1938 Luger - info and appraisal

[DonWallbaum]

Thanks so much, John. Actually have two mags for it.

The holster is not in incredibly good shape (since we ride horses, we know a little bit about leather) so my first impluse was to condition it with Lexol or some other deep conditioner. Good or bad?

The leather isnt cracked, just not supple.

I will post a pic on the holster here for review.

Ummm... don't know what outfit my father was in.. he was tank company commander in Patton's Third Army, but I don't recall if he ever mentioned the division/regiment info.

He arrived in theater late in the war (by careful planning on his part) and had his company in... I want to say Czechoslovakia, though I could be off on that detail. Anyway, he came across a German army... platoon, company... some unit, which was trying to find an American or British unit to surrender to. The alternative would be to surrender to the Russians, and THAT was not in their plans at ALL. I gather the battle that ensued was neither nasty, or brutish, but quite short...non-existant in fact.

Anyway, from that encounter came the Luger.

His war experiences bear more resemblance to "Catch-22" than "Saving Private Ryan" but that is with the hindsight of 60 years, and the benefit of not being in the war personally.

He and my mother stayed in the country for several years after the war, and by all accounts, post-war Germany was QUITE the fun gig...anything could be had for a carton of cigarettes, incredible child care services were available (the nanny for my sister and myself, both born in-country, was part of the Wunderkinder program, and by all accounts incredibly skilled). It is, in short, great to be the victor.

So, WWII has always been an interest of mine, with particular interest in the German armed forces. I would like to know more about the eastern front/Russian battles, but I haven't found a whole lot written on that part of the war. Suggestions?

Don