Norwegian holster

Vlim · 10-19-2007, 01:07 PM

I want to present a somewhat underestimated holster variation here. Many of these holsters have been modified to appear what they are no longer, taking away the interesting history and generally turning them in none of both: The Norwegian holsters. Some of them are even incorrectly identified as 'captured holsters' presuming they were captured and used by the allies during WW2 (which is incorrect).

After the Germans surrendered in 1945, the Norwegians took over the army supplies of the former occupation forces. Being quite practical, they equipped their own troops with this equipment. As Norway is a NATO-member, the P08 and holster even received a Nato Stock Number (NSN):

1005-25-102-7195: The Pistol 08, 9mm without accessories.
1005-25-102-7196: The Pistol 08 with accessories (including holster).

As the Norwegian army, like most Western-European postwar armies, used the US-style web belt, they modified the holsters accordingly. The leather belt straps were removed and a steel web belt hanger was riveted instead.

The Norwegian army used the P08 until around 1980. The Glock was introduced as a replacement and the last guns (P08 and P38) were traded with a Canadian company. These guns were still German in shape, size and markings and found their way onto the Western American collector's market.

The holsters were sold to a European surplus dealer and they found their way onto the Western-European market. Many holsters had the web hanger removed, the holes plugged and new leather loops sewn on, creating something of an inbetween version, neither one, nor the other...

When an unmodified holster showed up, I immediately bought it, as I wanted one for my small collection, in the state it is in, a holster that started out as German issue, modified by the Norwegians and used until around 1980.

This holster had the main markings on the edge of the back, so that they were not obscured by the web holder that was riveted on.

The maker is DLWP (Deutsche Lederwerkstatten Pirmasens), from Pirmasens, a small town not too far from Karlsruhe. The date is 1940, and the WaA is 416. Being made after 1939, it has the P.08 marking as well.

Norwegian soldiers in the 1970s. Note the P08 holster on the web belt.

The back, the rivetwork can be seen quite well:

The front, pretty standard brown P08 holster:

10-19-2007, 01:07 PM	#1
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Norwegian holster I want to present a somewhat underestimated holster variation here. Many of these holsters have been modified to appear what they are no longer, taking away the interesting history and generally turning them in none of both: The Norwegian holsters. Some of them are even incorrectly identified as 'captured holsters' presuming they were captured and used by the allies during WW2 (which is incorrect). After the Germans surrendered in 1945, the Norwegians took over the army supplies of the former occupation forces. Being quite practical, they equipped their own troops with this equipment. As Norway is a NATO-member, the P08 and holster even received a Nato Stock Number (NSN): 1005-25-102-7195: The Pistol 08, 9mm without accessories. 1005-25-102-7196: The Pistol 08 with accessories (including holster). As the Norwegian army, like most Western-European postwar armies, used the US-style web belt, they modified the holsters accordingly. The leather belt straps were removed and a steel web belt hanger was riveted instead. The Norwegian army used the P08 until around 1980. The Glock was introduced as a replacement and the last guns (P08 and P38) were traded with a Canadian company. These guns were still German in shape, size and markings and found their way onto the Western American collector's market. The holsters were sold to a European surplus dealer and they found their way onto the Western-European market. Many holsters had the web hanger removed, the holes plugged and new leather loops sewn on, creating something of an inbetween version, neither one, nor the other... When an unmodified holster showed up, I immediately bought it, as I wanted one for my small collection, in the state it is in, a holster that started out as German issue, modified by the Norwegians and used until around 1980. This holster had the main markings on the edge of the back, so that they were not obscured by the web holder that was riveted on. The maker is DLWP (Deutsche Lederwerkstatten Pirmasens), from Pirmasens, a small town not too far from Karlsruhe. The date is 1940, and the WaA is 416. Being made after 1939, it has the P.08 marking as well. Norwegian soldiers in the 1970s. Note the P08 holster on the web belt. The back, the rivetwork can be seen quite well: The front, pretty standard brown P08 holster:

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