Rod...
 

...ad says it's original...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

would that really fool anyone?

Someone jumped in on this leather for $ 500...

http://cgi.ebay.com/WW1-artillery-lu...QQcmdZViewItem

Pete, I don't know what to think about this Artillery holster. It has some abnormal oddities but it looks original to me..Anyone?

Jerry Burney

It looks like one of the exceptional quality repops I have encountered of late. They are so good that they *really* require the smell/taste test to absolutely nail authenticity....exceptional quality and attention to detail. But, they ain't perfect. As my airborne comrade says, "there are some abnormalities".

Tom A

Tom, I have enough reservations about it not to bid...I had a client you know well who sent me one of these for my lerned opinion. At first it looked good but apon further hands on inspection it was undoubtably a good post war copy. If these are recent they are getting good at it. I don't like the way the ears on the rod sleeve top are sewn on. Jerry Burney

What caught my eye is the odd shape of the stock block on the back of this holster...especially the stitching pattern in the middle.

The Imperial/Crown stamp does not seem right, either...IMHO.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...ther_copy1.jpg

...

Tom,

I know what you smell for (i.e. old leather smell, cigarett smoke/smell, body ordor smells, etc) ...but what the heck do you "taste" for...???

And do you need a tongue like the singer in the old band, KISS...??? :D

I thnk a LF member is bidding on it. We will see when the auction closes.

Pete, The stock block stitching is indeed unusual but I have seen it before on original holsters. This holster looks to be Bavarian stamped as I remember so it could be authentic. I would like to hold it in hand. I could tell for sure then.
The smell test is not conclusive and can be faked. I would say how but that would only lead to fakers to do it.
Jerry Burney

Sold for $1,060.

Since the bidder I was referring to above was not the winner, I will never know if I was correct as to who it was.

I was the first bidder at $500 later $701. The holster was bought by Scotty and is most likely a hell of a buy. These late war Bavarian holsters were often put into the export market after the war and stamped "GERMANY". I don't know if this one is so marked but it looks 100% to me.

.........

I thought I would win it at $1045 but Scott liked it too. What a nice late date Barvarian holster.
Dante