Polish VIS Holster,REAL?
 

Anybody have an opinion on the authenticity of this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW Jerry Burney

Hi Jerry,

The photo does not give much detail...

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/random_ebay.jpg

I would ask for more detailed photos; showing the back, stitching lines, and markings...

I noticed in the Bender book (small book on page 152) and in the Whittington book (volume 3 on page 188); these holsters are shown to have a tall belt loop protruding from the top of the holster when viewed from the front. This holster on e-Bay does not seem to have this. The back of the holster should have the long/tall single belt loop as well as a pair of D-rings for shoulder strap wear. Both books fail to mention the material of the closure studs (either brass, steel, or aluminum). This e-Bay holster appears to have brass studs...I do not know what is proper.

These two books also show holsters that have a nice radiused stitching line on the top of the closure strap, where it is sewn to the closure flap. This e-Bay holster shows the stitching line forming a peaked/point and not sewn in the radiused pattern...

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radomholster1.jpg
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radomholster2.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radomholster2.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radomholster3.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radomholster3.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

I did notice some of the other authentic holsters of this type that have appears on web sites during the past year seemed to be more of any orange-brown color and were selling in the $ 1000-1200 price range.

I have heard from a few fellows at gun shows that some good repro's of this holster are out there too...maybe this is one of them...???

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Pete, Sharp eye...I was wondering if this might be a clever repro, I sort of think it might be untill I see it in person. Jerry Burney

I have an original w/ original cleaning rod, the one on ebay does not look right... I would not bid on it.
Hessian

Well Guys,

If this was a "repro", someone was lucky enough to get it for nearly $ 1200..... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Pete, It's so hard to tell from poor photographs. Even good photo's and it might be iffy. Only a hands on inspection is the sure method on holsters. Of course many can be spotted as repro's immediately, such as Luger holsters on eBay. They stand out pretty well as bad copies.

$1200.00 is a bit od money, hope the buyer gets what he paid for...Jerry Burney

Pete/Jerry,
* As rare/expensive as an original PreWar VIS holster is, let us not overlook the cleaning rod. I've been told by Mr. Hoffmeyer an original, arsenal stamped VIS cleaning rod can bring $700-$800 alone. Throw in a couple of mags for, say, $150 and the holster begins to look like $250-$350
* Of course Pete's sources probably mentioned the repro holsters coming from Eastern Europe(Poland) were also coming with a marked repro cleaning rod. I picked up somewhere these recent wonders were distributed out of England. Anyone know the Distributor's name or seen ads?? Anyone know the U.S. Distributor's name or seen ads??
* Guess a hands on three day inspection by the buyer will tell the tale. The ink markings on the inside of the holster flap are suppose to be a definitive differentiator I'm told.
Respectfully,
Bob

Bob, I guess I hadn't given it as much thought as that....I wasn't aware the rod alone was worth that much. Your calculations make a lot of sense.

I have never heard of who might be producing these, If a repro was decently made, close enough to an original I wouldn't mind having one. Not if their like most of the repro Luger holsters. Real junk.
You are correct, even a novice should be able to tell a real one by many details.
Thanks for the insight Bob, Jerry Burney

Check with CMR, they might be the distributor for the reproduction items...

John, I see their offerings frequently on auction sites and they have never offered one that I know of. Besides, If they did, it would be crap like the rest of their holsters and I wouldn't have it in my house. They just pay no attention to any detail on the holsters they offer. Jerry Burney

Randy Bessler has a nice repro holster on his web site (I borrowed the photos to post here...). Holster on Randy's site is called a reproduction...

Compare these photos to the one on e-Bay... :confused:

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/randomrepro1.jpg
http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/radomrepro2.jpg

Regards,

Pete...

http://www.checkpointcharlies.com/sh...&categoryid=15

Another repro...sold on the Check-Point Charlies site..