holster P08 with SS runes and strange eagle ? fake ?
 

hello, I recently acquired a P08 holster in Germany. I am wondering if it is a fake or not?? It definitively looks old and worn. The markings on the back are very strange : a police (?) eagle with some SS runes..The marking "P 08" is there (very faint). There is also some kind of manufacture name starting with a capital G (can not read the other letters). I am totally new to P08. Can anyone help me identify this holster? The leather has a horribly strong musty smell to it.
Pictures are attached.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss001.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss002.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss003.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss005.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss006.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss007.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss008.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss009.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss010.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss011.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss012.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss013.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss014.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss015.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss016.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss017.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7/P08ss018.jpg

This holster STRONGLY appears to be a repo that his been aged and fake marked. The construction is very crude with poorly formed edges and shapes, although it is generally a Luger style holster. My guess would be a modern made holster that has been artificially aged and of course the runes stamp is totally bogus. The stiching in many places is not correct also.

Agree with the gent's above.

Not sure if we should start will start rattleling up all the things wrong in this thread, and by that make a manual on how to make a false holster out of a repro.. I'm no expert, but beleve I see several things that makes it smelly.

Hi,

This holster is a modern day reproduction, aged to look old and with fake SS-stamps added. Basically, you've been taken for a ride.

As a general rule, assume ANYTHING SS marked to be fake until proven otherwise.

Tom A

I thought my wifes 1966mod Vespa SS is genuin. But just like the holster, looks like it has seen the inside of the washing machine, used as bird nest and later a catch&fetch toy for a dog. I must have been misstaking it's eccentricity ;)

Sorry that you welcome to the Lugerforum has been on a sour note... but welcome just the same... Get your money back if you can.

Apologise for straying off the topic at hand, but man, they are amazing photos! Crystal clear!

thank you for the compliment about the pictures. About the holster: it is very strange. I bought this holster in Germany for a low amount (less then $100) . To age a holster like this, you really must be a pro. Rust on the buckle, musty, wear, etc.. Faint "P08" stamping. Also if you look closely (see red circled area in attached picture below) there is a very thin stamping like a manufacturing name starting with a "G". I can not read the rest of the letters. What strikes me is : why make a repro that will not sell? if you are a luger collector (like all you guys are) you would never buy a fake of course, but on top of it you would absolutely not buy anything that has unidentified markings (fake or not)?? right? As a "fake artist" I would "make" a very rare holster with known markings and aged it like the one in the pictures? That would bring money in. Why try to take time and effort to "make" a copy that nobody recognize?? that does not make sense to me.
Someone suggested that this could be an original, but from some foreign non-German SS units (Balkans, Scandinavia...??)



http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...47/Imageb1.JPG

Luc, just want to come with a late welcome. Luger collecting can be a minefield, so it's best to be careful. I'm no expert, so my please see my comments above accordingly. Good luck to you

Hi,

These holsters are being made and sold for a relatively low amount of money (in the 30 - 40 Euro region). Using relatively simple tricks (sticking it in a bucket of water, leaving it outside for a few weeks, attacking it with abbrasive material, etc...) one can easily mask the fact that it's new and then sell it to an unsuspecting person for double the money or even more.

The fact that you bought it cheaply also accounts for it. A real holster, even with a fake SS-marking will fetch much more in Germany as well. These fakers usually target two types of buyers: Unsuspecting (inexperienced) buyers and those that think they can make a quick profit.

Take a look at this one: Look familiar?

http://www.marstar.ca/ac-holsters/im...8-HS-450px.jpg

thank you

Bought a Chevy Malibu SS once. Found out it was faked too. Something about this SS thing that attracts fakers. How come SS is so popular anyhow?
Bob

As sad as it sounds, a great deal of the fake luger and militaria in general comes out of germany, among alot of other european countries, where there's money to be had, someone will try faking anything, its actually suprisingly easy to 'age' things, i do it with german helmets (dont worry, i do sell them as such, and not 'original pieces') but it is quite easily achieved

Went; I know a place where you can pick 'naturly' aged helments :) Found a quite large ditch filled up with hundreds of German helmets close to a norwegian town called Kirkenes. This was is in the late 90's, they are probably still there.. but hey, it will get you some serious over-weight on your long flight back home! ;)
whcoyote; Drove from NY to SFC in a Chevy Malibu.. gave me some good memories:)

Here is a holster on ebay that's looks very similar.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=005

Steinar:
Great autos. I have a 1971 Malibu stored in the basement - second owner. I want to completely restore it someday, but Lugers keep getting in the way.
Bob

Tharpo, yep, aged modern reproduction :)

Hehe may just be worth it, a friend of mine brought two semi trailer sized loads of US M1 helmets over with him, when he moved his business and family here!

I heard a similar story from a retired army ranger who said he saw piles of Fallschirmjager helmets in the woods outside his barracks back in the 80's. I would like to think I have been misinformed. the thought of it being true brings a tear to my eye.