mlm

I have seen a few lugers in the "as brought back" holsters and the most valid conclusion is that holsters and lugers came together with no concern for date. That, of course, makes sense as there is no reason that supply personnel care about issue dates, only manufacture dates and sources for inventory and quality management purposes. I recently saw a 1936 rig including a 1936 dated holster and I have a 41byf in a dtu41 holster that came back that way. The demand for pistols was high and the supply of holsters appears to have been better than supply of pistols. The holsters wear out faster and so it is quite common to see early lugers in late date holsters. As regards police pistols, I often see WW1 era lugers in WW1 era or later holsters that are numbered to the gun. Both items probably lived apart till the 20s or 30s when the holster and pistol were mated for police use (when the police force was balooned in size to substitute for the military that was limited by the Versailles Treaty to 100K soldiers).


Many 1910-1916 lugers were issued in Reichsrevolver rework holsters that would date from pre-WW1 times (perhaps back to the 1880s).


Recently, a store of WW2 holsters (not for lugers) was found and the dates on the 7.65 holsters ranged from 1939 to 1944 (though some undated ones might be 1945 made). All were in new condition waiting for issue.


Luger holsters that went into stores first, say in 1939, may have been covered with later holsters only to be brought out when supplies dwindled in early 1945. Hence, you see some mint 1939 and 1918 holsters. I also see near mint 41 holsters fairly often I think because luger production was near an end, 41s were made in huge numbers, or these simply saw fewer war years to get used up.


Just some observations from guys I have talked to over the years.


dm