Eric
Your own post showing examples from LOB is what I was talking about. Look at your rear stitching and the stitching on LOB. 26 vs 32 on originals. Aging leather is not that difficult. I still say this is a very well made repro based on the stitching pattern. .
Dick Thanks for your input but please look at the rear stitching.
Enough of this It's a no win meaningless war. I just want would be collectors to avoid poor buys.
Eric Enjoy your holster.
I wish some holster experts would join in this discussion. I know why you don't but I feel we owe the members of this forum the best information we can give them. Bill

Bill,
You're correct, this was thrashed out before.
No use to do it again.
The holster is a reproduction, maybe an old, nicer one- but one can't change the stitching.

I can't believe that we are discussing this holster yet again, I thought this issue was put to rest years ago on Jan Stills forum. To be brief, the El Paso made reproductions have coarser stitching than the originals. You can test this for yourselves by counting the stitches on the rounded end of the belt loop on the back of the holster, the repros (and Eric's) have 24 stitches, the originals have 33 or 34.
The issue of provenance has not yet been raised, if I'm not mistaken Eric purchased this holster from the late Ralph Shattuck. Eric, you are not alone, most long time collectors bought fakes from him, I know I did. My first Navy Luger came from Shattuck, and yes, it was a fake. It's what motivated me to embark on the Navy List project!
Norm

Norm, let me send it to you and clear up this mystery! I will pay the postage!!!

Neither of you examined the holster.
But Dick Herman examined it inside and out! Are you both saying Dick is wrong! He found it as legit! And not a fake unfairly because of Ralph factor. Face~it!! I will send it to an unbiased of mutual Expert to clear up a fifteen year mystery! Please post what is a legit one instead of El Paso which we know if a copy! I will mail it to you if you want, A ten year mystery is long enough! please as I trust you and Ron!! Send a message as to where to send it! I will stand by your opinion!! Eric

Come on Eric, there's no need to send your holster to me or anyone else, it's easy to count the stitches on your excellent photo. To refresh your memory, here are some comparison photos from the last time your holster was discussed on the Jan Stills' Forum, go count the stitches yourself! Yours is the first photo, the three others are from authentic examples.
It gives me no pleasure to disparage you or your holster but I think it's important to not mislead newer collectors who are using, as they should, this forum as a reference.
Norman

Here they are, full size:

Thank You! Norme, but who made my sample?? I believe mine was subject to repair! Mine seems to have been a repaired due to the white and thicker thread! Evident wear on the inside, this makes the both sense !Two 2 shade of color, dark and lighter and thicker! Your post clearly show up!! Their were a thousand made over 3 month with different machines or seamstress. Basically no two are exactly alike as they are hand made with individual machines! One thousand that mine is different in some in way for those 3 you posted. In this case a few pictures out of a thousart! This has to be examined in person not some my a few photos. There are too many variables for a real based on a few outside pictures!!I'm sure if you didn't know it was Ralphs' your opinions may be different! I can't rest on a few sitches! I agree that our readers deserve an unbiased opinion! Yes I believe the smiley was worked on. Lets put the leather to rest~ Eric

Can you post a picture of lenght wise for comparison~ I took this at night in the kitchen! I'll post some perfect examples in the morning~

To get back to the original subject/thread title - What happened to your Nikon that you had to replace it??? :soapbox:

Eric,
if one accepts your conditions- which are essentially that any variation or difference "could" be original, then there is no answer to your question of authenticity.

You have decided it is original and "repaired", no one can prove to you it is not; neither can anyone prove that it is. Norm has shown original stitching, others agree; you have not shown any evidence of another possibly original holsters with the type stitching on your holster.

The "preponderance" of evidence is that it is not original, based on the stitching- as you well know this would be sufficient in a civil case, but not a criminal one. ;)

So let's stop beating this horse, he has been dead a long time. JMHO

It was my fourth! Since my stroke my left arm is week and I have a hard time holding anything. Well I droped it while lens open and it froze, Thank God Debbie buys the dumb proof warenty. All my post 12K are written my good finger. Great Theraphy!! I pray and Thank God for granting my the one arm. Its a long and arduous task but I'm a stubborn German~ Polish and I really enjoy all of you~ God Bless! Eric

Ok! Tks

One last answer. Land of Borchardt has a Test Luger Holster that like mine has be repair/ restritched on the belt loop with the simular or same number of stiches as mine! http://www.landofborchardt.com/holsters.html#american It seems we may all be right!! It is a repair!! God Bless and wonderful New Year! Eric & Debby