Pre War Radom Shoulder strap
 

This is a very rare look at a Pre War Polish carry strap I believe to be original.
Jerry Burney

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1555.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1560.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1568.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1557.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1559.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1580.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1577.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_1572.jpg

Thanks Jerry!

It's kind of an interesting holster/strap/rig!! thanks for sharing!

John D.
(BTW - notice I did NOT make a comment about your snazzy fingernail polish in picture #3... ;) )

John, I liked it better than Tom a's feet!

why aren't you at work?? ;)

Because I'm at home - working on the circuits and trying to write some code for another website..?? :) Sort of like - I'm working from home, I guess.. :)

(Sorry for the hi-jack, Jerry - but you know how Ed is.... :) )

John D.

Robbers! Hijackers! Well, as it's youse two guys I will let it pass...

Photo's of this strap are provided by a very knowledgable collector of Pre War Polish Radoms, Kris Antczak. He has been very helpfull to me in my quest to finally observe an original Polish shoulder strap for the rare pre War Polish pistol holster. I have never been able to observe one of these before now. They are much more rare than the holster itself.
If any one of you collectors out there have one of these I would dearly love to see it...Thanks, Jerry Burney

Jerry,

Were the straps issued to certain units only?? I'm just wondering why they are so rare?

Thanks again for the terrific pictures!!

John

As most of you know, I work with my hands...I have to keep my nails in top condition! I have dainty little fingers. Jerry Burney

The Radom Pistol by Bob Burger shows a Polish Cavalry Officer on page 43 wearing a prewar Radom holster on his belt, with the should strap tucked under the belt. TH

I count FIVE "dainty" little fingers on that one hand and NO thumb! Is that how you are able to do all that magnificent stitching?

Jack Hiles
Mesa AZ

Hi Jerry,

I do not think if we can draw any conclusions, but here are some commerical Swiss luger holster straps I have seen :

1. This one was on one of the eGun auctions which I did not win last year :

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...ss_4_copy3.jpg

2. The following photos are of two Swiss commerical luger holsters that I own and that I brought out of Switzerland to join my holster collection :

(I say they are commerical as they have no maker's marks or dates and no Swiss Ordnance acceptance stamping either on the holsters or on their straps.)

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...s_straps_1.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...s_straps_2.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...s_straps_3.jpg

One more photo I had on my hard disk of the eGun holster :

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...ss_2_copy1.jpg

Pete, Many thanks for the photo's and comparisons...They are food for thought. The strap I show for the Radom Holster is only assumed to be for the Radom as it came with the holster that way.
There are considerable differences in the metal hardware compared with the Swiss but some similarities as well...
I am assuming the European Countries had more or less the same suppliers for metal hardware available. I would guess it would be cheaper to buy these from a major supplier on the Continant rather than make them in a small leather shop. Probably a pretty standard Miliatary accoutrement.
I do not know for absolute certain the strap I have shown is original Polish....I would love to find out so if anyone out there knows please jump in here! Jerry Burney

Hi Jerry,

Boris over on Jan's Gun Boards had this photo posted in one of the Radom discussions. I think the discussion mentioned the Polish civil defence in the early 1939 time frame.

You might ask Boris if he has the original photo that he could take a high-rez scan for you. You might have your answer that way...

You can send him an email through the profile feature :

http://luger.gunboards.com/pop_profi...isplay&id=2624

I enlarged the photo jpeg he posted, but it does not show the strap in enough detail...sorry...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radom_strap_1.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radom_strap_2.jpg

Pete, Kris had alerted me to this photo some time ago, unfortunately from the angle even if it were absolutely clear the metal fitting would be behind the holster and any adjustment buckle would be on the front of the Soldiers body...I just wish I had a Polish Cavalrymans photo album, I am sure there must be some photo's in the World but where are they? Jerry Burney

Did this holster and carry strap come from the recent RIA ?

Charles, Yes, Exactly. There is some story behind it I am not presently at liberty to divulge. Perhaps Kris will give me permission soon...I believe it needs to be shared. Jerry Burney

Hi Jerry,

I noticed in the new holster/stock book by A. Vanderlinden that the majority of holsters shown in the book with D-rings sewn along the BACK of the holster do not have the metal snap-hook style of attachment to the shoulder strap. Rather the end of the leather shoulder strap merely runs through the D-ring and then is secured to the shoulder strap with either a buckle assembly or a pin/stud method.

Maybe a close-up of the photo Boris may have might show this detail above the closure flap...??? One can only be so lucky...

Pete, This Could be the case..Hard to really tell unless more detailed information surfaces. This is the first lead I have ever found that might be a clue to what an original Polish holster strap looks like. Of course there remains the possibility that the strap is NOT a Polish holster strap too.

Jerry Burney

Jerry,

Bessler has for sale on his web site (in the Holster section) this repro with strap which he indicates is an "identical English" reproduction.

May be nothing...but thought you might want to see it if you have not already :

BTW...very good quality for a reproduction, don't you think ? Wonder if it may be the same maker of those very excellent Dutch holsters we saw a while back...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...on_holster.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...don_straps.jpg