Opinion sought on 1939 holster
 

I recently ran across a listing for a PO-8 holster that is stated as 1939 dated and WaA proofed (on back). It also states the belt loops were replaced and that there are 4 small holes that are filled on the back...maybe it was riveted as a repair? I'm looking for opinions re: originality, authenticity, etc...if someone recognizes this holster as their listing, don't take offense! I'm rather new to Luger collecting and have found this forum to be a font of knowledge...and thanks, now I am addicted to Lugers...as if my Civil War through Korean War weapons collection wasn't addictive enough!

Thanks in advance, Beeman.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...lsterfront.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...olsterback.jpg

Beeman, I guess it all depends on what type of collector you want to be. This is a holster that had the Norwegion GI conversion installed after WW2. They riveted a leather square folded over a US GI wire belt hanger with 4 rivets , hence the 4 holes that have been plugged. This GI hanger apparatus has been removed, the 4 holes plugged and belt loops replaced as per the original German configuration.
This devalues the holster to a great extent. It is no longer original and most collectors prefer it to be unmolested. As an entry level piece, many have them. Hope this helps, Jerry Burney

Thank you for the honest and frank opinion.

For the price, it could only be an altered piece...otherwise it'd be a gift from the heavens! Right now I am looking for a functional display holster for a luger and something that could be handled and used without fear of devaluing it any further. Ideally, I'd want a unmolested and intact period holster for this luger, but in the interim this may fit the bill. The converted holster is roughly twice as much as a repro holster, and I'd much rather pay that amount to have a legitimate albeit altered "user/shooter" holster rather than a repro one.

Thanks again for your quick input!

B.

The problem with these Norwegian conversion holsters is that most have been reconverted to the old configuration.

This makes finding a Norwegian holster in a modified (GI belt hanger) configration much more difficult. I'd pay more for a Norwegian configuration in Norwegian condition than I'd pay for a 'reconversion'.