Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used example of a standard issue black leather hardshell holster for the Luger Pistole 08 (P.08), which was used by German forces during WWI & WWII. Towards the end of WWI the standard color for pistol holsters was changed from brown to black, and that continued through the WWII Period.

The holster looks to have been modified to use a shoulder strap at some point, now removed, however the areas where it was stitched on are still easily visible. This however unfortunately removed any "P.08" designation that might have been on the upper right. It is marked between the belt loops with German three letter code cdg, for manufacture by Auwärter und Bubeck, located in Stuttgart. This is a known maker of P.08., P.38, and other service pistol holsters, as well as cartridge pouches  and map cases, according to GERMAN MILITARY LETTER CODES 1939-1945 by John Walter. It is also stamped with a Waffenamt WaA161 proof between the two belt loops, correct for this maker during the year 1940.

This is definitely a holster that saw long use during the war, and very possibly afterwards. The leather is soft and well broken in, showing some salt stains from water exposure. It still has the original belt loops intact, as well as the take town tool pouch on the lid, and the pistol ejection strap as well. They are all however definitely worn, and some of the stitching may have been redone. The original flap securing strap and buckle are present and in functional condition. Overall a very nice "salty" example of a holster that saw long service during WWII.

A really nice holster that will complete any WWII Era P08 Luger pistol. Ready to display or use!

The P-08
The Pistole Parabellum—or Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), commonly known as just Luger —is a toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol which was produced in several models and by several nations from 1898 to 1948. The design was first patented by Georg Luger as an improvement upon the Borchardt Automatic Pistol and was produced as the Parabellum Automatic Pistol, Borchardt-Luger System by the German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM). The first production model was known as the Modell 1900 Parabellum. Followed by the "Marinepistole 1904" for the Imperial German Navy. The later versions included the popular "Parabellum Pistole Modell von 1908" or simply "P08" (Pistole 1908) which was produced by DWM and other manufacturers such as W+F Bern, Krieghoff, Simson, Mauser, and Vickers. The first Parabellum pistol was adopted by the Swiss army in May 1900. 1904 they were adopted by the German Navy. In German Army service, it was adopted in slightly modified form as the Pistole Modell 1908 (Pistole 08) in caliber 9×19mm Parabellum. The Model 08 was eventually succeeded by the Walther P38.

The Luger is well known from its use by Germans during World War I and World War II, along with the interwar Weimar Republic and the postwar East German Volkspolizei. The P.08 was introduced in 7.65mm Parabellum, though it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge was developed, also known as the 9×19mm Luger. The pistol has been used in fictional works by many villainous characters over the past several decades because of its association with WW2 Germany.