

Regards
Mike K