P38 Holster.

[Jacob Andreasen]

Hello!
I just found this P38 softshell holster the other day. It's marked bla 1944 WAa?59 and P38.

But why is the closing strap going from down to up like ond the Browning HP holster, and not up to down??
Is it some kind of police issue??

/Glasmanden

[Scott H]

P-38

I have one exactly like it only in un-issued condition. I purchased mine from Stewart's Militaria. Larry Stewart told me the were mostly issued to civilian police but other branches also received them too. I hope this gave you a little insight.

[Jacob Andreasen]

Anyone else

[leondes]

I have several softshells that have the upward closure in brown and black. That type closure is typically referred to as a "police" style closure but your holster, with the waffenamt stamp on the back, is obviously a military inspected item. If it was a police holster there would likely be an Eagle/B stamp instead of the waffenamt stamp.

The hardshell police holsters DO all have the upward closure and I have never seen a German military hardshell with the upward closure. I do have a commercial P.38 hardshell that has the upward closure and the Swedish HP P.38 holsters also had the upward closure.

I have never heard of a reason that some of the military softshell holsters have that upward closure. It is somewhat scarce and a good find. I have always liked those.

Regards, Leon

[Jacob Andreasen]

Thanks

/Glasmanden

[leondes]

Here is a link to pictures of one of my brown examples.

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

Regards, Leon

[Peter Wiking]

leondes.
That is a truly nice holster you show on that site. Must be very rare.

Cheers.
Peter Wiking<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_457072", true); </SCRIPT>

[Zach]

Very nice site, Leon. I especially liked the 1915 Colt .45 1911.

[leondes]

Thanks for the compliments.

The brown holster came out of a long time collection and I was able to obtain it about 3 years ago. The leather creaks when you open the flap. Amazing condition. I showed it to Warren Buxton and he said it was the best condition brown soft shell that he had ever seen. The previous owner decided to put his money into model trains.

The NRA 1915 M1911 was sold less than a year ago to a Colt collector. I have retired and have started to sell my collection as part of my retirement strategy. That was a great gun that I owned for about 10 years and was proud to have had it.

Best regards to you both...Leon

[Matt Weber]

I agree with Leon here. It appears to be a police holster, by the location of the stud, and positioning of the closure strap. However, the "eagle/WaA159" would definately indicate military issue.

I have a P38 holster by this same maker, and year, however, it has the traditional military closure strap and stud position.
I believe your holster probably was made for police use, but somehow got issued to the army instead.
Very rare, and a good find!

Matt