German Luger Commercial Holster
 

Just acquired an interesting German commercial luger holster.

Inside has 5 separate identical stamps:
Johann Scharger
Schchmechermeir (??) not sure of this
Berchtesgaden 1943

Why a commercial holster like this made in Germany in 1943?

It has held a luger for many years by the inside impressions.

Considering that the town of Berchtesgaden was reserved for top nazis, (the population had all been screened and many moved out forcefully when Hitler decided this would be his alpine retreat), it would not be far fetched to suppose that this is a private maker to the nazi elite. This could only have been a private purchase for top brass who liked to set themselves above standard equipment. The date 1943 re enforces this
A very interesting find

Bill, A very interesting piece..Fascinating markings. A mystery for sure.

Doug, Top Nazi Party Officials were not in the habit of carrying large combat pistols like the Luger.

Jerry Burney

Great find! Thanks for showing.

Although a top party member may have carried a PPk or PP officially, is it not possible that the holster was for his personal Luger? Anyway, a very nice holster.

Charlie

Yet we just discussed Herman Goering's rather large S&W revolver and the fact that other German Generals also favored non issue "signature" guns, which allowed them to stand out from the crowd.
I say anything was possible and I cannot imagine a private maker in Berchtesgaden in 1943 making a large, private purchase holster for anybody but a nazi or military official, since private gun ownership was illegal for the general population.

there were also a lot of troops stationed in the area to protect the higher ups and area...

Yes, but with no permission or discretion to arm themselves with non standard gear?

I like my influential owner theory!

"I say anything was possible " Let us look at what we know rather than fanciful theory's about High Party Officials.

The holster is made WAY out of the norm as far as shape. The maker used what appears to be fairly thin garment leather. The closure is reminiscant of a luggage clasp.

The quality is such that I suspect this maker was not in the Luger holster business full time.

The high quality stamps indicate that the maker WAS in some sort of leather/or other business. There was no use of the 3 letter code...

Deffinately a private purchase and beyond these self evident facts...I think that any other ideas would be conjecture at best.

Jerry Burney

It reminds me more of a flare gun holster of some sort, that was used for a luger instead.

Vlim
I suppose it could have been for something else. However it fits a luger perfectly , including the grip which is fully enclosed, and by the wear marks inside has carried one for many years. I will try and get the second line of the manufacturers stamp better. I read no German and am curious what it says. Just looked, all of these are ink stamped and the middle is smaller. The best I can do is "Schuhmecherraelsre". Is this close to anything that makes sense? Thanks Bill

Ok, then how about this? A holster made for a nazi bigwig's kid?

Johann Scharger, toymaker to the nazi elite!
8^)

I'll stop now......

"Schuhmachermeister"? - master shoe maker

Peanut gallery here. I am confident that it is an original holster, for something. But it is sure...well not so pretty. However that being said, it is so much more than I have.

Best to all, pitsword

Ron
Thanks, that is probably it. Very hard to read. It is a rather ugly thing but interesting maker location and date. From the fit I am fairly certain it was made for a luger. Bill

Not at all inconceivable that one of the cuckoos from the Eagles Nest had the local cobbler stitch up a holster for his personal toggle top.

It's obviously Hitler's personal Luger holster!:rolleyes:

Wait!! Didn't Goebbels have a withered arm?

Just the candidate for that twist closure versus a hard to open buckle strap!

No, that was Kaiser Wilhelm.

That's right. Goebbels had a club foot. A case of mistaken infirmities...