[lugerholsterrepair]

Don, Interesting questions to be sure. The ONLY time we see the cleaning rod rig in what is known as an Army holster is 1934. Many Army holsters built for WW1 were converted to what I have always thought was Police use using the Army closure and having the cleaning rod rig installed. So we will naturally see Army holsters with this conversion but no Police closure conversion. However it could be that the small loop cleaning rod and the rig used to hold it in is a purely Army fixture. I really have no way of knowing.

There were early pure Police holsters like the RG and some that employed the upstrap closure in a teardrop..these might have been the beginnings of the design we consider to be Police today. I have seen a few earlier dates but 1929 seems to be the most prolific year for the standard Police style.

Have you ever seen a vertical strap and stud dated before 1929? That is another date of appearance that could be nailed down with the help of fellow collectors. So if anyone out there has a vertical strap and stud dated before 1929 please post what you have and perhaps we can work backwards to the earliest known Police vertical strap and stud .

That being said we go back to why I believe this is a Police holster and I pointed out in an earlier post the top closure flap on the loading tool pouch. This shape is seen on Police holsters and I have never seen it on an Army.

The marking you say is not like any Police you have seen..I agree it sounds Army to me. This period in history was very fluid and it would not surprise me to see holsters going back and forth from Army to Police and back again. I am sure anything could happen.

Is the removal of this device suggestive of police service? Perhaps so..The only known use of the cleaning rod in the top was by the Army in 1934. I really wish I had more time for research..Most of the conjecture I have is from what I see go through here and I have said many times before..I am not a historical holster expert. I would say a good study would be of Police photo's where they are cleaning Lugers to observe what is being used.