My first holster!!

livingthepast · 05-01-2003, 01:47 AM

Ok, I'm doing this luger collecting thing backwards, but I now have my 1st holster in my possession. LOOK HERE: www.livingthepast.com/luger It is probably the worst original luger holster you pro's have seen

. Its very worn (looks like the original wwII owner lowcrawled through Belgium!), black dyed, originally brown WWI holster with the maker mark of:
"unreadable"
Berlin
1916
under the flap. It is also unit marked to a WWI cavalry unit. The buckle stiching is coming loose and a small corner of the rear top stiching is coming loose. Other than being a war worn well used holster, it was stored in the U.S. vets footlocker since the end of the war so it has a good sheen of mild mildew on it. That said, I really like it, but would like to restore it a bit to preserve it. My first question is how much does it cost to have an expert like Skysoldier condition it? And is the holster worth having Skysoldier waste some time on it? 2nd. Did I say I like it <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> ! If it is not "restore grade" or price prohibitive to restore, how and what should I preserve/restore it with. Thanks for your help!!

Brian

John Sabato · 05-01-2003, 12:05 PM

The holster looks pretty rough to me, but wait for Jerry (lugerholsterrepair) to comment on it. I would use larger photos so he can see the detail a little better if I were you. On your website they are a little small for these old eyes.

FYI, there is a great leather preservation article listed under the General Information link on the left frame of the homepage.

lugerholsterrepair · 05-03-2003, 01:04 PM

Brian,Congratulations on your first holster! I am of two minds about it. It is interesting because of it's era and the Cavalry markings. Unit markings are always desirable. It is in fairly rough shape but there are collectors of many different pursuasions. If it were handed down by Grandpa and had his story behind it and had meaning in your family I would say it would have more meaning to you. If it is a purchased piece you must decide if this is the quality of holster you would like to collect. Depending on how much was asked for it I would probably not buy this piece for my long term collection. That's just me and please do not take any statement I make personally. Like I say, there are many types of collectors.
I would be nervous about this one for several reasons. The mold is not a good sign. Mold attacks the thread a little more severly than the leather. This makes the thread soft and weak, prone to breakage. Since most collectors use there representative examples for display only, it probably will not affect it in structural terms. It should be removed and the leather treated.

Another consideration is further cost. When I work on collectors holsters I am always concious of cost. It is always a consideration and I try to keep my repair costs low for obvious reasons. One can put too much money into a holster in repairs. Since Luger holsters have escalated in value rather quickly it is wise to repair expensive good quality holsters. It is a bit more questionable to put a great deal of money into a marginal holster. The repair costs on like holsters are the same but you will always be better off with quality to start with when you go to sell the piece. People often ask me to quote a price for repairs before they send them. I am always happy to do this if the photo's allow it. Often though the owner will overlook many important aspects that need attention. It is always better to see the piece in hand to give good advice. Most of the repaired holsters I send back run in the range of $75.00 and up depending on what they need. If it is a simple top stitched back on it could be $35.00. So you need to consider how much more you want to invest in this piece, if anything. Hope this helps, Jerry Burney

05-01-2003, 01:47 AM	#1
livingthepast User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My first holster!! Ok, I'm doing this luger collecting thing backwards, but I now have my 1st holster in my possession. LOOK HERE: www.livingthepast.com/luger It is probably the worst original luger holster you pro's have seen . Its very worn (looks like the original wwII owner lowcrawled through Belgium!), black dyed, originally brown WWI holster with the maker mark of: "unreadable" Berlin 1916 under the flap. It is also unit marked to a WWI cavalry unit. The buckle stiching is coming loose and a small corner of the rear top stiching is coming loose. Other than being a war worn well used holster, it was stored in the U.S. vets footlocker since the end of the war so it has a good sheen of mild mildew on it. That said, I really like it, but would like to restore it a bit to preserve it. My first question is how much does it cost to have an expert like Skysoldier condition it? And is the holster worth having Skysoldier waste some time on it? 2nd. Did I say I like it <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> ! If it is not "restore grade" or price prohibitive to restore, how and what should I preserve/restore it with. Thanks for your help!! Brian

05-01-2003, 12:05 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	The holster looks pretty rough to me, but wait for Jerry (lugerholsterrepair) to comment on it. I would use larger photos so he can see the detail a little better if I were you. On your website they are a little small for these old eyes. FYI, there is a great leather preservation article listed under the General Information link on the left frame of the homepage. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-03-2003, 01:04 PM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Brian,Congratulations on your first holster! I am of two minds about it. It is interesting because of it's era and the Cavalry markings. Unit markings are always desirable. It is in fairly rough shape but there are collectors of many different pursuasions. If it were handed down by Grandpa and had his story behind it and had meaning in your family I would say it would have more meaning to you. If it is a purchased piece you must decide if this is the quality of holster you would like to collect. Depending on how much was asked for it I would probably not buy this piece for my long term collection. That's just me and please do not take any statement I make personally. Like I say, there are many types of collectors. I would be nervous about this one for several reasons. The mold is not a good sign. Mold attacks the thread a little more severly than the leather. This makes the thread soft and weak, prone to breakage. Since most collectors use there representative examples for display only, it probably will not affect it in structural terms. It should be removed and the leather treated. Another consideration is further cost. When I work on collectors holsters I am always concious of cost. It is always a consideration and I try to keep my repair costs low for obvious reasons. One can put too much money into a holster in repairs. Since Luger holsters have escalated in value rather quickly it is wise to repair expensive good quality holsters. It is a bit more questionable to put a great deal of money into a marginal holster. The repair costs on like holsters are the same but you will always be better off with quality to start with when you go to sell the piece. People often ask me to quote a price for repairs before they send them. I am always happy to do this if the photo's allow it. Often though the owner will overlook many important aspects that need attention. It is always better to see the piece in hand to give good advice. Most of the repaired holsters I send back run in the range of $75.00 and up depending on what they need. If it is a simple top stitched back on it could be $35.00. So you need to consider how much more you want to invest in this piece, if anything. Hope this helps, Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."