Holster provenance help

[Don M]

There is a discussion of this outfit (possible rig) on Jan Stillâ??s forum: http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7001.
As discussed there, the holster is accompanied by a 1924-manufactured Luger with Saxon police markings signifying Bautzen and two matching mags numbered 1 and 2 having acceptance stamps of the late 1930s. Whether or not this constitutes a proper â??rigâ?� is debatable (and debated!) because there are no markings to tie it to the pistol & mags. I will appreciate any comments on the possible early history of the holster, including any insights as to whether it may have journeyed 300 miles from Bremerhaven to Bautzen to be used by the police in Saxony. It is brown, police style, converted from military. Iâ??m no expert but there is no evidence it was cut down from a longer-barreled variation.


It was manufactured in Bremen by K. Budde and is undated. Based on its original use as a military holster, I believe it was manufactured in the Imperial era.


There are ink markings on the inside of the cover that appear to predate the conversion to police. Note that the â??F.E.â?� marking is partially covered by the back flange of the closure stud indicating it predates the conversion. There is also the remnant of what may have been a name (â??â?¦nningâ?�) that has been partially erased by removal of some of the leather surface (light area). This seems to predate the â??F.E.â?� mark as the light area extends under a portion of this mark.


Following conversion, the holster was stamped POL.BRH. inside the cover. I know of no documentation identifying this mark but strongly suspect it stands for Polizei Bremerhaven.