George
To date, all the Imperial unit marked Bavarian Lugers reported (with hold open information given) do not have the hold open added. All the unit marked lugers from Prussia, Wurttenburg, and Saxony have the hold open added (with one exception). I do not think that sear bars of pre1916 manufactured Lugers were returned to an arsenal or the factory during WW I to be modified.
Nazi collectors have reported that during the Nazi era officers used brown holsters. It is also report that brown holsters went to the Luftwaffe. I dont think this is consistent with the number of brown holsters reported or the gradation in color from brown to black. I have not followed up these reports to determine if they are correct. My opinion is that they are not.
As almost all pre 1916 Imperial Luger holsters are some shade of brown, some distinction between officers and the rest seems unlikley.
Jan
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