Reproduction Luger Holsters

front sight · 03-06-2004, 10:00 PM

Does anybody know about holsters from Pacific Canvas and Leather, International Military Antiques, or Inter Ordnance?

I have a 1940/42 P-08 shooter that Thor made really pretty and I'd like to give it a good home, but I don't want to spend a lot of money. I'm not trying to fool anybody, but I do want a decent reproduction: one that is well made and authentic looking. Maybe, there's somewhere else I should look. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

George Anderson · 03-07-2004, 08:30 AM

Jim, I have an excellent repro from Germany that I'll sell for $45. My email is keoki77@earthlink.net

DougT · 03-07-2004, 09:05 AM

Two months ago, I bought a couple of very nice new reproduction P.08 holsters (one brown and one black) from a gun shop in Culver City, California. The last name of the shop is Retting, and they do have a website. They had both holsters in stock when I bought the brown one, but when I went back the black one had been sold. It took them a couple of weeks to get another black one in on special order. As far as I can tell, the holsters are very faithfull to the originals, including the "lifting strap" and the takedown tool pouch (with tool) on the underside of the flap. Both holsters are stamped "P08" on the back--the brown one also says "Karl Ackva AG Bad Kreuznach 1934" and the black one has the small Nazi Eagle over the swastika emblem and also smallcase letters jkh 42. Both holsters are brand new, and have the white heavy stitching with the wax-like finish on the leather. They also have the extra magazine pouch on the front of the holster. My Lugers fit in them just right. I think the holsters were about $45 each.

Doug T

Lugerdoc · 03-07-2004, 10:14 AM

FS, I'll send out Thor and the luger police, if I ever see you put one of his beautiful restoration in any holster, even an original. It won't look new for long, going in and out of holsters. TH

Thor · 03-07-2004, 11:14 AM

Tom, on several occasions I have people ask me restore a gun, then age it slightly. I told them I wasnt into that! I suspect they are doing the "Super Bowl Aging process". Get an old holster and put a newly conditioned gun in and out of it many times while you are watching the Super Bowl. Lol!!! For my own use, when I am cruising the gunshows I put my display K date in a CMR holster but first it goes into a plastic bread bag which protects it pretty well. It is amazing what happens to you when you walk around with a dazed look on your face like you dont even know where you are carrying a minty holster with a nice K date in it! Great BAIT for Luger fun and conversation!

<img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />
Here is Jim's Luger revisited!
<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA1.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA1.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>
<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA2.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA2.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

Doubs · 03-07-2004, 11:42 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by DougT:
Two months ago, I bought a couple of very nice new reproduction P.08 holsters (one brown and one black) from a gun shop in Culver City, California. The last name of the shop is Retting, Doug T <hr /></blockquote>That's probably the Martin B. Retting Gunshop. I believe Mr. Martin passed away some years back and his son now runs it. I still have a German helmet (M-35) that I bought from them about 1955 for $5. The $4 M-1916 WW1 helmet I also bought from them got away from me and I still regret that!

Pete Ebbink · 03-07-2004, 12:03 PM

http://www.retting.com/

Regards,

Pete...

George Anderson · 03-07-2004, 02:59 PM

I have a 1917 LP08 that Thor Restored for me and I did ask him to not quite bring it up to 100%. He probably thought I intended to foist the gun on some poor soul but I think I convinced him that I just wanted it to look right.

It is a beautiful fully matched 1917 that I bought on gunbroker for $800. The negative to the pistol was that some knucklehead had chemicaly stripped the bluing...no buffing.

Anyway, Ted did a world class job on it and I keep it stuck in an excellent repro holster attached to a Finnish stock. I carry it around in my truck/car and shoot it all the time. I have probably travelled 75,000 miles with it in a year and a half and shot 500 rounds through it. Sometimes I use a TM08 so it does tend to get hot. Still looks factory new.

Believe me boys, our guns come by their wear honestly over a whole bunch of years and lots of abuse. I am convinced that most of the wear we see on our Lugers came at the hands of civilian owners and not during military service.

front sight · 03-07-2004, 03:59 PM

Thanks for all the replies, guys. Thanks also to Thor for displaying my Luger (his very handy work) again. I have really gotten a lot of ooo's and ahhh's over it and I love showing it off.

I'll check out Retting and I'll certainly keep you in mind, George.

Rest assured, I don't plan on wearing it or rubbing off the blue against the holster. I was just feeling that my Luger deserves a holster of it's own. Of course on second thought, that may inspire me to save up some money and buy a nice box for it :-). Decisions... decisions.

Thanks again for the thoughtful replies.

Johnny C. Kitchens · 03-08-2004, 12:14 AM

I bought one of the IMA holsters. Really well made and they even stamped it to match my byf42. I thought I got my moneys worth...

front sight · 03-11-2004, 11:23 PM

Thanks for the response, Johnny.

saxman · 03-22-2004, 08:57 PM

I have two IMA holsters, a Model 1912 Cavalry for the 1911, and a brown 'police' for the Luger. These are made in India, of all places (cowhide and all that, don't you know), but the quality is surprising. Thick leather with polished edges, and they fit the pistols precisely right.

saxman · 03-22-2004, 09:00 PM

The belt rig is one of the Bulgarian ones usually found on ebay.

saxman · 03-22-2004, 09:04 PM

This is the U.S. Model 1912 Cavalry holster for the 1911 pistol. Shown on a 1912 belt. Pistol is a 1953 Colt commercial Gov Model, the same as a 1911A1 but blued instead of park'd.

front sight · 03-25-2004, 11:56 PM

Thanks for the pictures (nice pictures, too!) and comments, Saxman. I had heard that IMA was good. I might be giving them a look.

Take care

03-06-2004, 10:00 PM	#1
front sight User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Reproduction Luger Holsters Does anybody know about holsters from Pacific Canvas and Leather, International Military Antiques, or Inter Ordnance? I have a 1940/42 P-08 shooter that Thor made really pretty and I'd like to give it a good home, but I don't want to spend a lot of money. I'm not trying to fool anybody, but I do want a decent reproduction: one that is well made and authentic looking. Maybe, there's somewhere else I should look. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks __________________ When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. -- P.J. O'Rourke

03-07-2004, 10:14 AM	#4
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	FS, I'll send out Thor and the luger police, if I ever see you put one of his beautiful restoration in any holster, even an original. It won't look new for long, going in and out of holsters. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

03-07-2004, 11:14 AM	#5
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Tom, on several occasions I have people ask me restore a gun, then age it slightly. I told them I wasnt into that! I suspect they are doing the "Super Bowl Aging process". Get an old holster and put a newly conditioned gun in and out of it many times while you are watching the Super Bowl. Lol!!! For my own use, when I am cruising the gunshows I put my display K date in a CMR holster but first it goes into a plastic bread bag which protects it pretty well. It is amazing what happens to you when you walk around with a dazed look on your face like you dont even know where you are carrying a minty holster with a nice K date in it! Great BAIT for Luger fun and conversation! <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> Here is Jim's Luger revisited! <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA1.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA1.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA2.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/JGA2.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

03-07-2004, 11:42 AM	#6
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,673 Thanks: 773 Thanked 1,620 Times in 528 Posts	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by DougT: <strong>Two months ago, I bought a couple of very nice new reproduction P.08 holsters (one brown and one black) from a gun shop in Culver City, California. The last name of the shop is Retting, Doug T </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">That's probably the Martin B. Retting Gunshop. I believe Mr. Martin passed away some years back and his son now runs it. I still have a German helmet (M-35) that I bought from them about 1955 for $5. The $4 M-1916 WW1 helmet I also bought from them got away from me and I still regret that!

03-07-2004, 03:59 PM	#9
front sight User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for all the replies, guys. Thanks also to Thor for displaying my Luger (his very handy work) again. I have really gotten a lot of ooo's and ahhh's over it and I love showing it off. I'll check out Retting and I'll certainly keep you in mind, George. Rest assured, I don't plan on wearing it or rubbing off the blue against the holster. I was just feeling that my Luger deserves a holster of it's own. Of course on second thought, that may inspire me to save up some money and buy a nice box for it :-). Decisions... decisions. Thanks again for the thoughtful replies. __________________ When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. -- P.J. O'Rourke

03-07-2004, 08:30 AM	#2
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	Jim, I have an excellent repro from Germany that I'll sell for $45. My email is keoki77@earthlink.net

03-07-2004, 09:05 AM	#3
DougT User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 171 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Two months ago, I bought a couple of very nice new reproduction P.08 holsters (one brown and one black) from a gun shop in Culver City, California. The last name of the shop is Retting, and they do have a website. They had both holsters in stock when I bought the brown one, but when I went back the black one had been sold. It took them a couple of weeks to get another black one in on special order. As far as I can tell, the holsters are very faithfull to the originals, including the "lifting strap" and the takedown tool pouch (with tool) on the underside of the flap. Both holsters are stamped "P08" on the back--the brown one also says "Karl Ackva AG Bad Kreuznach 1934" and the black one has the small Nazi Eagle over the swastika emblem and also smallcase letters jkh 42. Both holsters are brand new, and have the white heavy stitching with the wax-like finish on the leather. They also have the extra magazine pouch on the front of the holster. My Lugers fit in them just right. I think the holsters were about $45 each. Doug T

03-07-2004, 12:03 PM	#7
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	http://www.retting.com/ Regards, Pete...

03-07-2004, 02:59 PM	#8
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	I have a 1917 LP08 that Thor Restored for me and I did ask him to not quite bring it up to 100%. He probably thought I intended to foist the gun on some poor soul but I think I convinced him that I just wanted it to look right. It is a beautiful fully matched 1917 that I bought on gunbroker for $800. The negative to the pistol was that some knucklehead had chemicaly stripped the bluing...no buffing. Anyway, Ted did a world class job on it and I keep it stuck in an excellent repro holster attached to a Finnish stock. I carry it around in my truck/car and shoot it all the time. I have probably travelled 75,000 miles with it in a year and a half and shot 500 rounds through it. Sometimes I use a TM08 so it does tend to get hot. Still looks factory new. Believe me boys, our guns come by their wear honestly over a whole bunch of years and lots of abuse. I am convinced that most of the wear we see on our Lugers came at the hands of civilian owners and not during military service.

03-08-2004, 12:14 AM	#10
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	I bought one of the IMA holsters. Really well made and they even stamped it to match my byf42. I thought I got my moneys worth... __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

03-11-2004, 11:23 PM	#11
front sight User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the response, Johnny. __________________ When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. -- P.J. O'Rourke

03-22-2004, 08:57 PM	#12
saxman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have two IMA holsters, a Model 1912 Cavalry for the 1911, and a brown 'police' for the Luger. These are made in India, of all places (cowhide and all that, don't you know), but the quality is surprising. Thick leather with polished edges, and they fit the pistols precisely right. __________________ You can lead 'em to the water, but you can't make 'em drink.

03-22-2004, 09:00 PM	#13
saxman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The belt rig is one of the Bulgarian ones usually found on ebay. __________________ You can lead 'em to the water, but you can't make 'em drink.

03-22-2004, 09:04 PM	#14
saxman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This is the U.S. Model 1912 Cavalry holster for the 1911 pistol. Shown on a 1912 belt. Pistol is a 1953 Colt commercial Gov Model, the same as a 1911A1 but blued instead of park'd. __________________ You can lead 'em to the water, but you can't make 'em drink.

03-25-2004, 11:56 PM	#15
front sight User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the pictures (nice pictures, too!) and comments, Saxman. I had heard that IMA was good. I might be giving them a look. Take care __________________ When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. -- P.J. O'Rourke