Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a 1938 dated 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 is not marked on the back with the standard “P.08” designation on the upper right, but this is not uncommon. It is instead marked with 7097, probably a rack number. It is however fully maker marked and dated over a Waffenamt eagle inspection mark in the center between the belt loops:

E.G.LEUNER
1938
BAUTZEN

(Eagle)
WaA159

The WaA inspector number 159 is the correct inspector for E.G. Leuner GmbH holsters, and appears to only have really inspected holsters from them. The marking is faint but with a magnifier we were able to make out the "159".

The overall condition of the holster is very good, with the leather still supple, and all parts intact and still attached, though the closure strap is coming loose from the lid. All of the other stitching is still solid, and the take down tool storage compartment is still present, which is often removed. There is even an original take down tool in the pocket, which is in great shape! There is also a wooden dummy magazine in the magazine pocket to help it maintain the shape. The holster has been polished over the years, possibly with black shoe polish, which has made the markings a bit hard to see, and also has made the stitching black.

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.