I Killed My Prior Nikon Of More Than Five Years~
 

Good thing Debby got the idiot warranty~ Here are the first test photos taken with my new Nikon Coolpix. I have posted these prettys before but never so sweet and sharp!!

That's not a Canon, that is a Nikon. ;)

They have more on ebay!

Thank You Don!! I get mixed up with names!

One of you is on crack...But which one??? :confused:

Snooze, you miss out.
Eric deleted the picture of his broken Nikon, and added some luger pictures!

Why? I'm not sure.:eek:

He put the thread here in the holster forum...How about some information about the holster??? :)

Who made it, what stamp does it have, is it original or a repro (almost certainly!), any story behind it???

The holster is for a "Test Eagle Luger", it's authenticity has been questioned on Jan Stills' forum.
Norm

That looks like Eric's test eagle with it's proper test eagle holster?

Very nice... A very beautiful fitted case as well...

This luger and holster have been posted by Eric before(surprise).
IIRC, the holster is a reproduction; though not all agreed.

I did Search at Still's; got 135 hits for "holster + cirelaw". Many had not been answered at all, so I guess the Still's crowd is getting blase about this holster... :rolleyes:

I recall in years past that El Paso Saddlery made clones of the 'Test Luger' holster. Nice looking ones. Also clones of the US 1911 holster, in several styles.

Edit: They still do! :thumbup:

https://epsaddlery.com/product-categ...ry/#quick-view

https://epsaddlery.com/wp-content/up...00-600x600.jpg

I should go out and rent "The Wild Bunch". I haven't watched that in years...decades...Lotsa blood splatter... :thumbup:

Note that the above repro test holster is for right hand carry. ,Original test holsters were left but worn on the right. I have one of these repros. They are very well made. I am sure El Paso makes both left and right. I believe that early in there production they even added the initials etc.at least they had no manufacturers mark. The wider spacing on the back stitching gives them away. El Paso was not trying to defraud just make a very close repro. Unfortunately easily made into a correct looking test holster. Later they added there name. Bill

IIRC, Eric's holster suffered some water damage, which would give it some more apparent "age"!

My new camera arrived,I take some fine photographs including the inside wear. Please let me know what specific you want! I recently hosted had a member Dick Herman inspected my lugers and this very holster in his hands!! Dick can verify its authenticity!

Bill with all do respect, have you ever or inspected an agreed upon legit, one that we can compare? I will submit/ mail mine to any agreed upon expert!

Eric
Yes I have looked at a couple. I have also looked at many in books and online. All the original ones have the 32 line stitching on the back. I really don't care one way or the other but this is a forum for people to look, question and learn. Passing off questionable merchandise does not help anyone. Sometimes we just need to bit the bullet. We have all been there. You have an excellent luger collection. We have all made purchase mistakes. We just need to live with our errors . Regards. Bill

Thank You Bill! I will leave is alone! There were a thousand made in just a few months!!

Eric -

The El Paso clone is only $130. If you paid much more then it might be an idea to get the El Paso clone for showing off to ice-cream eating 10-year-olds at gun shows and keep the Real Deal in your safe. :thumbup:

Bill is right about the orientation; they offer left or right, black or 'russet', any US embossing [US, USAF, USMC, USN] even though there may not have been such a service before WW 1... :rolleyes:

I had the pleasure of examining this US Test Luger Holster this past January. I do not claim to be an expert on this rare model of holster. However I have seen a few examples both repros and a couple of originals. I also collect early 1900 US russet holsters for the appropriate US pistols.
If I remember correctly your US Test Luger Holster has a pleasant uniform darker brown glow that US russet holsters achieve with time. The brass washers, rivets and over flap post have some green verdigris formed from reaction with leather treatment chemicals. The over flap has the large well formed Oval with US in the center. The back of the flap has the Rock Island/Arsenal/EHS. The lower tap of the over flap did not have any stamped marking.
I believe that the missing mark would be an inspector’s initials. In the literature and online I have observed different variations of inspector’s marks. There can be numerous assumptions of why the inspector’s mark is not there.
In my opinion, I believe that Eric has a legitimate US Test Luger Holster from the 1902 period. I would be proud to have this rare holster in my collection.

"Rep Ipsa Loquiter " The evidence proves the
the truth!

Here is a legit holster!http://www.landofborchardt.com/holsters.html#american

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