Gentlemen:

I take all posts very seriously.

*( Unfortunately my Internet Explored is acting up again and dislaying very wide pages hiding some words on the right side. Thus I missed the first posting of caliber. I'm now on Firefox which is better ).

As to the post with NRA crown proof marks, thanks. Very informative. However, there are NO SWEDISH proof marks.

Something just is NOT right about ALL of this ID effort. The proofs in the NRA listing have additional stampings usually in the form of letters. The Crown/Erfurt does not ? Why not?

Here are my problems:

1. Just how reliable is anything we read on the internet ?

2. http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=218-1913-1920-%28Double-Dated%29-Kar98a-Carbine

The website indicates that the Germans engaged is some under the covers hanky panky with rifles, hiding some, modifying some secretly, resurrecting old parts, re stamping, and playing games.

It seems that the poster(s) who said there were other crowns were right. Here's the history of the German Republic and Imperial era. The 1916 Erfurt would be in the Imperial era. Thus the crown could apply to Germany - "perhaps".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire

I haven't been able to establish a direct link between Sweden and Erfurt. It really gets extensive and complicated unraveling the past so long ago.
______________________________________________________

My ancestry is Bentheim/German/Dutch.Best efforts show that my family was from Bentheim. Dates go back to the mid-1800's. However, Bentheimers are traced back to the 11th century. My Great grandfather was born in Bentheim. My Grandfather in Swolle, Netherlands. Bentheim was a principality back at the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. Germany glommed onto Bentheim in that epoch and made it a part of Germany. None the less Bentheimers still exist and are internally independent. The Prince is sill recognized there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_of_Bentheim
________________________________________________________

I'm really very favorably impressed with the knowledge and expertize of posters here. Greatly appreciated.