A holster quiz
 

Here is a little quiz for you. This is the first clue. There will be more clues later.http://web.uccs.edu/dmclain/conservation/test/clue1.jpg

Your specific task is to identify the pistol type, the nation of origin of the holster, the date of manufacture of the holster, the holster's maker, and the customer for whom the holster was made (military, police, navy, dog catcher, court jesters, etc.).

Here is the second clue.http://web.uccs.edu/dmclain/conservation/test/clue2.jpg

Definately a Nazi era (post 1933) construction military style closure type, but the front of flap and closure strap position look a bit odd. Since I see no maker marks or Waffenamps on the back, I would assume that it is for commerical sale. Tom H.

I had not noticed the closure strap position being unusual, however, I see it now. On the other hand, I did notice the cover flap is larger than most P08 holsters you see. It has markings on the back. I will post those next.

Dave

Here is the third photographic clue. The date has been partially obscured but the rest of the marking should be readable.http://web.uccs.edu/dmclain/conservation/test/clue3.jpg

Tom is the only person posing a guess so far. It is not what it appears, at first glance, to be. Here are a few more clues. It is black. Holsters like this to the end of its run are nearly all black. It is not a military luger holster. It is not intended to be a commercial luger holster either. The date of the holster is a big clue. It is somewhere in the 1930s.

Not guessing, but watching close! [img]smile.gif[/img]

From my limited information on holsters, police "usually" have a different closure, but Tom stated the closure looked "funny" to him, so I am inclined to think it is a police or other than military issue?

Wild guess. Walther P-38 (HP?) before acceptance and design of new holster. It's the flap that leads me in that direction. <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" /> What about the shape of the spare mag. pouch?, I don't think it's a P-08 mag. Of coarse, it could be only five inches tall and have held Himmler's cigerette lighter. I'm just being a Joker and I enjoy your quiz!. It could be a cleaning rod stuck in there. <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> The wear spots are not as mine. Could be mfg. differences. It was a big important Co. and ... this quiz is driving me crazy , I wan't another clue! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

I won't provide the correct identification until I post the last clue. Here is the next to last clue. The date on the holster is 1939.http://web.uccs.edu/dmclain/conservation/test/clue4.jpg

It would help to be able to see the shape of the mag pouch from above and the inside of the holster for the presence, or lack thereof, of a tool pouch. 1939 would be the correct date for a "0" series P.38 holster. Some of them used the Luger style closure strap and the shape of the flap seems to be more like that of a P.38 holster.

Leon

This should do it. This is the first example of this type of holster I have seen and it is in very nice condition. I have some other photographs of unusual holsters but few come as close to origins in the luger military style hardshell as this one. http://web.uccs.edu/dmclain/conservation/test/clue5.jpg

Yes, this is assumed to be one of the earliest P38 holsters. There are no military inspection stamps so I assume this is for some prototype production or early commercial sales to officers. I was told by the owner that all these early types are made by Fischer. I have seen only this 1939 date and know of no other dates for this P38 holster with luger style closure.

Thanks for sharing with us. I enjoy the quiz type fun. Can't wait for the next one. Fun for the serious and the jesters amongst us. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

In the past we have actually had a few quizzes for which we awarded prizes that were donated by a generous member.

The reason that they stopped is that we got to a point where it was difficult to qualify who could participate and yet make it fair for the newcomers to have a chance to win...

If anyone has a solution to this problem, we could start these up again.... They were definitely fun.

John S,
Please check your private posts.

I would rather have a fun (not too complicated) quiz than a prize. However, a hard one, now and then , would keep everybody interested. LP08's last one was a good example in my mind. Super expert's could have got it. But us regular guys had to hit the books. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Dang!
I thought the holster was the prize!

I have scanned through my holster photos and finding suitable quiz material is very difficult. On the other hand, some of the photos are quite interesting and of holsters (rarely luger) that are very rare. I will post some for entertainment purposes and if I can compose a quiz, I will do so. Glad the quiz was interesting.

Dave