What is the story on this type of holster ?
 

It's a black leather with the police-type closure, but has thinner leather and is more compact than the regular army/police styles
It fits the Luger exactly, and even with the gun holstered, it is noticeably thinner overall in profile, and if very nicely made, a high quality job.

The back and face are stitched to a centerline, both curving toward their seam, unlike the regular Luger holsters with the stiff flat back and deeply curved face. Also the top flap has a really close fit and more squarely shaped than most military holsters.

I'd really like to know what company manufactured these, and for what service or market, and when.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psa14a3926.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psd271c561.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps469cefb5.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ps8ee21a1d.jpg

German Post war. Depending on the mag pouch (I believe some of these were universal to fit different pistols) I have one that fits a HP. Yours looks a little narrow in the toe. So maybe a Luger, P.38 or Astra. Best way to find out, is to see which one fits best. (the Cinderella method)

Some are maker marked on the inside flap. But you need to look closely. Many are not marked at all.

hope that helps.

Bob

Alx
Here is a photo of the one I have. You can see it is made more to fit a HP. But other than that it appears to be the same construction as yours. Inside and out!

It is marked on the inside flap, but to weak to make it out.

Bob

' Did say it fits a Luger exactly .....

"Post-war German" is a pretty loose description, .... is that commercial, or for the military ? Since it doesn't seem to be East German, what was the application ? ( I was under the impression that the West German military never used the P08, what with plenty of P38 around.)

Alx
Sorry, I read through your post fast. Luger holster it is. And I should have added post war West German "POLICE" holster.

Bob

Alx, Quite a few P-38 were employed by the German border guards. Police of a sort I guess.

"Alx, Quite a few P-38 were employed by the German border guards. Police of a sort I guess. "
Jerry ......
Unless you meant to write P08, instead of P-38 ......

'still don't know why the West German police would need a P08 Luger holster .....
.

I don't believe it is a P08 holster. Does the magazine pouch have a half moon notch in the top? It has no provision for a loading tool..Have you tried different magazines in it?
It has the classic lines/body shape of a P-38 holster. The magazine pouch will tell a lot..do you have a photo of it? P-38 mag pouches are slanted at the top and wider than a P08. A P-38 mag put into a Luger holster will create what is known as the P-38 bulge in a Luger holster. Also P-38 mags are shorter than a Luger. In a pouch anyway. The Luger pull adds a half inch or so.

It does have the half-circle notch in the magazine pocket, but on the other hand I was able to fit a P38 magazine into it, although the magazine was a tight fit. I also found it accepts the P38 gun nicely. It was nearly unused when I first acquired it about six years ago, and apparently had never molded around any specific gun, so when the Luger fit in nicely, I assumed it was a P08 holster, but now I think you're right, Jerry, it's a P38 holster, with an unexplained notch in the mag pocket. The edge of the forward notch looks finished like the rest of the top edge, so not apparently done after mfg.

Al, It may be a hybrid. Useful for any number of pistols? It is a tad unusual to be sure. Post war was a strange era. I don't know why German Saddlers would make such drastic changes in holster methods of construction. You would think even though the war was over they would keep on keeping on just the way they knew how to do. But they didn't!

After checking all the P38 holsters online at GB and eB, not one of them is like this one.
All the P38 holsters either have the closure strap pointing downwards and passing thru a metal stirrup, or are the soft type with the double-flapped opening face, or they are like the later Bundeswehr holsters with the strap facing upwards and held by a leather stirrup and a stud, but having the flat flexible top flap with the internal belt loops.

I'm still puzzled, but I like the holster better than my Bundeswehr one.

one at
http://www.ebay.com/itm/post-WWII-Be...item53f85400c1

Post War W German Police for the Star Model B. How 'bout a pic of the backside?

For what it's worth...both of mine (post war W. German) have the cut out notch at the top of the magazine pouch. And neither one is for the Luger.

I think the thinking was, it made it easier to grab the magazine when removing it.

I agree with Jerry, It was a strange era with little consistency.

Bob

Steve, I think it's for a HP like the one I pictured above. It's got the wide mag pouch and the Star B mag would fit to loose.

Bob

The mag pouch doesn't look wide enough to me, need a pic from the backside. I will take some pics of mine(if I can find it) when I get home.

Here is a W. German Police Star B holster. It also has the scallops at the mag pouch which one would think would be for a P08 magazine. The P08 mag is to long however. This one is made by Geco and has the serial number of the pistol that it was once mated with.