Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased from a private collector, this is a very nice WWII issue Black Hardshell holster for the standard issue Walther P38 pistol, complete with correct period markings. It has definitely seen a lot of service, and appears somewhat brown in color, but the interior definitely shows that it was originally black.

The back of the holster is marked on the right side with the "ghost" of a P.38 stamping, which is often faint. There is no maker mark we can see, but there is a partial Waffenamt WaA145 stamp between the two belt loops. Next to this is a J / 194, a marking we are unfamiliar with.

The holster is complete and in very good service-used condition, showing the expected wear from long service. The black exterior finish is worn to look brown in many areas, and the stitching shows wear and staining. The stitching in some areas is a bit loose, but we do not see any major popped stitches.The metal hardware shows light oxidation. The leather has gotten somewhat stiff and there is some cracking on the securing strap finish. The pistol ejection strap is still present and looks to be functional. There is a US Soldier’s laundry number on the back, D-2657, likely belonging to the soldier who captured it.

This is a very nice WWII marked example of a P.38 holster, and would make the perfect accessory for a P.38 pistol that no longer has its holster. Ready to display!

The Walther Pistole 38 (P.38) pistol was first introduced in 1938 as a replacement for the P.08. The P.38 was a more cost-efficient and more reliable in war conditions such as mud and rain. The P.08 was a typical prewar German gun, over engineered to perfection, with a sensitive toggle breech system that would malfunction when dirt was involved. The P.38 was a workhorse that did just what it was meant to do. It could handle most harsh battlefield conditions and as such the closed hardshell holster was discontinued later in the war and replaced for a partially open softshell holster. During the War close around 900,000 were produced, so the holsters were also produced in large quantities.