Where are the shoulder straps ??

laoshi75 · 06-07-2008, 04:16 AM

Hello Gentlemen,

I have been collecting Artillery holsters for many years now, and the greatest difficulty for me is to find original shoulder straps ! We can find rare and early holsters, stocks, we can find sometimes a Maury stamped boot or a closure flap on Ebay. But a shoulder strap : never !
Where are all the original shoulder straps ??

raygun · 06-07-2008, 08:51 AM

probably hardly any left , they would have been vulnerable and the first thing to get lost, damaged or rot away !

while on the subject of artillery rigs , did all stock heels have the guns number stamped on them ? I have a 1918 model with a shoulder board and holster . the holster has a 1915 stamp in it and the shoulder board looks original but has no number stamped on the metal heel that attaches to the butt of the gun ? were some made like this or is it possibly a repo . if its a repo its a bloody good one !

laoshi75 · 06-07-2008, 09:03 AM

hey Chris,

From what I know, the militar stocks had an imperial stamp on the wood and a #serial number on the iron attaching part. That does not mean your stock is a repro since commercial stocks have been made too. Is there an imperial stamp on your stock ?

raygun · 06-07-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by laoshi75
hey Chris,

From what I know, the militar stocks had an imperial stamp on the wood and a #serial number on the iron attaching part. That does not mean your stock is a repro since commercial stocks have been made too. Is there an imperial stamp on your stock ?

Christian
There is a number stamped into the wood near the heel but it doesn't match the serial of the gun . haven't found an imperial stamp yet , believe they are very small . where should I look ?

Navy · 06-07-2008, 10:02 AM

The military acceptance stamp should be located beneath the 4 holes for the attaching leather.

Re: straps, I have purchased stocks and holsters simply to acquire the straps. I then part out the rest. I have only seen 2 straps FS in the past 20 years.

Tom A

laoshi75 · 06-07-2008, 10:11 AM

Chris, here attached a photo for the imperial stamp. What is this number near the heel ? is it 1920 ? can you post a close photo please ?

Tom, yes you are right.. I must do the same...

Lugerdoc · 06-07-2008, 10:25 AM

The thinnest pieces of leather on the LPO8 holster rig, were the shoulder straps, closure strap and cleaning rod cover, so these were the most subject to damage. TH

raygun · 06-07-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by laoshi75
Chris, here attached a photo for the imperial stamp. What is this number near the heel ? is it 1920 ? can you post a close photo please ?

Tom, yes you are right.. I must do the same...

No , its a nondescript number with at least 5 digits , and the closure strap screwed to the back of the stock is Missing. I might have to prevail upon "holster repair" to help me out there . It is still up the road at the gun shop untill I finish the paperwork , but I visit it at least once a week !

will go up with a magnifying glass and look for an imperial stamp next week . see if I can get some pictures too .

raygun · 06-12-2008, 02:42 AM

OK here are the picks of my recently acquired artillery rig . came with a very nice 1918 pistol , but don't think the holster and stock match , but may have been together a long time ! straps and mag pouches and boot are repo or "later period" any clues ?

Can't see any imperial mark on the stock , just the number in the photo , and no number on the heel !?

Holster has on the inside flap --- BAXIV , 1915 and an eliptical stamp that is partly obscured . top edge - - - - GEN . bottom edge . - - - - SRUHE

see what you can make of that ?

laoshi75 · 06-12-2008, 04:12 AM

hello Chris,

very nice holster. it has the ink marking BA XIV for "Bekleidungsamt XIV" which is the army clothing depot No 14. The other stamp is probably the maker:
L.Ritgen Karlsruhe. 1915.
I have never seen this kind of number on a stock, but the wood is beautiful and it seems to me original. Who can help ?

Navy · 06-12-2008, 10:06 AM

Most likely the stock is an armorer's replacement and the full SN of the pistol to which it was issued was stamped into the wood by the unit armorer.

Oh, BTW, the mag pouch is not a period piece.

Tom A

the gunman · 06-12-2008, 10:11 AM

I have had one of these stocks with the number in exactly the same place. Traded it off awhile ago. Stock ( To me anyway ) 100% original . Not sure its issue Commerical..?

tenbears · 06-12-2008, 04:29 PM

No doubt to me the stock is European walnut.

George Anderson · 06-12-2008, 05:42 PM

There is no doubt in my mind that the stock is an original DWM or later Mauser stock but the five digit serial number and seeming lack of acceptance stamp tells us that it was not German military issue.

It could be postwar commercial, which I doubt, or it could be one that passed to the North to Scandinavia.

mauro · 06-12-2008, 06:17 PM

I have in my stock collection something similar...
I assume mine belongs to the one sold to Finland and stamped in the wood.

Cheers,
Mauro

raygun · 06-13-2008, 10:05 PM

Thanks very much for your usefull feed back gentlemen . at least it appears to be genuine if of unknown origin / issue .

I am also looking to replace the closure flap !? We know the straps are virtually impossible to find but if I can find more authentic mag pouches and heel boot that would be good too !? I have PM'd "holster repair" to that effect but if anyone has any clues feel free to chime in .

06-07-2008, 04:16 AM	#1
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 490 Thanks: 288 Thanked 96 Times in 41 Posts	Where are the shoulder straps ?? Hello Gentlemen, I have been collecting Artillery holsters for many years now, and the greatest difficulty for me is to find original shoulder straps ! We can find rare and early holsters, stocks, we can find sometimes a Maury stamped boot or a closure flap on Ebay. But a shoulder strap : never ! Where are all the original shoulder straps ??

06-07-2008, 08:51 AM	#2
raygun User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: brisbane Posts: 150 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	probably hardly any left , they would have been vulnerable and the first thing to get lost, damaged or rot away ! while on the subject of artillery rigs , did all stock heels have the guns number stamped on them ? I have a 1918 model with a shoulder board and holster . the holster has a 1915 stamp in it and the shoulder board looks original but has no number stamped on the metal heel that attaches to the butt of the gun ? were some made like this or is it possibly a repo . if its a repo its a bloody good one ! __________________ arma tuentur pacem

06-07-2008, 10:11 AM	#6
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 490 Thanks: 288 Thanked 96 Times in 41 Posts	pic Chris, here attached a photo for the imperial stamp. What is this number near the heel ? is it 1920 ? can you post a close photo please ? Tom, yes you are right.. I must do the same... Attached Thumbnails

06-07-2008, 10:25 AM	#7
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	The thinnest pieces of leather on the LPO8 holster rig, were the shoulder straps, closure strap and cleaning rod cover, so these were the most subject to damage. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

06-12-2008, 02:42 AM	#9
raygun User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: brisbane Posts: 150 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	OK here are the picks of my recently acquired artillery rig . came with a very nice 1918 pistol , but don't think the holster and stock match , but may have been together a long time ! straps and mag pouches and boot are repo or "later period" any clues ? Can't see any imperial mark on the stock , just the number in the photo , and no number on the heel !? Holster has on the inside flap --- BAXIV , 1915 and an eliptical stamp that is partly obscured . top edge - - - - GEN . bottom edge . - - - - SRUHE see what you can make of that ? __________________ arma tuentur pacem

06-07-2008, 09:03 AM	#3
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 490 Thanks: 288 Thanked 96 Times in 41 Posts	hey Chris, From what I know, the militar stocks had an imperial stamp on the wood and a #serial number on the iron attaching part. That does not mean your stock is a repro since commercial stocks have been made too. Is there an imperial stamp on your stock ?

06-07-2008, 10:02 AM	#5
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	The military acceptance stamp should be located beneath the 4 holes for the attaching leather. Re: straps, I have purchased stocks and holsters simply to acquire the straps. I then part out the rest. I have only seen 2 straps FS in the past 20 years. Tom A

06-12-2008, 04:12 AM	#10
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 490 Thanks: 288 Thanked 96 Times in 41 Posts	hello Chris, very nice holster. it has the ink marking BA XIV for "Bekleidungsamt XIV" which is the army clothing depot No 14. The other stamp is probably the maker: L.Ritgen Karlsruhe. 1915. I have never seen this kind of number on a stock, but the wood is beautiful and it seems to me original. Who can help ?

06-12-2008, 10:06 AM	#11
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Most likely the stock is an armorer's replacement and the full SN of the pistol to which it was issued was stamped into the wood by the unit armorer. Oh, BTW, the mag pouch is not a period piece. Tom A

06-12-2008, 10:11 AM	#12
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	I have had one of these stocks with the number in exactly the same place. Traded it off awhile ago. Stock ( To me anyway ) 100% original . Not sure its issue Commerical..?

06-12-2008, 04:29 PM	#13
tenbears User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 370 Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts	No doubt to me the stock is European walnut.

06-12-2008, 05:42 PM	#14
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,528 Times in 787 Posts	There is no doubt in my mind that the stock is an original DWM or later Mauser stock but the five digit serial number and seeming lack of acceptance stamp tells us that it was not German military issue. It could be postwar commercial, which I doubt, or it could be one that passed to the North to Scandinavia.

06-12-2008, 06:17 PM	#15
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 349 Times in 129 Posts	I have in my stock collection something similar... I assume mine belongs to the one sold to Finland and stamped in the wood. Cheers, Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

06-13-2008, 10:05 PM	#16
raygun User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: brisbane Posts: 150 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks very much for your usefull feed back gentlemen . at least it appears to be genuine if of unknown origin / issue . I am also looking to replace the closure flap !? We know the straps are virtually impossible to find but if I can find more authentic mag pouches and heel boot that would be good too !? I have PM'd "holster repair" to that effect but if anyone has any clues feel free to chime in . __________________ arma tuentur pacem