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**GJR100** · 02-24-2003, 06:00 AM

The lining

The lining of the pockets is in yellow, as is nothing unusual for late-war clothing.

These also have (numerous) markings as can be seen in the picture.

I hope any one has an explanation for the F in the RFNr.

Thanks,
Bart

**Alex Ciavaglia** · 02-25-2003, 08:10 AM

Hello,
RF mean 'ReichsFactory' ;
I have the same kind of markings (RF-Nr. 0/1332/0010) in my M43 (keilhose) trousers.

**Johannes Schoen** · 02-25-2003, 05:47 PM

Hello,

I found this forum not too long ago and have been watching the belts and buckle site mainly. This thread might be the opportunity to ask two questions to the RB-Nr.

1) do I have to worry, if I find a RB-Nr of normal style, like 0/0000/0000, but without the script RB-Nr. or RB-Nummer?

2) how common is it to find a maker mark (name of company and place) together with a RB-Nr on the same piece? I have a otherwise unquestionable pair of 98k-amo-pouches which have maker and RB on the back, one below the other. As far as I know the RB-Nr was one method to mask production places for the enemy. Therefore mentioning both would be senseless?

Thank You

Johannes

**GJR100** · 02-26-2003, 01:41 PM

Hi Alex,

Would the

RF mean 'ReichsFactory'

denote a foreign (meaning non-German) Hersteller ?

Thanks,
Bart

**Michael Kuligowski** · 02-27-2003, 04:56 AM

RBNR....

hello !!!
Johann, I think You shouldn't be troubled with lack of the RBNr, RFNr or other scripts before the exact number, many of the field gear part has only number.. it's most common on ammo pouches I think....

Bart .. You have mentionet RFNr on bayonet frogs.. I have frog like that, number is : RFNr. 0/0494/0006 and looks like 43/early 44 production

Double markings - I think this is a production "on the edge" - equipment stored in a warehouse and stamped again with new code after it's introduction... Or some assembly parts were alreday stamped with old code... and restamped with new during manufacturing of the final product.
I have a k98 ammo pouch with double stamp: RB-Nr. 0/0150/0001 and LEDERWARENWERK CURT VOSEL COTTBUS 1942(hard to read - I am not sure of the city name)

I think double stamped items are one of the only chances to decode RBNr codes, I'v never seen ane code book for RBNr, does anyone ??

)) if Yes ... please share with us..

))

anyway german codes are fun as a research field.. including 3 letter codes.. rbnr's. I wonder who qualified and decided what part of equipment will be given one of the code types .. because some items are stamped with RBNr's.. some with 3 letter code.
I always thought that 3 letter is for weapons and it's parts/accesories ( and I mean 3 letter code written with small letters, because letter code with capitals is only found on canteens and fieldbottles and has nothing to do with weapon 3 letter code).
So bayonest frog qualify for a 3 letter code ??? I guess yes - I'v seen frogs with 3 letter code.. so what about those marked with RBnr ??
theoreticaly ammo pouches should qualify for a 3-letter code... but they are stamped with RBNr... like other cloth and leather stuff. any thoughts ??

just my two cents..

Greetings, Mike

**Michael Kuligowski** · 02-27-2003, 06:10 AM

a piece of that I am writing about...

three leter code.. and rbn (with no script) on ammo puches
greetings
Mike

**Alex Ciavaglia** · 02-27-2003, 08:01 AM

Hi Bart,
I don't know, maybe it's stamped on that clothing produced by cooperatives of small manufacturers which in the first part of the war marked the clothing with the word LAGO.

**kmh** · 03-14-2003, 08:32 PM

RB.Nr / RF.Nr / Lago. / LLG / Maker

Hallo Forum

I am jumping into this subject pretty late, but I like to give my 2-cent here.
During my collecting of German leather equipment I'll found all kind of Markings or stampings and caused it I found it interesting to try to gather the differences.
Let me say something in General whom I have seen on Ammo. Pouches
Makers are used from last century up to 1944.

RB.Nr (Reichbetrieb number) was used from about 1942 to end of War. And as say before it was a cover- up for the factories during allied air attack.
And neither book nor paper has been found to decode the numbers. I try to collect exactly the info. One has given in one of the mails. Trying to connect an RB.Nr number to a maker, I'll hoping all members looking around and share the finds with us/me.

RF.Nr seem to being introduced very late about 1944 and I only have seen a few numbers all equipment bare the same number very unlike the RB.Nr system! The RF.Nr are strange to me.

Tree letter code is again used to hide the real Maker from being a target. It was used as early as 1940 and it last to the end of the war with a small part unknown I think from o-z.

The point here are all "systems" RB.Nr /RF. Nr/ tree letter code/ and Maker was used among and between each other the entire wartime, therefore some confusions between collectors are normal.

As say before I am very interested to hear from collectors who have double markings, who can open up the riddle.

Regards

Kim in Copenhagen

**kmh** · 03-14-2003, 08:47 PM

Some additions

I wrote above all equipment bare the same number in the RF (ReichFabrik) System it's not thru, I have seen several numbers but it is very limited.

I forgot to mention the Lago, LLG and LG and similar words it means (Landeslieferungsgenossenschaft) a it is a Guild of leather makers or whatever the profession was, who was located around in Germany divided into districts, towns, I not really know the organisation total but it seem to pass away during the war and especially after the introduction of Codes, RB and RF Numbers. The function was to collect all the small Makers work into a kind of a bigger pool, who could selling the goods to the Wehrmacht instead of every single Maker should do it himself.

I think it is the explanation.

Regards

Kim

**GJR100** · 03-15-2003, 02:54 AM

Hi Kim,

Thanks for this info. I already believed the trousers I have are genuine, but the markings were strange to me.

I'll go through my equipment and look for double marked items (also will ask around in my collection circle

)

Greetings,
Bart

**Johannes Schoen** · 03-15-2003, 07:45 AM

Hello,

Kim and Kugilow, thank You very much for the information. As mentioned above I have one pair of matching Patronentaschen with a combination of maker mark an RB-Nr.

The number is 0/1032/0001 (without "RB-NR", on both puches). The name is a bit hard to read due to the surface of the leather. But what I can reconstruct from the stamps of both pouches looks most probable like: Carl Clauberg & Co. - new line - Solingen. I am sure that the familiy-name starts with "C" and not with "G". Is this company known otherwise?

Hope we find more examples.

Greetings

Johannes

**kmh** · 03-15-2003, 03:33 PM

Hallo

Thanks for the reply Johannes and regarding the Carl Clauberg he must have produced a lot of pouches with his name stamped on before he stamped the RB.Nr on too.
The reason can't be told, but maybe he just forgot the order to chance or as suggested before comming from a older stock.
I have found the info about carl Clauberg before by buying pouches in Germany, but it was very kind of you to write it down. And it useful to see the how widespread those pouches really are.

Regards

Kim

**deejay** · 12-12-2007, 05:23 AM

A old thread but for some additional information look at this one:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=177065

**blau250** · 05-16-2008, 01:08 PM

Rbnr markings

Hello,
Does anybody ever seen RB NR 0/0000/0000 instead of RB. Nr.-0/0000/0000 ? (all capital leters, space between B and R and no points or scripts)
Many tanks
B250

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