Two nice pistols out of the woodwork

[rajko84]

2

[ValhallaMilitaria]

What is up with the bulges in that brown Luger holster? looks weird, was there a P-38 stuffed into it?

[rajko84]

It was Luger in it. But they were moving stuff around.

[Alan Smith]

Rajko: The dark black finished P.08 loading tool (w/ serrations on underside of the part where you put your thumb to depress it) is East German. Made in the 1950's - 1960's at the Ernst Thalmann Werke in Suhl (i.e. the former Haenel factory). I believe that the break-away type holster (made of pigskin) that contained the E. German loading tool is also of East German production.

If the estate was from a WWII U.S. vet, he must have collected/gathered firearms and military items post-war. Because the East German items were virtually unheard of here in the U.S. until c. 1989/1990 when the Com-Block fell apart, I suspect the WWII vet was actively acquiring things up through the 1990's when the East German stuff became very common on the surplus market, including East German P.08, holsters, tools, spare mags (marked "1001" and made on the former Haenel machinery), etc.

The other Luger tool you showed (w/ crown proof on it) is a common WWI German issue tool . . . . assumed by collectors to be associated with P.08 production from the Erfurt arsenal. This assumption is based on the fact that Erfurt proofed virtually every part of its P.08 production, so therefore it presumably proofed its loading tools (all in contrast to the very limited number of proof/acceptance marks found on DWM Luger production from WWI).

Are there any other loading tools in the holsters? Photos?

[rajko84]

Thank you Alan. No more tools in them. That would explain why I never saw black one before

Rajko: The dark black finished P.08 loading tool (w/ serrations on underside of the part where you put your thumb to depress it) is East German. Made in the 1950's - 1960's at the Ernst Thalmann Werke in Suhl (i.e. the former Haenel factory). I believe that the break-away type holster (made of pigskin) that contained the E. German loading tool is also of East German production.

If the estate was from a WWII U.S. vet, he must have collected/gathered firearms and military items post-war. Because the East German items were virtually unheard of here in the U.S. until c. 1989/1990 when the Com-Block fell apart, I suspect the WWII vet was actively acquiring things up through the 1990's when the East German stuff became very common on the surplus market, including East German P.08, holsters, tools, spare mags (marked "1001" and made on the former Haenel machinery), etc.

The other Luger tool you showed (w/ crown proof on it) is a common WWI German issue tool . . . . assumed by collectors to be associated with P.08 production from the Erfurt arsenal. This assumption is based on the fact that Erfurt proofed virtually every part of its P.08 production, so therefore it presumably proofed its loading tools (all in contrast to the very limited number of proof/acceptance marks found on DWM Luger production from WWI).

Are there any other loading tools in the holsters? Photos?

[Gene]

Outstanding! Well done

[helmetbuyers]

Awesome find!

Obviously keep their number and call them in a month or two.

I feel it's harder to get guns out of people right now due to the pandemic, and perhaps they are thinking in terms of home defense vs collectibility. Gun shows in my area are all being canceled.

I bought recently 9 mm and .45 ammo for guns I would not have considered ever shooting. But, just in case.

Robert

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Good advice below, I have called people back after a year or so to find them suddenly willing to part with things that they had insisted on keeping.

[rajko84]

Awesome find!

Obviously keep their number and call them in a month or two.

I feel it's harder to get guns out of people right now due to the pandemic, and perhaps they are thinking in terms of home defense vs collectibility. Gun shows in my area are all being canceled.

I bought recently 9 mm and .45 ammo for guns I would not have considered ever shooting. But, just in case.

Robert

True. I did that before and was able to buy stuff from the family

[helmetbuyers]

Just curious.... what is this piece?

Looks German? Key chain? Again... super nice find. Robert

[rajko84]

They cut out the coin

[helmetbuyers]

Way cool coin.

I also love that Polish eagle. I think that helmet looks out of place and needs a new home in my collection. Robert

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Agree on the coin, very cool.

[ChrisCook]

Pistols

Those are super nice!!!!! Love the AC40! Maybe suggest to them that if they buy modern defensive handguns you would reimburse the cost of those plus some in exchange for more of the collectible pistols....of course, they have to buy and they have to do all the legwork, and it's their firearms, so as not to be even remotely considered a straw purchase, but if they were keeping pistols for the pandemic or home defense a modern semiauto with a high capacity clips and modern features would be the way to go....I keep waiting for collectibles to start working their way to the market, but I've seen a huge increase in prices for private party ammo and assault weapons sales... I'm envious of the AC40! Chris....