Holsters

Several Luger authors through the years have written extensively on the Swiss testing of the 20 pre-production 1899 Borchardt-Lugers. They were provided by Georg Luger to the Swiss authorities in October/November 1899, prior to its ultimate adoption by the Swiss military in April 1901. There was no mention of holsters for these 20 Borchardt-Lugers by the various authors nor is there any information in the Bern Archives. The existence of these holsters surfaced in an excellent detailed article titled "From Borchardt to Parabellum - An Anglo-Swiss Connection" by Dr. G.L. Sturgess, published in Volume 2, No. 9, 1996 issue of the Journal of the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association. In the article, there was a photo of pre-production Borchardt-Luger serial number 30 with the following caption; "British trials pistol sn 30, identical to and in similarly original M1899/1900 configuration as sn 26, with its original issue trials holster and (Borchardt) cleaning rod." Except for the Borchardt-Luger serial number 30 trials holster no other Borchardt-Luger trials holster has been identified until now.

The following is a description and discussion of an extremely rare 1899 pre-production black leather Borchardt-Luger original issue Swiss test trials holster with C93 Borchardt style cleaning rod. As of this writing, this holster is 104 years old and has been in Switzerland since 1899. The condition of the holster is fair, showing extensive use with significant front surface holster body epidermis flaking or loss, however all the stitching is intact. The balance of the holster surface, including the flap epidermis is intact but cracking. A stylized number 5 is located in the top area holster body backing and can be seen with the holster flap raised and is probably an inventory number and not prototype Borchardt-Luger sn 5. BL5 has a 5.5" (142mm) barrel length, whereas the subject holster is for a 4-3/4" (120mm) barrel pre-production Borchardt-Luger. There are no other numbers, letters or marks. There is an impression of the flat checkered thumb safety hatching pattern on the inside holster body, evidence of extensive long-term storage of a Borchardt-Luger. The holster, even when new was not exceptionally sturdy and weighs a light 5.5 Oz (156g) vs. 6.62 Oz (178g) or 12% less weight of a similar style 1904 dated production typical Swiss Ordnance holster. The leather thickness of the holster body and flap is very thin, an example being the 1.50mm thick teardrop slit closure style pointed holster flap, which is secured to the holster body by a brass stud and slit. The holster body thickness is 2.4-2.8mm. The stitching pattern and thread used is similar to the C93 Borchardt board/stock leather sheath. There is no pouch sewn in the flap underside for a combination screwdriver tool, as the tool wasn't yet created. The holster backside has a rather fragile, small 30 mm wide x 45mm long x 1.5mm thick belt loop attached at a slight angle.

On the forward spine is an attached cleaning rod pouch and cover flap with brass stud and slit closure. Interestingly, the cleaning rod supplied is a shortened hybrid, three piece sectionalized C93 Borchardt, all brass cleaning rod. The shaft was shortened by leaving out the center section shaft for the 4-3/4" barrel Borchardt-Luger, of which the two connecting shaft sections of the cleaning rod have 2.5mm diameter holes placed radially in the two sections. Inserting a 2.5mm diameter x 55mm long steel shaft with rounded ends, stored in the center of the tubular first section shaft piece, into the transversely placed holes acts as a handle to tighten the sections together. The assembled cleaning rod is very difficult to insert in the pouch due to the restrictive construction of the cover flap, which has to be pulled up severely to allow a straight-line entrance for the 200mm length cleaning rod shaft. The undeniable resemblance of the cleaning rod to the C93 Borchardt cleaning rod and the similarity of manufacture of the Swiss test trials holsters and the C93 Borchardt board stock leather sheath strongly suggests that the test trials holsters were made in Berlin and were apparently hastily fabricated by DWM to be supplied with at least, some of the 20 Borchardt-Lugers submitted to the Swiss for the October-November 1899 Swiss troop trials. The appearance and use of this particular, longer than necessary cleaning rod is of an interim nature, hurriedly put together with in stock C93 Borchardt parts. It is unique to the 1899 Swiss test trials holsters. The production M1900 and later, more rugged leather constructed Swiss manufactured ordnance holsters have no provision for a cleaning rod. The Swiss preferred to use a Swiss design and manufactured screwdriver cleaning rod combination kit called a "Putzzeug".
 

The second holster is also dark brown and is mostly the same as the above holster with the following significant exceptions. There is no tool and pin punch pouch under the holster flap and there is no cleaning rod pouch stitched to the holster body spine, only a spare magazine pouch and the body lacks a leather strap for removing the pistol. The stitching is a bit coarser and a single stitching line is used on the top of the holster flap where a double stitch line is used in the first example. There are no piping borders or any stampings or marks whatsoever. The bucket style holster flap of the second example is stitched at the upper forward spine edge whereas the first example holster flap is a formed piece or leather at both corners. The back of the P.08 commercial holster is a single piece of leather being part of the magazine pouch back as well. The P.08 Commercial-Military holster back is separate from the magazine pouch. The magazine pouch and cleaning rod pouch are sewn onto the leading edge of the holster.

Regarding the first example holster cited, some Imperial German officers were required to purchase their P.08 Luger pistols and holsters. The holsters were probably purchased privately which may explain the lack of a maker and date stamp. The 1st example holster generally does not have any military proofs or stamps yet are military issue and shouldn't be considered commercial, however a commercial, no date stamped P.08 Luger without the hold open device would be proper for this holster.

The second example holster is clearly a P.08 style commercial holster of German manufacture of unidentified origins. It deviates from the military issue, as it doesn't comply with the accepted P.08 holster military pattern, lacking the loading tool/pin pouch and cleaning rod pouch. The holster more than likely is pre WWI and would be appropriate for a P.08 commercial or possibly a 1906 new model grip safety 4" 9mm Luger, which were manufactured up to 1914.

L67 LZA, L.Z.A. Found on pre-1918 PT.08, above a distinctive three-quarter displayed eagle clasping a sheaf of thunderbolts; significance uncertain. Several explanations have been forwarded for this mark, which is accompanied by a variety of stampings such as J. ERFURT. Disallowing unjustifiable explanations such as ‘Landespolizei-Zollamt Customs’, two remain: Landeszeugämter (Provincial Armories) and Leder-Zuweisungs-Amt der Kriegsrohstoff-Abteilung. The latter which is preferable, represents the ‘leather supply office of the war raw materials department’; this, it is assumed, supplied leather for completion by minor saddlers. Whether the leather was finished and pre-cut is debatable, though some holsters have been found on which the parts have been partly covered by the holster closing-strap. Known ‘LZA’ marks include ‘J.Erfurt’, ‘J.Barmen’ and ‘J.Breslau’; ‘H.Hamburg’ and ‘H.Strassburg’; and ‘Berlin. C.’, ‘Hannover’ and ‘Karlsruhe’’ without prefixes. The prefix ‘J’ probably represents ‘in’ (‘J’ being a regular substitute for ‘I’). However, ‘H’ remains a mystery; ‘Hauptamt’ is a plausible suggestion, on the basis that both Hamburg and Strassbourg were large towns. (ibid, P. 157)

Shown in Figure G1 and referred to in IMPERIAL LUGERS AND THEIR ACCESSORIES by J. Still © 1991, P. 189, as a second variation holster with buckle closure and belt loops. The author also stated that the second variation holster was worn by naval ground forces in fighting in Belgium.

             

H60 Huber (ii) Joh. Huber, München. Nothing has been discovered about this maker of Pistol 1904 and P.08 holsters (1915-18), saddlery and ammunition pouches. The business apparently failed during the first years of the Weimar Republic.
 

The featured twin belt loop holster and magazine pouch for the M1904 navy Luger seems to fit most of the above information and additionally seems to connect the two "manufactures", Huber and HKO by way of the commonality of the crown I stamps and the fact that the crown I stamps were on the leather stock before it was cut. The holster is for the M1904/08 or M1904/14 (1916-1917 dated) navy Lugers, is made of a rich dark brown leather and has a cleaning rod pouch sewn on the leading edge holster spine with a cover flap secured by a steel stud and slot with small circular leather end caps. On the holster body is a pull-up strap. Under the holster body flap is a tool pouch with a cover secured by the same slit and steel stud method. On the rear of the holster in an oval cartouche is the maker "JOH.HUBER - SATTLEREI - MÜNCHEN" and to the right, partially obscured by the top of the belt loop is a very stylized crown over the Roman numeral I. On the front of the holster body, centered at the top is the same stylized crown over I. There are no other marks on the holster.

The twin magazine pouch is in excellent condition and is made of the same rich dark brown leather as the holster. The cover flap is secured by the slit and stud method with the same style but slightly larger steel stud as the holster cleaning rod and loading tool pouch. On the rear belt lop is a very crisp, stylized stamping in three lines "HK O - MÜNCHEN - 18" and to the immediate top right of the single, wide belt loop, on the magazine pouch body is stamped with the identical, very stylized crown over I and a second crown over I is located on the left top edge of the magazine pouch body. The left edge of the crown is partially obscured where the back of the pouch is sewn to the front section. Both the magazine pouch crown over I stamps are identical to the holster crown I stampings.

Run the mouse over the picture of the holster to see a close up of the rear of the holster showing the Rock Island E.H.S. stamp which is the inspector’s initials.

This has been determined by a close examination of wear patterns found on the pistol and holster that are unique to each other. There is a circular indent in the right side wooden grip that coincides in location and diameter with a protruding rivet on the inside surface of the holster body that aligns exactly with the grip indent with the pistol fully holstered and the flap secured to the holster body. The characteristics of the inner circular indent, with the hatching pattern worn smooth and the slightly uneven worn area surrounding the indent suggest that the main depression wear was incurred by long term storage and the outer uneven outer circumference wear by a constant minute shifting of the pistol in the holster, the latter a direct result of the holster and pistol being worn by a horse mounted U.S. Calvary soldier. The loose or protruding rivets are a result of stress encountered by the constant tension or jostling of the weight of the holster body and pistol against the belt loop being applied while being worn by a rider on a horse, i.e. again the U.S. Cavalry. Run the mouse over the picture of the holster to see the details described above.