Some Thoughts on Artillery Holsters

My Sportsmans' Guide LP08 repro holster arrived yesterday. I just finished installing the screws and washers, adjusting the straps, etc. As expected, it came with no screws or washers but I had already picked up what I needed.


It is made in India and it looks it. From 3 feet away it is OK, but on close inspection it would never pass for German. The quality is just not there. As reported, the straps (but not the shoulder strap) are thin but serviceable. The shoulder strap is heavier and equivalent to other holster shoulder straps I have.


The Spanish-made repro stock I got from Sarco, by contrast, is of fine quality and almost - but not quite - could be thought to be German.


Overall I am satisfied with the holster. I have an original black holster for my WWII Luger (1940 42) and I really wanted a brown holster for my WWI LP08. I would rather have this one than a better quality black one. The brown just fits the mental image I developed.


It is not too small as reported for some repro holsters but seems to be just the right size. It came with a cleaning rod and I put replica wood bottom mags and a replica loading tool in it (all three from Sarco).


The CMR holster would have been better quality but they have only black at present and who knows when they might have brown ones again. Also who knows when Sarco might get their brown holsters in - and if they did, they might be the same as the one I have.


So, I wanted a brown holster, I got the only one available right now, and I am reasonably happy with it. One of these days I'll put some photos of it on the LugerForum.


Black is probably more correct than brown. In 1916 the Germans put out the order for all new personal leather field equipment to be made in black and all existing to be dyed black. This resulted in a mix of mostly black, some brown, and a lot of black on the front and brown on the back equipment, including holsters. Most LP08 pistols were made in 1916, 1917, and 1918 and I would guess that most original LP08 holsters were either black or at least black on the front. This does not, however, mean that I am going to dye the front of mine black any time soon.


Having the holster on the stock adds about 7/8 inch to the length of the stock and provides a much wider "buttplate." Obviously some thought went into the design and the stock is primarily meant to be used with the holster attached.


I find it interesting that my holster has a belt loop on the back so it can be worn without the stock. The magazine pouch loop is designed so that a wide belt can be put through the loop horizontally or a narrow shoulder strap put through the loop vertically. I have seen photos of repro magazine pouches with the shoulder strap incorrectly run horizontally through the loop which makes the pouch hang sideways and loosely on the shoulder strap.


The proper wear of the rig with the uniform was to adjust the shoulder strap so that the holster was at the correct height for the stock strap with the stud to secure the holster flap to be run behind the belt. Unlike belt holsters, the stock/holster was worn on the right side of the body. So you would put the holster on with the shoulder strap, unfasten the holster flap, run that strap behind the belt, then refasten the holster flap. To use the pistol with the stock, unfasten the holster flap, pull outward and downward on the holster with the right hand, and the strap with stud slides out from behind the belt. Then with the left hand pull the bottom of the holster forward and up to about 45 degrees above horizontal and catch the pistol with the right hand as it slides out of the holster. Attach stock, adjust rear sight, and shoot. For use without the stock, open the holster flap, hold the lower part of the holster with the left hand while pulling up on the assist strap and then grabbing the butt of the pistol with the right hand.

[John Sabato]

I used to have a CMR 4" holster and the quality was very high. If you want a good repro artillery holster in brown, just tell CMR to let you know when brown is in stock and get one then. The quality is the same as the original on the CMR holsters I have seen. They also sell shoulder stocks, but I have never seen one in person.


-John

[Ron Wood]

I am curious. All of the repro arty holsters I have seen to date have an attaching iron "boot" that only consists of a single layer of leather. Originals I have seen have the boot lined with a second layer of leather. What does the CMR repro have? Thanks

Well, John, I guess the Sportsmans' Guide holster is good enough for my $695 shooter artillery. When I get my $2000 El Perfecto artillery, then I will have to get a brown CMR holster to go with it. Maybe I lack patience. I wanted a brown LP08 holster now, not at some distant indeterminate point in the far future, so I got what was available now. It would be just my kind of luck to pass on the SG holster and find that nobody else ever had any brown holsters again. I had already ordered one from Sarco, only to have it back ordered and told that they really didn't know when they would get more in stock. Then CMR told me they had only black holsters without offering any suggestion that they might again someday have more brown holsters.

[Marvin]

Bill,


I bought one of the Artillery holster rigs from Shooters Guide a year or so ago and I agree the straps, boot, pouch were definetly not the quality I wanted, but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the holster I received. This repro rig is definetly not in the CMR league, but it sure looks good.


When I bought my Artillery, it came with a black holster from the Weimar or early WWII era as the rig was bring-back, and I wanted a WWI style holster set. I had purchased a nice board stock for the pistol and the SG rig just for the bill. I went to the Home Depot and found grommets and screws to make it appear more original. For the price, I don't thing they are a bad deal.


Marvin