Holster Rivets

wlyon · 10-27-2009, 02:43 PM

It seems that we see a lot of holsters which have the belt straps replaced via rivets. Was this ever a field repair by the Germans or all after the war in the States? All I have owned or seen seem to be pretty identical as far as rivet size etc. Bill

Edward Tinker · 10-27-2009, 03:09 PM

Bill, the ones that i have seen usually appear to be a period police repair. Unknown about army things...

Ed

Ron Smith · 10-27-2009, 03:36 PM

Bill,

I think that it was a common field repair. I've seen and had several with the same type of rivets. I doubt they would be similar rivets if done here. They are usually the flat headed hollow steel variety.

Ron

lugerholsterrepair · 10-27-2009, 06:48 PM

Bill, You have to concentrate on era's when talking rivets. They are relatively common on many WW1 leather items, not so much as repairs but items made with them. They were so common on leather items I think they were used extensively for repairs because that's what Saddlers had and since it was quick and easy...that's what they used.
In the WW2 era there were different rivets. They changed from the solid rivet to the hollow rivet. I say changed but you will find the use of the solid rivet still into the mid 40's.
Then there is the Norwegian conversion rivet. I have seen these mostly in hard nickle steel and also aluminum. Generally a larger rivet than some of the German types. These might have come from the U.S. like the G.I. belt hangers but that's speculative.
I have restitched hundreds of belt loops and it is relatively quick and easy to do. The holes are already there, they have to be cleaned out and ...restitched properly takes a short while. I have to suppose for the unskilled Saddler a rivet would be faster.
I don't see that many belt loops fixed with rivets but I have seen some.

Jerry Burney

automan1 · 10-27-2009, 07:34 PM

Jerry,

I've attached 4 photos of a holster belt loops with rivets

Bill

lugerholsterrepair · 10-27-2009, 08:06 PM

Bill, This is an example of a holster that was made (adding belt loops) using rivets...A conversion..not necessarily a repair..or was it? You will notice there are no stitching holes between the rivets. There were previous stitched on belt loops though.
Nice example! Been there!

Jerry Burney

FNorm · 10-27-2009, 08:14 PM

Maybe to change the angle of the holster hang? e.g. Switching from the left side with a cross draw, to a straight right side hang.

Fn

Ron Wood · 10-28-2009, 10:09 AM

I don't see any evidence of a cleaning rod pouch being removed, but it sure looks like a converted arty holster as I think I see where the stock block was removed from the back of the holster...or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

lugerholsterrepair · 10-28-2009, 10:57 AM

Ron..No, your eyes are fine. Indeed a converted Artillery holster. A magazine pouch has been installed..unusual. The angle of the holster does not present itself well enough to see the stitching below the mag pouch. If it were turned a tad to the left the stitching line would appear.
There is a block of stitching on the rear and below that you see the line of stitching that holds the lifting strap.

Fred..hard to say. This holster has seen many moons of service.

Jerry Burney

alanint · 10-28-2009, 01:13 PM

So, an Arti holster cut down to fit a 6" barreled gun?

automan1 · 10-28-2009, 03:09 PM

Ron & Jerry,

Yes, you both are correct it is indeed a arty holster converted.

If the weather was better I would take a picture of the side with the mag pouch.

Bill

klaus 3338 · 10-29-2009, 01:49 AM

In 25 years I found only one holster with the rivets in Germany. It was a 1934 dated Ackva holster. I think it came from the USA.

Vlim · 10-29-2009, 06:38 AM

I'm thinking 'Interarms'. They refurbished a lot of surplus stuff. Riviting failing belt loops would have been an easy fix.

10-27-2009, 02:43 PM	#1
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,655 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 2,619 Times in 971 Posts	Holster Rivets It seems that we see a lot of holsters which have the belt straps replaced via rivets. Was this ever a field repair by the Germans or all after the war in the States? All I have owned or seen seem to be pretty identical as far as rivet size etc. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

10-27-2009, 03:36 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Bill, I think that it was a common field repair. I've seen and had several with the same type of rivets. I doubt they would be similar rivets if done here. They are usually the flat headed hollow steel variety. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

10-27-2009, 06:48 PM	#4
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	Bill, You have to concentrate on era's when talking rivets. They are relatively common on many WW1 leather items, not so much as repairs but items made with them. They were so common on leather items I think they were used extensively for repairs because that's what Saddlers had and since it was quick and easy...that's what they used. In the WW2 era there were different rivets. They changed from the solid rivet to the hollow rivet. I say changed but you will find the use of the solid rivet still into the mid 40's. Then there is the Norwegian conversion rivet. I have seen these mostly in hard nickle steel and also aluminum. Generally a larger rivet than some of the German types. These might have come from the U.S. like the G.I. belt hangers but that's speculative. I have restitched hundreds of belt loops and it is relatively quick and easy to do. The holes are already there, they have to be cleaned out and ...restitched properly takes a short while. I have to suppose for the unskilled Saddler a rivet would be faster. I don't see that many belt loops fixed with rivets but I have seen some. 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."

10-27-2009, 07:34 PM	#5
automan1 RIP Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA - USA Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Jerry, I've attached 4 photos of a holster belt loops with rivets Bill Attached Thumbnails

10-27-2009, 08:06 PM	#6
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	Bill, This is an example of a holster that was made (adding belt loops) using rivets...A conversion..not necessarily a repair..or was it? You will notice there are no stitching holes between the rivets. There were previous stitched on belt loops though. Nice example! Been there! 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."

10-27-2009, 03:09 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Bill, the ones that i have seen usually appear to be a period police repair. Unknown about army things... Ed

10-27-2009, 08:14 PM	#7
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	Maybe to change the angle of the holster hang? e.g. Switching from the left side with a cross draw, to a straight right side hang. Fn

10-28-2009, 10:09 AM	#8
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	I don't see any evidence of a cleaning rod pouch being removed, but it sure looks like a converted arty holster as I think I see where the stock block was removed from the back of the holster...or are my eyes playing tricks on me? __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-28-2009, 10:57 AM	#9
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	Ron..No, your eyes are fine. Indeed a converted Artillery holster. A magazine pouch has been installed..unusual. The angle of the holster does not present itself well enough to see the stitching below the mag pouch. If it were turned a tad to the left the stitching line would appear. There is a block of stitching on the rear and below that you see the line of stitching that holds the lifting strap. Fred..hard to say. This holster has seen many moons of service. 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."

10-28-2009, 01:13 PM	#10
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	So, an Arti holster cut down to fit a 6" barreled gun?

10-28-2009, 03:09 PM	#11
automan1 RIP Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA - USA Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Ron & Jerry, Yes, you both are correct it is indeed a arty holster converted. If the weather was better I would take a picture of the side with the mag pouch. Bill

10-29-2009, 01:49 AM	#12
klaus 3338 User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 519 Thanks: 0 Thanked 417 Times in 162 Posts	In 25 years I found only one holster with the rivets in Germany. It was a 1934 dated Ackva holster. I think it came from the USA.

10-29-2009, 06:38 AM	#13
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	I'm thinking 'Interarms'. They refurbished a lot of surplus stuff. Riviting failing belt loops would have been an easy fix.