LW Luger Holster with P38 stamped ?

[Joseph Wu]

Hello,

What's your opnion about this LW Luger holster? A mis-stamped one or a fantacy?



Regards,

Joseph

[Gene]

Very odd piece. . . looks like an otherwise nice P.08 holster yet it's stamped P.38, and that eagle looks very symmetrical too. I'd give it a thumbs down based on these two points.

[GWA]

Weren't all WWII period Luger holsters with black enamel painted buckles? Is the magazine pouch modified with a diagonal cut to accomodate the P38 magazine? I have a P08 holster that was thus modified at the maker's shop.

[leondes]

Hi,

I believe your holster is a reproduction. The leather doesn't look right, the stamps don't look right, a P.08 tool pouch on a P.38 holster???? There was no need for a loading tool for a P.38, only P.08s.

This is just my observation. To check further, open the flap and sniff the inside of the holster. If it smells like new shoe leather, it is modern manufacture. The tanning processes have changed over the years so the WWII holsters don't smell like today's leather.

Also, I have never seen a Luftwaffe eagle on a front flap like that one. Lots of red flags on that holster.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Leon

[P08]

Doesn't it say: Karl Böcker, 1989, Waldmol...?

Perhaps someone knows what that means?

[leondes]

Hi P08,

It does say Karl Bocker, 1939 and appears to be Waldbrol. It should be Waldbrohl. According to Bender's book on WWII holsters, the WaA numbers used in the Bocker plant were 193 and 195. The number on the back of the holster in question appears to be 727. If it is 727, that was the WaA number for Gustav Genschow & Co AG (Geco).

Karl Bocker is the manufacturer, 1939 is the date of manufacture and Waldbrol (sic) is the city in which Bocker was located.

I recently observed a holster on another forum that was a fake and had the correct WaA number so some do their research.

Hope this helps you.

Regards, Leon

[GWA]

Does anyone know where I can find a stamp like that used to put the LW property mark on the holster flap? I have a LW marked 12 gauge Merkel O/U shotgun that some goober put a new butt stock on. Merkel USA told me they can replace the butt stock with an exact copy of the original including sling swivel. Obviously Merkel will not replace the missing LW property cartouche.