The "rbl 44" marked kits are an unknown chapter of the Rg34 manufacture history. Today, it is not known the manufacturer firm that corresponds to this code. The "rbl" code has been observed only on Rg 34 kits marked with the year 44, wich assumes that only were manufactured in that year.
Considering that the "oaa"-"ozz" letter codes sequence - the last one known - were issued in October 1944, the code "rbl" must have appeared towards the very end of 1944.
With regard to the possibility that the apparition of this code was just a late war code change of some manufacturer, like the change from "arr" to "rco" code in the Braunschweigische Blechwarenfabrik kits, the observed kits don't show significant similarities with the other manufacturers, so these kits could come - at least the case - simply from a new unknown producer. It hasn't been observed any Waffenamt on the few "rbl" observed kits, something normal at this late stage of the manufacture.
The "rbl" kits were manufactured without the reinforcing lateral ribs, and generally show a characteristic coppery colour coating on the "Behalter", sometimes visible also on the exterior of the case when the paint came off. Too, normally these kits have all the pins soldered to the case, something only seen also at this late-war stage, in the G. Appel kits.
Today, the "rbl 44" kits are very scarce.
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| A rbl 44 marked kit with grey finish, note the the lid latches are also painted. The vast majority of the rbl kits observed are of grey colour. |
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| The inner of the kit shown before. |
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| A detailed view of the parts. The phenolic oiler have some parts marked with the code eqt. |
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| The inner of the case showing the soldered pin and the signs of the spot welding of the parts separation plate. |
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| Another rbl 44 marked kit. Note the bright coating on the case under the paint. |
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| A rbl 44 kit in ordnance tan colour. |
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| The side view. Note that on this exemplar the latches are not painted. |
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| The inner of the kit shown before. Without inner separator, probably lost - note the marks of the bottom of the oiler on the separator sheet-. |
I recently acquired a rbl 44 container sadly not good cond. altho has a very odd oiler..
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