[Patrick]

Prior to 21/09/1915, Prussian Army leather was stored in a natural tan colour and was blackened as the need arose. Some units used natural tan, others black. From 1915 on, leather items were to be stored in natural tan but blackened on issue. Officers mainly preferred tan holsters. P 08 holsters can be various shades of tan, boot-blackened or black. There are three basic types of holsters for the Luger P 08. The first were re-worked, dark tan M/79 and M/83 Reichsrevolver holsters. The second type was specifically made for the P 08. The magazine pouch was sewn onto the side of the holster; the lid was attached to the back with a leather strip which acted as a hinge; the belt loops were not slanted. Production of the third type of P 08 holster started in 1928. The belt loops are slanted, the lid is stitched directly to the back; the back of the holster protrudes to form the back of the magazine pouch and there is a horizontal line of stitching halfway down the back. These holsters were cheaper to make but some workshops made hybrid holsters that were a mixture of both the first and the second type. There was a discussion on the Board a while back resulting from a CMR replica holster that was of the second type which was not considered to be genuine. Patrick