Which holster do I have here ?
 

Hello,

Found this holster some time ago.

Does anybody know what I do have here ?

best regards

Otto

Otto, This is a fairly nicely made Bulgarian style..Hard to say what year..Might be early or a reproduction.

Bulgarian-pattern for sure, later production, not WWI. Maybe WWII, or later or repro, hard to tell any more.
Looks very similar to one I have but nicer, with better shaped flap and loops for cleaning rod.
Any marks on it all? Mine has none.

Hello,

It looks quit old to me, in used condition.
My swiss 06 luger fit´s perfekt in that holster.
There is no marking in the holster.

Some more pics:


regards

Otto

Very nice!

Yes, i agree with all the other members: quite nice! :)

I'm beginning ti be intrigued by the Bulgarian Lugers; they seem to be an ignored sub-niche of Luger lore...Perhaps as much as the infamous Russian Lugers...

I like the brown [neutral? natural?] coloring...And the back strap arrangement is interesting...

What exactly is the "D" ring for??? :confused:

Hello,

The D-Ring is just to hang it on to my wall.

Otto

The "D" ring on early holsters was usually used to carry the holster via an over the shoulder strap, which had a clip at each end. The strap would meet at the holster and be held close to the body by placing the duty belt over the straps.

It is a nice looking holster and, as Jerry pointed out, definitely Bulgarian style. What intrigues me is that an '06 Swiss Luger fits in it perfectly. That would mean that it was made for a 4.75" barreled Luger. The last Bulgarian 4.75" barreled Luger was the 1906 7.65mm and most of them were rebarreled to 4" 9mm. I doubt that there were many (if any) 4.75" barreled Lugers in service in WWII.

Hello Ron,

Here is how the gun´s fit in the holster .

best regards

Otto

Otto, The cleaning rod sleeves are a strong indicator that the holster is post 1950 and this feature is seen on many Eastern European post war holsters?

Jerry,

I think you are right.
Could it be a holster for the byf 42 luger, mauser
delivered in 1943 to bulgaria ...
This luger´s were in service post ww2 i think.

regards

Otto

Here's some Q&D shots of mine. It came with the belt and shoulder strap. It was in the "raw" but it looks like someone took some brown shoe polish to it some time. I have no idea if it's "real" or repro. It shows only little signs of any wear. Pretty thick leather.
Actually I guess I forgot mine does have a stamp with cyrillic letters.

Hello,

I found this holster in the book "Luger Holsters and Accessories
of the 20th century" by Eugene Bender.

There it says "1908 bulgarian variant holster".

regards

Otto

I agree that this holster is of the "Bulgarian pattern", but with the added cleaning rod loops and long enough for the 120mm barrel, my guess would also be post WW2 Commerical production. TH