Opinions on holster, Please!

[Matt Weber]

Just got in this holster from a friend of mine, and wanted to get as many opinions on it as I could for him. Not sure exactly what pistol this holster is for? Nor am I positive that it is even original or not?

Please give me all your imputs.

Here is the info on it:
Black leather softshell, with PL marking on flap. Width of flap is approx. 6.75 inches. Total length of holster is approx. 9.5 inches. There is no magazine pouch, which leads me to believe it is for a Steyr 1912, but the dimensions are too small for this?

Matt

[Matt Weber]

close up of the PL marking.

[Matt Weber]

Reverse of the holster is maker marked. However, there is no date, no proof markings on this. Also notice that there is only a single belt loop, and that it is attached by rivets (three on top and three on bottom). I know of only one German maker that used rivets to attach belt loops, and that was "jhg" (Gustav Genshoc & Co. Alstadt-Hachenburg).

[Matt Weber]

close up of the maker marking.

Maker reads "EIGENTUM der SICHERHEITSWACHE, WIEN".

I know there are several German leather makers in Wien, such as "Karl Budischovsky u. Soehne", however, I have never heard of this maker name before, nor could I find it in any of my reference books?
Has anyone heard, or know of this maker?

[Matt Weber]

Inside the flap there is a very faint ink stamp. I can't make it out at all. Also there is a personalized name inside as well. Again, I can't make out the name.
Looking at the wear inside the holster, it does appear to have had a pistol inside it for some time. However, I can't make out what type of pistol?
Notice that the flap button is covered on the inside by a leather circle.

Also the smell of the holster is very old. Does not have that "new leather" smell. It smells like old leather. Stitching on the holster is black, and appears normal.

Any thoughts guys?

Matt

[Peter Wiking]

Polizei or Luftwaffe holster ?
I wonder about that eagle though.

Cheers.
Peter Wiking

[R_Hessian]

Holster

Matt,
Man, thats a tough one.

Sicherheit wache means roughly "security watch". My first reaction says a post war Austrian "security" type issue much like the post war USA instituted German railroad security manned by the Germans or something.
I suspect the eagle was add'ed and the ink stamp really leaves me cold, I see a faint eagle. This type of stamping goes against the comman style of marking.

The Austrian Wein stamp sure looks like post war style markings! But hey never say never... just my 2 bits!
Robert

Inside the flap there is a very faint ink stamp. I can't make it out at all. Also there is a personalized name inside as well. Again, I can't make out the name.
Looking at the wear inside the holster, it does appear to have had a pistol inside it for some time. However, I can't make out what type of pistol?
Notice that the flap button is covered on the inside by a leather circle.

Also the smell of the holster is very old. Does not have that "new leather" smell. It smells like old leather. Stitching on the holster is black, and appears normal.

Any thoughts guys?

Matt

[Matt Weber]

Robert,

I'm glad you are on the same line as I am. I feel that the holster is good. Looks old, feels old, smells old. The markings are what bother me too! The PL marking looks hokey to me, and the maker marking doesn't seem right either (not to mention I can't find this maker name anywhere?)

The ink stamp inside the holster appears genuine though! It looks old, and most of these ink stamps that I have seen that are faked, usually they look perfect, and are nice and clear. This one looks old, can't read it at all, but look genuine though!?

Do either of you know what type of pistol this holster is for though? That still puzzles me too?!

Matt

[donhulme]

Matt

My trusty computer got on the internet and translated "EIGENTUM der WIEN SICHERHEITSWACHE". It means " Property of the Vienna Security". It was not able to translate SWACHE in the word SICHERHEITSWACHE.
Maybe it helps some.

Don

[Frank De Smedt]

Matt,

here a good link on the Austrian Police
http://members.yline.com/~niesser/SWengl.html

My opinion about your holster/
I'm a little sceptic if I see the type of rivets used on the back, and the knob with is brand new and made of Alu.

Best regards,

FRANK

[Matt Weber]

Just got back from my good friend Charlies'. He is very good holster expert. I showed him this holster, and he knew exactly what it was right away.

It is a post war Austrian police holster for the Browning hi-power.
The PL marking on this holster is fake of course (which is what I thought!)
Also the ink stamp inside the holster is bogus as well.


Thanks alot guys for all of your help with this. It did have me puzzled for a while!

Matt

[CRAIGGOODWIN]

Thought

I had the answer for you Matt, but I see you have worked it out.
Going throught that book you sold me I came upon this
Well at least now you know I read it
Regards
Craig

[Matt Weber]

Here is the thread that I had posted earlier on this holster! As you can see, we determined that this was indeed a Post war Austrian police holster for a Browning hi-power!

As you can see from the dates on the postings, this was posted December 2003.

My memory is fading, but it's still there! Glad I was able to track down this thread, and remember that we had talked about it already.

Case Closed!
Matt