holster on e-bay
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...item=919874907

This looks like an artillery holster?

Were there any made in WW2?

And the color is interesting?

It appears to be a standard LP-08 holster that some GI added a field expedient attaching hook so it could be worn on a GI pistol belt.

There were no LP-08 holsters manufactured during or immediately prior to W.W.II; having said I have owned and know of two other examples of standard P-08 holsters having had modifications applied to make them accomodate the longer barrel of the LP-08.

In all cases seen, the modifications were extremely high quality and were, based on materials and workmanship, contemporary with the holster.

Tom A.

The only exception I know of to Tom's reply might be the German made LP08 holsters for the Mauser export contract LP08's of 1936.

My esteemed colleague is quite correct. The Persian Artilleries and the Thai Artilleries of 1936 or so, are the exception.

I have never seen, nor have I met anyone in the Luger collecting field, who has seen a Thai holster. They may be around, but btfoom.

The original holsters were mauser subcontractor products and were the highest quality; truly beautiful leather work and finish. Afterwards, circa 1949-50?? in the case of the Persians, the holsters were made of stinky goat skin that had been soaked in dung and urine to "cure" them.

Suffice it to say, these are NOT so desirable by informed collectors.

Tom A.

Who does Imperial Navy Guns now

This is just speculation on my part, but considering the tropical humidity of Thailand, I would submit that it is quite possible that all of the Thai LP-08 Holsters eventually succumbed to mildew/jungle-rot... After all, they are quite old.

I have also noticed that there are many holsters that were made of what appears to have been waxed canvas in that part of the world since that time.

I had a substantial leather belt and a Western brand mid size hunting knife w/leather sheath when I got to RVN in April '70, by June both had completely rotted. Boots lasted 90-120 days. Monsoon, 95% daily humidity, 95+ temperature. Not conducive to the upkeep or maintenance of leather.
And the rats would eat it too. (One bit a chunk out of my lower lip one rainy night)

rk

Hey RK,

When I got to RVN, they had us store our jump boots in the rear at Bn HQ; after two weeks in the field, I came back to LZ English and my highly spit-shined Corcorans were covered by a fine green mold. Two weeks later they were solid mold. That was the last I saw of them as the building in which they were stored was hit by a rocket.

Tom A.

Same thing happened with my kakis (Man I'm getting old), had them with dress shoes, ect in duffle bag in company storage, came back from Cambodia after acouple of months in the woods, fire bases, ect and they were all solid green. I can't imagine how holsters, leather slings, ect would last in that climate. Learned immediately to replace the leather boot laces with 550 cord. They lasted no time. The duffel bag was in an out of the weather room. (I'd take a 122mm rocket over a mortar round any day, at least you could hear them)

rk

RK,

To quote my favorite dead president, "It wasn't much as wars go but it was the best I could do at the time."

Ah, to be a young paratrooper again!

Tom A.

Hi Guys.....I have an Artillery Luger (DWM 1917) that was captured in WW2....I have the complete documentation on the gun(taken in May 1945 from a German guard who was riding alongside a Canadian prisoner of war who was driving a Red Cross truck to bring food and medicine from allied lines back to POW's)anyway, here are some photos of the holster...no markings...not 1st ww issue either...I am sure it came back in 1945 like this....Peter..
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MVC-757S.JPG
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MVC-755S.JPG
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MVC-753S.JPG
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MVC-754S.JPG
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MVC-756S.JPG

Very nice, more photos?? [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hi folks
With regard to the Saimese Holsters, you may be right that they all rotted away. A few years ago (like about 20) a quantity of ex Saimese Army issue No1 Mk 3 SMLE rifles came available for sale here in Aust. They were in B----- awful condition, rust pits etc, the markingings on the metal parts had all been replaced with a tigers head. Here's the interesting part, the leather parts of the SMLE bayonet scabbards had been replaced with metal.

Yes please! More photos of this Luger and holster... Especially the front of the holster.

More photos...I have trouble posting sometimes...need photos to go vertically not horizontally....Peter...

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MVC-753S.JPG

More photos
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/MVC-758S.JPG

(EBT edited photos, if you place a return / enter after your message, it helps to place photos more to the left, [img]wink.gif[/img] )

Peter,

Was the German taken prisoner before the return trip? Sounds like an interesting story I would like to hear the end of...

I read the citation (which I'll include in my "booklet" I'm making up). Peter, hope I don't steal any thunder, the Canadian Sergeant Major was driving trucks with others back and forth for the enemy (supplying much needed food for other camps, under guard of course) and one day, allied troops stopped them and freed the soldiers. One of the allied guys asked the SGM if he wanted anything and he said, yes, that Luger!! Very cool story and I envy the story and gun [img]smile.gif[/img]