Interesting Fallschirmjager P.08 Holster Replica
 

IMA has just come up with this, which according to them is based on an original that they have. A friend of mine found a similar German-produced reproduction, albeit with a buckle for the strap release, and with the "backboard" portion ending at the barrel base, instead of extending to the muzzle.

Any comments/experience on its historic authenticity? It certainly looks interesting, and potentially viable for the once a year I like to campaign my 1938 John Martz re-done S/42 in an IDPA match.

http://www.ima-usa.com/militaria/hol...n-holster.html

Here's the other German reproduction with the buckle set-up: http://www.militariaandmore.de/Holst...ooper-WH-Elite

Best, Jon

I would sure like to see a picture or two of their original. Pure fantacy in my opinion.

Jon, I don't remember ever seeing a period photo of one of these. I have looked at many German paratroop photo's and all I have ever seen wore the regulation holster. P-38 or Luger. I can't say there would be any advantage to such a skeleton holster. At least I can't think of any and several disadvantages..no extra magazine and no tool..that and the pistol is exposed to the elements..water, mud, dust..snow. Just seems rediculous to me.

I have a very good Fallshirmjager book and there is nothing remotely close to this in any photos. A paratrooper would wish to protect his sidearm, not expose it to the elements.

The only advantage that I can come up with is that such a holster would be somewhat more speedily drawn, with the user needing only to pull the strap off the retaining stud.

The protectiveness of the normal issue clamshell holster is certainly undeniable-but the user would need to first unbuckle the securing strap (or remove it from the retaining stud for thse models so fastened), pull the flap portion open, and then tug down the "elevating " strap to raise the Luger in the holster to an easily graspable position, and then (finally!) draw the pistol. I suspect that such relative inaccessibility resulted in the myriad of WWII images of troops imminently to be engaged in combat sallying forth with the pistol removed from the holster, and merely stuffed behind their belts for a modicum of security, but a maximum of accessibility.

Thanks for the feedback so far. While I'm far from an expert, I'd never heard of such a rig either in actuality. I can perceive some advantages inherent to it, but I'm also a bit skeptical as to its historical basis.

Best, Jon

Jon, speedily drawn is a Hollywood story for cowboys. The Luger as any pistol in war is a defensive weapon. It would be readily apparent when it was needed well beforehand.
The main disadvantage in my way of thinking is the lack of a spare magazine..Having twice as many rounds available is a little better than a quick draw IMO. Either way this holster was not regulation and as far as I know did not exist.

I'm afraid fast draw was not an issue in War. This holster in my opinion is pure BS... Bill

Absolute hogwash.

seem to be a lot of this type in brown colour on ebay with sellers in the old soviet-slavic countries.

I would describe it as being a piece of a holster.
Jack

I would agree that it is a piece of "something".

There are plenty of photos of FJs with Lugers stuck in their smock pockets at the end of a lanyard for a "quick draw", but these are almost all photos taken in a combat area. The item pictured is right up there with SS "Butterfly" knives.

Thanks Ron. You gave me a well needed chuckle this morning--"something" huh.

I can't comment with regards to the holster being an authentic issue design, but for 20 bucks it looks like it would make a decent carry holster for a shooter Luger at the range.

the problem i have is why would IMA make up a story
 

like this.....i have never had any problems dealing with them......tom

You don't know IMA very well. They have been embroiled in controvery ever since the Nepal deal, which the goverment there insists was cut through a corrupt official and the Nepal armory was sold off for peanuts.

If you ever read their catalogues, website, DVDs and offers carefully, they are not above "embelleshing" an item for a bumped up sale.

http://www.nepalnews.com/home/index....s-company.html

they have at ima the same holster, i described here

best regards
klaus