mlm

I am going to conduct some wild speculation and say that, maybe, it is because you are looking for plum colored 38's. The manufacturer's that made the plum colored ones might not have gotten a contract in 38. I also suspect the contracts for these were not made on a regular basis but a large lot ordered then none until there was a big push to order supplies. That is how it is in militaries--when the money comes, you order stuff. After the first big push to build up equipment, stuff was ordered then there was some time before a new push to increase equipment stocks.


Another way to say this is I think the 1936 deliveries were sufficient until the quartermasters could get time, money and demand coordinated sometime around 38. I don't see many 37's but from 38 on, there are lots of luger holsters. Seems the buildup was in full swing beginning in 38. The arms deliveries steadily increased from 1934, but arms are higher priority when you have used holsters laying around.


Pure theory based on my experience with the US defense industry and company ordering systems.