The following is a description of two very interesting P.08 style
German
manufacture commercial holsters. The first example could be considered the more standard. The leather color is dark brown. The holster body is rigid with a magazine and cleaning rod pouch stitched to the spine and the body has a leather "Pull up" strap for removing the pistol. The bucket flap is secured to the holster body with a leather strap, belt buckle and belt loop. Under the flap is a pouch for a tool and pin punch. The flap is secured by a brass stud and slit. Two angled belt loops are stitched the rear holster body. The holster body top edge and the holster flap edge have a piping border. The stitching is excellent and is a red/brown color. On the inside cover flap are two identical 3-line ink stampings and a hand written name in ink.
The second holster is also dark brown and is mostly the same as the above holster with the following significant exceptions. There is no tool and pin punch pouch under the holster flap and there is no cleaning rod pouch stitched to the holster body spine, only a spare magazine pouch and the body lacks a leather strap for removing the pistol. The stitching is a bit coarser and a single stitching line is used on the top of the holster flap where a double stitch line is used in the first example. There are no piping borders or any stampings or marks whatsoever. The bucket style holster flap of the second example is stitched at the upper forward spine edge whereas the first example holster flap is a formed piece or leather at both corners. The back of the P.08 commercial holster is a single piece of leather being part of the magazine pouch back as well. The P.08 Commercial-Military holster back is separate from the magazine pouch. The magazine pouch and cleaning rod pouch are sewn onto the leading edge of the holster.
Regarding the first example holster cited, some Imperial German officers were required to purchase their P.08 Luger pistols and holsters. The holsters were probably purchased privately which may explain the lack of a maker and date stamp. The 1st example holster generally does not have any military proofs or stamps yet are military issue and shouldn't be considered commercial, however a commercial, no date stamped P.08 Luger without the hold open device would be proper for this holster.
The second example holster is clearly a P.08 style commercial holster of German manufacture of unidentified origins. It deviates from the military issue, as it doesn't comply with the accepted P.08 holster military pattern, lacking the loading tool/pin pouch and cleaning rod pouch. The holster more than likely is pre WWI and would be appropriate for a P.08 commercial or possibly a 1906 new model grip safety 4" 9mm Luger, which were manufactured up to 1914.
Information
PM
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
