Well the holster is "home" and here is the update :
It fits a 4" bbl like a glove on the hand. Very tight but yet easy to remove/replace the luger. The luger's trigger guard fills out this portion of the holster in true custom-fit fashion. Will take a 4-3/4" bbl. luger but the top flap will then no longer snap closed.
The inside surfaces of the holster has two "rusted" imprints where a luger and its toggle knobs sat for a long time (I hate to think about the condition of the luger...)
The coarser stitching is composed of linen-hemp thread as one can see the individual fibers that comprise the stitching. There is also a very fine stitching that runs along the chest-strap of the holster...which is also made up of very fine linen-hemp and one can see the fibers as well (under a 10x loupe...). And some of the "lines" that appear to be sticthing holes with their sticthing removed are acutally lines of the more fine stitching in place...
No markings or stampings on the leather at all. It is fully lined all the way down the inside of the hoster to where the tip of the barrel would come to rest. The inside of the leather does smell like a old pair of worn shoes...
On the inside of the metal snap/button (on the back side of the stud half), the metal is struck with "United CARR"...(so I am guessing British???)..the brass is very old and patina'd.
One more thing...this shoulder rig was made for a very "slightly" built person. Maybe a suit size 36 or 38 mens. I am 5'9" and weigh 175# and wear a suit size 43 regular. I can barely get my arm and shoulder into the rig and I fill out the chest strap (too much time in the gym...)...so maybe it was built for a very small, slender pilot...?
Anyways...I am happy with this curio and have decided to keep her...
Regards,
Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />