Luger Hunting Carbine Holsters and Scabbards

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Featured are several pictures of two heretofore unknown, one-of-a-kind, pre-WWI American made rare Luger holster variations for the Old Model Luger Hunting Carbine, defined as two individual holsters or ensemble, one for the Luger carbine and one for the detachable wooden stock.

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Pre-WW1 Old Model restored carbine leather scabbard pictured with 1901 Luger Hunting Carbine and Push-Button wooden stock. Dual scabbard with pre-production prototype Carbine 58 & Push-Button stock number 35, partially and completely inserted and empty. Four views of combination Old Model Luger carbine and stock shoulder carry holster and additional pictures showing three views of the open cover flap and holster body entrance:
    1) carbine and stock partially inserted
    2) carbine and stock fully inserted
    3) empty

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Belt Carry Leather Scabbard for 1920s Hunting Carbine Turn Lever Wooden Stock, 4 Views

Belt Carry Leather Scabbard Pictured with Hunting Carbine Push Button and Turn Lever Wooden Stock

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Belt Loop or Shoulder Carry Leather Scabbard for Old Model Luger Hunting Carbine Wooden Stock, Multiple Views

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Pictured above is a rare Abercrombie & Fitch holster for a circa 1903 – 1904 late Old Model Luger Carbine, with inserted Old Model Luger carbine. Apparently, a very rare A&F Carbine holster, being the only known published example is the exact, same original minus the shoulder strap was pictured nearly 45 years ago, as of this writing in the ©1976, 2nd Edition publication titled Luger Tips by M. Reese II on page 59 with the caption stating: A VERY RARE ABERCROMBIE & FITCH 1920 CARBINE LONG BARREL HOLSTER. NOTE THE TRADEMARK ON BUTTON.

Pictured here with Old Model Luger carbine. The holster/scabbard has the very early variation 1 oval A&F Co logo stamped on the holster rear, single belt loop. Interestingly, the cover flap domed snap fastener A&F Co. logo is of the second variation with an added outer circumference raised edge or lip, used in conjunction with a different design snap fastener mechanism made by CARR’S Fastener Co., which was made between circa 1913- 1918 based on the American CARR’S Pat./13 stamping located in the recess of the cover flap snap fastener female portion.

This variation 2 Carr’s snap fastener assembly slightly reduced the size of the A&F Co. logo. The subject Luger Carbine scabbard, domed brass A&F Co. logo, as new was a combination of brass and black enamel background, which has long disappeared. The oval A&F Co. holster leather belt loop logo is mostly associated with pre-1910 A&F Co. holsters which sport the earlier variation 1 A&F Co. style snap fastener logo and mechanism.

This variation 2 A&F Co. and snap fastener assembly logo is seldom encountered and the subject A&F Co. Luger Carbine Scabbard is the only known published A&F Co. Luger holster with this combination of the variation 1 oval A&F Co. leather stamped logo with a variation 2 CARR’S Pat./13 snap fastener assembly.

Although, there is another similar style of Luger carbine scabbard identified in 2011 with the same oval A&F Co. leather stamped logo and variation 2 Carr’s snap fastener assembly. Unfortunately, only partial pictures are available.

Most A&F Co. circa 1920s – 1930s Luger holsters sport the variation 2 circular, leather stamped logo with the variation 1, U.S. Fastener Co. snap fastener assembly.

The circular, variation 2a A&F Co. leather stamp logo changed again in the 1920s from all upper-case characters ABERCROMBIE & FITCH Co. to a combination of upper and lower-case characters of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. This variation 2b A&F Co. leather logo is seen on 1920s – 1930s A&F Co. holsters made by HH Heiser of Denver Co.

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Pictured is an extremely rare, circa 1920’s Abercrombie & Fitch, a.k.a. A&F soft leather Luger hunting carbine scabbard^[1] for either a late, circa 1903 Old Model or a 1920’s New Model Luger hunting carbine and attaching wooden stock. The unknown leathermaker, well-constructed scabbard was custom made for an A&F customer. The soft leather scabbard dimensions are 17¾-inches x 8½-inches and is made of one continuous piece of leather with the scabbard lower edge and partition stitched together with what appears to be rawhide leather strips. The leather layered carrying handle is well-constructed and positioned for proper balance. An example handle is also pictured in TBLAP, Fig. 19-336. The scabbard interior is not lined. The 0.11-inch thick, dark brown leather appears to be of a pebble grain or pigskin type pattern. When obtained the scabbard leather was soft and supple, considering its age, though slightly dry, however, responded well to leather treatment.
    1) carbine and stock fully inserted
    2) stock partially inserted
    3) carbine partially inserted

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