Holster badges?

paradox998 · 12-10-2010, 09:47 PM

Hello :

I am researching a P38 holster found with a 1944 P38. The holster has three square badges on the flap and another badge with an eagle over a swastica in a wreath. Can anyone tell me anything about the badges? Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas.

jussi16 · 12-11-2010, 08:50 AM

Hi.

I`m no expert, but aren`t those SS officer badge`s? And the eagle is missing some wings...

j

alanint · 12-11-2010, 03:17 PM

The three square badges are rank pips, which would have been on shoulder boards originaly. The eagle badge is a cap badge which, as Jussi pointed out, has had the wings broken off. The wings are key to determine if it was an SS cap device, so it is impossible to tell. The rank pips were worn across all the services, so it is not possible to pin these down as specific to any service.

paradox998 · 12-11-2010, 04:04 PM

Thanks for the information. Alaint- would be nice to compare collections someday, I am in Marathon, just south of Miami.

alanint · 12-12-2010, 07:53 AM

I really don't collect German militaria anymore and have soild most of what I had. My interest these days is full auto and competition pistol shooting.
BTW the SS also used smaller versions of these rank pips on their collar tabs.
The badges on your holster were undoubtedly placed there by the GI who acquired the pistol, as the Germans frowned on this type of unauthorized embellishment of personal gear.
Still would enjoy the opportunity to meet and swap a tale or two!

Lliam · 05-25-2011, 06:49 PM

I dunno about the holster but your desk looks just like mine. Here's a site that is interesting to browse.

http://www.packrat-toyz.com/Reference/heer.htm

hansfischer007 · 05-25-2011, 07:26 PM

Apparently during and after WW2.....it was fairly common/popular for GIs to attach German Insignia to Luger and P-38 Holster Flaps......I remember about 40+ years ago finding a nice brown holster at gun show and it had an RLB Sunburst Eagle on the flap...(Home Defense)....however a friend of mine in our Military Club......bought a P-38..and Holster off a Vet.......on the flap was pinned an Original SS Cap Device....he got $250.00 just for the Cap Pin from a Collector.....then sold the Holster and P-38 separate.....so keep an eye out for the holsters with the German Pins on them......you just never know when you might get real lucky with one.........Hans Fischer

12-10-2010, 09:47 PM	#1
paradox998 User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 105 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Holster badges? Hello : I am researching a P38 holster found with a 1944 P38. The holster has three square badges on the flap and another badge with an eagle over a swastica in a wreath. Can anyone tell me anything about the badges? Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas.

12-11-2010, 03:17 PM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	The three square badges are rank pips, which would have been on shoulder boards originaly. The eagle badge is a cap badge which, as Jussi pointed out, has had the wings broken off. The wings are key to determine if it was an SS cap device, so it is impossible to tell. The rank pips were worn across all the services, so it is not possible to pin these down as specific to any service. Last edited by alanint; 12-12-2010 at 07:47 AM.

12-11-2010, 04:04 PM	#4
paradox998 User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 105 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Thanks for the information. Alaint- would be nice to compare collections someday, I am in Marathon, just south of Miami.

05-25-2011, 07:26 PM	#7
hansfischer007 User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Tennessee Posts: 233 Thanks: 509 Thanked 96 Times in 48 Posts	Badges on Holsters Apparently during and after WW2.....it was fairly common/popular for GIs to attach German Insignia to Luger and P-38 Holster Flaps......I remember about 40+ years ago finding a nice brown holster at gun show and it had an RLB Sunburst Eagle on the flap...(Home Defense)....however a friend of mine in our Military Club......bought a P-38..and Holster off a Vet.......on the flap was pinned an Original SS Cap Device....he got $250.00 just for the Cap Pin from a Collector.....then sold the Holster and P-38 separate.....so keep an eye out for the holsters with the German Pins on them......you just never know when you might get real lucky with one.........Hans Fischer

12-11-2010, 08:50 AM	#2
jussi16 User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 250 Thanks: 77 Thanked 52 Times in 31 Posts	Hi. I`m no expert, but aren`t those SS officer badge`s? And the eagle is missing some wings... j

12-12-2010, 07:53 AM	#5
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	I really don't collect German militaria anymore and have soild most of what I had. My interest these days is full auto and competition pistol shooting. BTW the SS also used smaller versions of these rank pips on their collar tabs. The badges on your holster were undoubtedly placed there by the GI who acquired the pistol, as the Germans frowned on this type of unauthorized embellishment of personal gear. Still would enjoy the opportunity to meet and swap a tale or two!

05-25-2011, 06:49 PM	#6
Lliam User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lenexa Kansas (suburb of Kansas City) Posts: 18 Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	I dunno about the holster but your desk looks just like mine. Here's a site that is interesting to browse. http://www.packrat-toyz.com/Reference/heer.htm