[lugerholsterrepair]

Ed, Tom..It is true that the German Luger lanyard was issued to German troops. I have documentation from the Heerswaffenamt found in Germany. There were relatively few issued and the documentation I have does not state a number manufactured or issued. The lanyard is described and directions are given for it's use.
It's also true, since so few official lanyards made it to troops, that they employed whatever was handy to use as a makeshift lanyard, bread bag straps, string etc.
Private party lanyards were popular as well but they were not the standard issue. These were made up on an individual basis and can be any type of design.
The issue lanyard used a very slim round leather strap, a dainty brass swivel and a leather strap with stud closure to affix it to the lanyard ring on the Luger.The end with the swivel where the two ends of the round leather strap meet is woven into itself in a fascinating way. Slits are cut into the middle of the thin round strap and the ends are threaded back into itself. It looks small but the whole lanyard is very strong.

There are many issue lanyards in European collections but not here in the U.S. It has been overlooked here, I suspect, because people erronously believe they were not an issue item.

There were actually two different types used. The one used for Stosstrup troops was short enough to be worn around the neck to let the Luger hang at waist level. This was handy on the front when on raids into no mans land at night. One could snatch prisoners , throw grenades or whatever else was necessary without fear of losing one's pistol.

The other was the Cavalry lanyard. It was worn over the shoulder and attached to the pistol in the holster. Handy on horseback as the pistol could be easily retrieved if dropped.
I find them fascinating and very usefull at the range for controlling your Luger. I use the Stosstrup type when shooting as it is long enough to extend the shooting arm, yet the pistol is always handy and safe from being dropped onto the concrete apron or in the gravel. I have on many an occasion watched shooting partners drop weapons at the range and break grips or other parts. Since most of my shooting Lugers are pretty nice I guard against dropping them any way I can. Jerry Burney