holster service identification
 

greeting genleman, how do i determine what branch of german armed service used my po8 holster. i have reviewed the centerfolds are the holster resembles the holsters on the april and june photos , only a little darker and not so pretty.please post a reply or email me. thanks .rob

Re: holster service identification
 

The picture for the month of April is a Luger and holster rig from WWI. It appears black in the photo but is actually a cordovan brown. It is stamped 1915 inside the flap and has the makers name and city. It was issued to the German Army (since there were no other identifying marks on the holster and the pistol is a standard military issue). There are many variations of holster and many that were matched up with a pistol that may not be correct for it. I would suggest that you inspect the holster carefully, note any stamps and the color, the configuration, and then post those. If, however, it is unmarked, it very well could be a commercial holster that was purchased by a Luger owner many years ago. I have seen 'cowboy' holsters that were commercial leather Luger holsters elaborately tooled in a floral pattern (had the old guys Luger, complete with real staghorn grips). What would this world be like if Roy Rogers had always been seen with a nice Luger instead of a Colt 45?


"Take me to your Luger!"

Wild West Lugers
 

Hey, I've got one of those western rigs! Came with the deal for a vet bringback. It's a basketweave drop-style holster with retaining strap. Made by The George Lawrence Company, Portland, Oregon USA, style M22B, model LU 4 1/2. I remember seeing a lot of these style holsters in the '50s, but the only ones I know of being made today are by El Paso Saddlery.

Re: holster service identification
 

ok i'm back the holster is a ww2 variety, on the back it is marked P.O8 on the rightand bdg.41 , a eagle WAa170, so what do i look for next?/please post a reply. rob

Re: holster service identification
 

Hmmm, no bdg code in my list...but there *is* a bdq, and it's a leathermaker coincidentally.

Ehrhardt u. Kirsten, Koffer- u. Lederwarenfabrik, Leipzig

is the bdq code.

So it would be my guess that this is your maker, made in 1941, of course.

The link to the page with all the maker's codes is:


http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/codes_full_alpha_a-b.html


So far it has been very accurate, but is being constantly revised.

Hope this helps.

Re: holster service identification
 

Is there a reference for pre-ww2 holsters?


Ray

Re: holster service identification
 

As far as I know, the coding of manufacturers began in earnest in the 1930's, so as to avoid the stifling conditions imposed by the Versailles Treaty.

After the Spanish Civil War intervention, "hidden production" ceased, but the maufacturers codes continued so as to avoid making war materials factories viable targets to the enemy.

I have not seen WW1 German gear with the makers codes like the WW2 stuff has, as I don't think it was as serious a security issue during the first War, due to primitive bombing technology back then.

Re: service branch holster service identification
 

god morning ,i have seen for sale holsters for the keigs marine, airforce, army ,SS and police. As previously descussed how do I determine what branch of the german armed forces or police issued my holster, if possible. and where do i look for a mark or stamp to determine the holsters previous usage.please advise, thanks rob

Re: service branch holster service identification
 

The Kriegsmarine used a "K" to indicate their branch on some equipment, the SS used either the double lightning bolt runes or sometimes an "rzm" code, and the Luftwaffe used some variation on an eagle in flight mark.

Having never found these on any of my Luger holsters, I nonetheless remain open to the possibility that they may show up somewhere, sometime, on one.