Cut Down Artillery Holster...?
 

Is this an Ordnance, cut-down Artillery holster ?

Does it hold collector value ?

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/Vie...p?Item=7109541

Regards,

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

Man - I would love to have had that holster before it was circumcised! Looks like a rather neat job. Perhaps Jerry can tell if it is a good German sattler job.

Since the Weimar period rework left on the cleaning rod pouch and the leather attachment for a stock, this LPO8 holster may have been modified for a 6" barrel (ie Navy) luger; hard to tell from the photo. Many thousands of these were modified after WW1 both for commerical sale and for use with the 4" barreled PO8s. But if for the German military, belt loops were usually added. It's possible that one as shown might have gone to Finland with the 1923 DWM contract of 5000 7.65x98mm barrelled Commericals with stocks. TH

Pete, I agree with Tom. That is a possibility. It seems exceedingly strange that a holster like this does not have belt loops. How is one to carry it around? Tom Armstrong once sent me a set of belt loop carry straps that attach to the stock block of an artillery and enable it to be worn on a belt.

Ron, It seem to be about standard for this type of modification. They cut the toe off and installed a leather plug. It is possible to replace the toe as the Germans did it on occasion but it looks funky. It is much better if the back piece has not been cut off.

As far as collectability I would say it has great value. It is a fine example of the Weimar period modification. Granted, it is destroyed as an Artillery but that was the result of post war restrictions. All part of history. I bid on it myself but I am afraid it will go for way more than I am willing to shell out. Jerry Burney

These turn up frequently at the shows and on Fleabay. Many thousands were imported and sold with lugers during the 1920's. In fact, in my collection of Luger "paper" I have an advertisement that depicts one these modified in exactly the same way. The price was $2.00 in 1923. They typically bring about $200-250 in minty condition from what I have seen.
And, per Jerry's comment, there were belt-loops made to accomodate wearing.

Tom A.

All:

A cut-off artillery holster just sold on EBAY for $122.63
Item # 3201217898

Regards

Ken D