Pistols/Holsters in use!

[Matt Weber]

I thought I would start a thread on some wartime photos of pistols/holsters actually being worn or used in action.

Here is one I just obtained recently. It is a very nice original photo showing a German army NCO ( I believe? tough to make out rank? If I'm wrong, please correct me on this?)
On his belt is a nice shot of a Luger holster being worn!

What really makes this photo special, is the second photo I got with the lot. It is a post war phot taken a Christmas, and on the far right is the same guy!! It appears in the photo that he has become a new father after the war.

Very cool to have two photos of the same soldier.

Please post up any photos you have of pistols/holsters being worn.

Matt

[Matt Weber]

2nd photo

[Matt Weber]

Close up of the first photo. You can clearly tell by his face that this is the same guy!

[Matt Weber]

Close up of 2nd photo.

[Douglas Jr.]

Very nice idea Matt!
Let me check what I got here...

Douglas

[Douglas Jr.]

One to start:
Members from the 9. Kompagnie, Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 122 armed with Lugers and combat knives. The date on the back is April 30th, 1917... you gotta love this photo.

[Douglas Jr.]

Here is another: Detachement Probstmayr, formed 5 apr 1919 at Donauwörth (later used to form Reichswehr-Brigade 23). Besides the Luger holster there are some holster for pocket pistols (Dreyses? Mausers M1914? Walthers M4? who knows?).

[GerColctor]

Doug

Hope the 2 guys standing in the back row holding the Lugers in the 1917 photo didn't have an accidental discharge. Just look where those pistols are pointed.

Great photo

Joe

[Matt Weber]

Douglas,

That first photo is awesome! Lots of nice lugers, and holsters visible! I like the two guys on the ends holding their trench knives too!

Joe, you can definately see that there fingers are off the triggers in the photo. So these are well trained, soldiers.

Matt

[Douglas Jr.]

I'm glad you liked. I enjoyed a lot this kind of picture but its prices are sky-rocketing lately.
As no one else is posting (c'mon folks!), here is another couple of pictures...

#1 - Bavarian NCO, Heinrich Reuss, 4. Batterie - 33rd Reserve Division. The postcard is dated from March, 1915. I guess there weren't many KII around at that time. Oh, the most important detail: the Luger holster.

[Douglas Jr.]

#2 - soldier from the 189. Infanterie Regiment. Created as part od the 187. Infanterie Division in June, 1916, this unit fought both in the East (Rumania) and in France before demobilizing in November 1918. Please note the Mauser C96 holster stock hanging from his belt.

[GerColctor]

Matt

I saw where their fingers were. That position must be the result of good training and experience gained in the field. Notice these two guys who are holding the Lugers have IC II ribbons.

Joe

[MG34NZ]

Heres a studio portrait of a young soldier from my collection,looking a bit like a scared rabbit...sporting a broomhandle Mauser, A gift from relatives possiably?
MG34NZ

[Douglas Jr.]

Nice picture! Thanks for sharing.
Not necessarly a "gift": Mauser did 150,000 guns chambered to 9mm to suplly the German Imperial Army. These guns are what we call now "Red Nines".

Besides that, thousands of commercial C96s were pressed into military service during the war. These are in 7,63mm caliber and bears an military acceptance proof on the right side of the receiver.

Douglas

[MG34NZ]

Nice picture! Thanks for sharing.
Not necessarly a "gift": Mauser did 150,000 guns chambered to 9mm to suplly the German Imperial Army. These guns are what we call now "Red Nines".

Besides that, thousands of commercial C96s were pressed into military service during the war. These are in 7,63mm caliber and bears an military acceptance proof on the right side of the receiver.

Douglas

Glad you like it Douglas, The reason I assume it may have been a gift was that the guy appears to be a very young private and I wouldnt have concidered the mauser an item that would have ben issued to such a raw recruit , as I said this is just my assumption and Im very open to correction.
Im aware the "Red Nines"were issued sadly the picture dosnt show enough detail to confirm if this is indeed a 9mm. Pardon my ignorance but were these issued as a stop gap item a bit like the old comission rifles and such that the Landstrum are so often pictured with?

Regards
MG34NZ