Gnarly Old Holster - Worth a Crap?

snider · 04-21-2011, 08:52 PM

Picked up a nice gun and two mags that came with this holster. Does anybody know if it's worth a thing? The closure strap and buckle have been replaced with a snap. The pullup strap has been replaced and riveted in place. Part of the upper lip of the body may have been trimmed away. Looks like the manufacturer is Stecher, made in 1937 and Waffenamt marked. Can this be repaired? Should it be repaired? Thanks to all who may reply. I enjoy the forum but rarely post.

mrerick · 04-21-2011, 09:37 PM

Hi,

You need to check with Jerry Burney on this forum.

The leather looks reasonably sound with some cracking along the top flap hinge. The modifications are interesting.

An original holster in good unmodified condition is $200-++++

The holes produced by riveting the pullup strap probably cannot be repaired. The closure snap looks like it would fit under a replacement leather closure strap.

Jerry can give you an informed opinion about what can be done and what it would cost to proceed.

A few years ago, I got an artillery holster that had been cut and modified. That one wasn't worth fixing...

Marc

Edward Tinker · 04-22-2011, 05:31 AM

Jerry is moving right now I think, so it will be a couple days for him to get back to Colorado.

The leather appears pretty oil soaked, not much you can do about that, or perhaps just very dirty? It is soft feeling?

It would never be wrong to bring something like this back to original specifications although the hole in the lid would always be there and the snap closure holes too, perhaps hidden by the strap.

I would imagine it would cost $100-$150 to fix, but that is a wild guess (he has to find a donor metal tie down)...

ed

snider · 04-22-2011, 08:33 AM

It is both oily and dirty, but it is soft. I've held off on doing much cleaning. The snap and rivets are out now. I know you can buy 3/4" roller buckles that, although not original, are probably better than (!) snaps. I also imagine that putting a pullup strap back in there is a bear. I already had a nice, similar vintage holster to go with the rig, so this one's now a spare. If I could fix it to be worth more than the fix cost, then I'd do it; otherwise it'll just sit around in a box until I'm gone in 30 years and. . .well, so sad.

And Edward, you're in Iraq? God bless. . .

04-21-2011, 08:52 PM	#1
snider User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lexington, KY, USA Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gnarly Old Holster - Worth a Crap? Picked up a nice gun and two mags that came with this holster. Does anybody know if it's worth a thing? The closure strap and buckle have been replaced with a snap. The pullup strap has been replaced and riveted in place. Part of the upper lip of the body may have been trimmed away. Looks like the manufacturer is Stecher, made in 1937 and Waffenamt marked. Can this be repaired? Should it be repaired? Thanks to all who may reply. I enjoy the forum but rarely post. Attached Thumbnails

04-21-2011, 09:37 PM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Hi, You need to check with Jerry Burney on this forum. The leather looks reasonably sound with some cracking along the top flap hinge. The modifications are interesting. An original holster in good unmodified condition is $200-++++ The holes produced by riveting the pullup strap probably cannot be repaired. The closure snap looks like it would fit under a replacement leather closure strap. Jerry can give you an informed opinion about what can be done and what it would cost to proceed. A few years ago, I got an artillery holster that had been cut and modified. That one wasn't worth fixing... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

04-22-2011, 05:31 AM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,910 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	Jerry is moving right now I think, so it will be a couple days for him to get back to Colorado. The leather appears pretty oil soaked, not much you can do about that, or perhaps just very dirty? It is soft feeling? It would never be wrong to bring something like this back to original specifications although the hole in the lid would always be there and the snap closure holes too, perhaps hidden by the strap. I would imagine it would cost $100-$150 to fix, but that is a wild guess (he has to find a donor metal tie down)... ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-22-2011, 08:33 AM	#4
snider User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lexington, KY, USA Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It is both oily and dirty, but it is soft. I've held off on doing much cleaning. The snap and rivets are out now. I know you can buy 3/4" roller buckles that, although not original, are probably better than (!) snaps. I also imagine that putting a pullup strap back in there is a bear. I already had a nice, similar vintage holster to go with the rig, so this one's now a spare. If I could fix it to be worth more than the fix cost, then I'd do it; otherwise it'll just sit around in a box until I'm gone in 30 years and. . .well, so sad. And Edward, you're in Iraq? God bless. . .