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P-38 holster Too MINTY to be real???

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    P-38 holster Too MINTY to be real???

    Hello, I recently got a few other leather items Also in minty condition.

    The P-38 holster looks like UNISSUED since it has zero wear on it at all.

    It is marked gxy 1943 and has an eagle an WaA 185 stamp along with the big P-38

    Also is a minty map case that also looks like it was used very little. The only evidence I can see that it was used at all is the wear on the strap when it was used in the buckle.. but that is it.

    I wanted to get some comments on these before I put then in the For Sale section.


    Thanks for any and all comments good or bad.
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    #2
    1
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      #3
      When you open the flap it still "CREAKS"..
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        #4
        back
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          #5
          stamps
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            #6
            WaA 185
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              #7
              The guts of the holster.. Looks like nothing has even been in it.
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                #8
                Hi,

                I am pretty certain that your P.38 holster is a reproduction. It just looks too new. The acid test is to sniff the inside of the holster. If it smells like new shoes or a new leather jacket, it is a repro. They used a different tanning process during the war and the holsters made during that period do not smell like new leather.

                Regards, Leon

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                  #9
                  Hi, I thought of that as well... and took a few good wiffs of it.

                  It does have a very light leather smell. IMO, not a new leather smell.

                  You saw the map case that came with this same collection.. Is that a repro as well? It too has a very light leather smell to it.

                  I recently got a new leather jacket last year and it still smells like new leather still today.

                  This doesnt have that pungent odor of new leather. What else ya got to test it?

                  Has anyone see a repro of this extreme high quality? with all the proper stamps?

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                    #10
                    Hello again,

                    I did a search on repro holsters and DUH!! hit it with a black light on the stitching

                    Well, I grabbed the Map Case (99% think its original) and some K98 pouches that I KNOW are original.

                    Hit them all with the black light and they were all the same.. No big POP of neon like I have seen in other repo stitching.

                    All it had was a soft glow with a yellowish tint to them.

                    I am more confidient that this is a minty original holster.

                    Any other things to try?

                    thanks

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                      #11
                      Put a P-38 in it. The reproductions are a tad large so it will swim around a little. I don't think that will happen though. All of the construction looks correct, the leather is spot on and has an aged patina to it. If the two items had been in a well made desk drawer and rarely opened they would look like that.

                      I think they are both good.

                      Cheers
                      Gary

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                        #12
                        Some of the repro makers are using cotton thread so you can't hang your hat on that.

                        The stitching on your holster looks way too white from what I've seen. Also, the WaA for gxy should be 706. The WaA numbers look too curved under the circle and the maker code appears to be different than what I have seen.

                        Here is a link to pictures of a soft shell 1943 gxy holster. The stampings should be virtually identical to your holster.

                        http://lmd-militaria.com/page345.html

                        If I had your holster in hand, I could tell if it was, for sure, a repro.

                        I have no opinion on the map case. Sorry.

                        Regards, Leon

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                          #13
                          Hello,

                          Yes you are right. It should be 706 instead of 185 which I think is Karl Böcker Waldbröhl. Why dont they match.. I have no idea.

                          Back to the question of orginality. I have had in hand the repros that IMA is selling and others here and there. The quality against this one and other proven original is no where close. This is NOT a $50 IMA holster.. that I know for a fact.

                          Do you agree?

                          What are we speaking of in numbers. Decent repro are 50-100.. worn originals are 150-225ish.. nicer ones a bit more.

                          If original this would be... what 350...450...more if the right condition collector wanted it bad enough.


                          Id like to see a repro of this quality?

                          From the few PMs asking me to sell it I dont think too many folks are hung up on the 185.

                          Other than the WaA number nothing here tells me its a repro.. If there another way to test or inspect pls let me know.

                          I dont want to sell something down the road unless Im sure its OK..

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                            #14
                            To start with Leon is pretty much an expert on holsters and I would have to agree with his opinion on your holster. One thing he did not mention is that if you look at the closure strap on your holster you will see a border like impression that goes from the stitching to the point of the strap. This is not seen on original holsters. It should be a plain piece of leather. The stamping of the maker and waffenamts on your holster look to crisp, they should have given out a some after all the years . A 65 + year old holster would show some kind of patina even if it was kept in a desk drawer, hat box or whatever it may have been stored in. Frank v.

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                              #15
                              Hello,
                              I say repro.....If anyone cares
                              Cheers,
                              J
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