Photos For Dante...
 

Hey Dante,

Here are some photos of the holster we had been discussing last week...

Questions :

1. Can anyone help with the translation of the maker's marking next to the "1916" date ?

2. Do folks think this holster has had a bit of its front pouch trimmed down a bit along the left side where it connects to the back panel ?

Dante and I were debating whether it has been cut down or left the saddler with its left side dipping down some...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._holster_1.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._holster_3.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._holster_4.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._holster_5.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._holster_6.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._holster_7.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...er_2_copy1.jpg

Very interesting markings on this holster. Never seen them stamped like that. Commerical..? but with a 1916 date..?

Pete,
* The holster's maker, sans umlat(s), is "Vereinigte Fabrikanten/fur Militarlederzeuge/ G.M.b.H/Soligen.' which I very loosely paraphase as: "Association for the Fabrication of military leather item, Inc., Soligen"

* John Walther, "The Luger Book", Pg. 282, Item, V9iii. His reported example was dated 1915 and supposedly had an "S" in a triangle as the trademark stamp. Since 1916 follows 1915....maybe a "T" in a triangle followed an "S" in a triangle Trademark. More likely, the "S" and "T" indicates which firm within the Association actually was responsible for the item marked.

* My 2 centavos for a starter.

Respectfully,
Bob :cheers:

Pete,
I can't make out the second word. I have tried to enhance the image but it is still too blurry. What I can read says "United ???? for Military Leather Items". The G.M.B.H. is "Gesellschaft mit beschr�¤nkter Haftung" which is roughly an industrial organization with limited liability.

Bob got it...his eyes are better than mine!:) I thought the first letter was a "G" so I never would have guessed Fabrikanten

Bob and Ron,

Thanks, guys, for the info. and link to the Walter book info. !

Neat holster...I was most curious about the maker. Will probably mate it with an Erfurt I have.

BTW...here is the eBay link when it ran on eBay.

It took some cleaning, but it cleaned up nicely.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150141275030

Fu** sh** egay, I can't see this auktion.

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Thank You.

eBay photos...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/pete_leather_1.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/pete_leather_2.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/pete_leather_3.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/pete_leather_4.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/pete_leather_5.jpg

Hi Pete, First time Ive been on this forum in a long time. Your Holster looks correct to me, If it was cut down the stitching would not be present. Nice looking holster with an interesting maker. I wonder if it was made by an apprentence? The low gun but side is an odd varaition that I have never seen before.
Thanks
Dante

Pete, Dante is on the right track. Having made a number of these in my career I can tell you this is because the measurements were not taken correctly. The front of the holster is made, cast or molded then cut ...It is more or less a fixture. Making a Luger holster starts at the magazine pouch and ends where you see this small step. If the front body has been cut a mite too short there is no stretching it. If one wants to end up with a holster you must do without. I have seen this occasionally on some of the many holsters I get to observe in the course of my work. I last saw it recently on an Artillery holster. An apprentice worker making this mistake is as good a guess as any...Jerry Burney

Thanks, Guys, for the additional input.

Roman,

I see that your English is improving....;)

My dutch Opa said, "I first learned Colorado english..." (He served with a Colorado unit in WW2), however, his first english words were swear words. :D