Is this holster a repro????

USMC · 11-11-2003, 09:40 AM

I'm looking to purchase a supposably "original" WWI/WWII Luger holster. It is all black and has no visable markings, and the stitching is good.

Was it common for these holsters to not have any markings, or should there be some sort of mark?

Thanks,
USMC

Navy · 11-11-2003, 10:26 AM

A completely unmarked black holster is *not* very common. This is not to say that it a re-pop, but one seldom encounters such items that aren't.

It may,might, just possibly could be a commercially made, private purchase holster.

A good way to determine relative age is the old sniff test...old leather luger holsters should have a very strong musty smell with the scent of pipe tobacco present..unless, of course, the original user was a non-smoker, which would be very rare during the period 1914-1945 in Europe.

Hope this helps.

Tom A.

Doubs · 11-11-2003, 12:11 PM

USMC, I have a black, unmarked Luger holster that was purchased in about 1956 - give or take a year or two - with a Mauser Luger in it. It is not a repro. There is a copper rivet repair to one of the belt loops that was likely done in the field. I've always thought that it was a commercial holster. The quality is quite high.

lugerholsterrepair · 11-11-2003, 05:54 PM

USMC, Marks alone will tell you nothing and might mislead you to believe it is something it may not be.

As Tom says the smell test is a good indicator but only one of many. As with any antiquity it is important to know what you are looking for. There are charecteristics that cannot be faked and you must know what these are to determine authenticity.

If you have access to Jan Still's wonderful books, there are four of them, you can take a good look at original holsters. Bender's book, Luger Holsters and Accesories will also show you some of the finer details. Look at both the front and the back. In particular the stitching patterns on the back.

Repro holsters are generally made with little attention to detail and after close inspection it will immediately become obvious that the details will be absent. The thread used on repro's is mostly cotton or synthetic. The Germans used only linen and it is corded if you look closely. The cotton will be fuzzy and the synthetic will be tight and shiney.

Often on repro holsters I have noticed the closure buckles are made of a smaller diameter wire than originals.

If you get a chance to hold an original in your hands look it over , inside and out. Vintage original holsters quality will stand out every time. Jerry Burney

Lugerdoc · 11-12-2003, 08:48 AM

USMC, The only repro holster that I'm aware of that sometimes fools even the experts, is one made in the 1970s in Germany for the 4" barrelled Mauser Parabellum. It is of the Police type "pull down" strap closure. TH

11-11-2003, 09:40 AM	#1
USMC User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: APG, Maryland Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is this holster a repro???? I'm looking to purchase a supposably "original" WWI/WWII Luger holster. It is all black and has no visable markings, and the stitching is good. Was it common for these holsters to not have any markings, or should there be some sort of mark? Thanks, USMC __________________ "We have been looking for the enemy for several days now. We found them....were surrounded! This simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them!

11-11-2003, 05:54 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,770 Thanks: 4,907 Thanked 3,122 Times in 1,433 Posts	USMC, Marks alone will tell you nothing and might mislead you to believe it is something it may not be. As Tom says the smell test is a good indicator but only one of many. As with any antiquity it is important to know what you are looking for. There are charecteristics that cannot be faked and you must know what these are to determine authenticity. If you have access to Jan Still's wonderful books, there are four of them, you can take a good look at original holsters. Bender's book, Luger Holsters and Accesories will also show you some of the finer details. Look at both the front and the back. In particular the stitching patterns on the back. Repro holsters are generally made with little attention to detail and after close inspection it will immediately become obvious that the details will be absent. The thread used on repro's is mostly cotton or synthetic. The Germans used only linen and it is corded if you look closely. The cotton will be fuzzy and the synthetic will be tight and shiney. Often on repro holsters I have noticed the closure buckles are made of a smaller diameter wire than originals. If you get a chance to hold an original in your hands look it over , inside and out. Vintage original holsters quality will stand out every time. 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."

11-12-2003, 08:48 AM	#5
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	USMC, The only repro holster that I'm aware of that sometimes fools even the experts, is one made in the 1970s in Germany for the 4" barrelled Mauser Parabellum. It is of the Police type "pull down" strap closure. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

11-11-2003, 10:26 AM	#2
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	A completely unmarked black holster is not very common. This is not to say that it a re-pop, but one seldom encounters such items that aren't. It may,might, just possibly could be a commercially made, private purchase holster. A good way to determine relative age is the old sniff test...old leather luger holsters should have a very strong musty smell with the scent of pipe tobacco present..unless, of course, the original user was a non-smoker, which would be very rare during the period 1914-1945 in Europe. Hope this helps. Tom A.

11-11-2003, 12:11 PM	#3
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,694 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,676 Times in 550 Posts	USMC, I have a black, unmarked Luger holster that was purchased in about 1956 - give or take a year or two - with a Mauser Luger in it. It is not a repro. There is a copper rivet repair to one of the belt loops that was likely done in the field. I've always thought that it was a commercial holster. The quality is quite high.