Original Item: Only One Available. Recently purchased at an estate sale, this is a very nice condition WWII production black pebble grain finished leather holster for the standard issue Walther P-38 pistol in 9mm. It is nicely marked bml/44, indicating 1944 manufacture by Hans Römer in Neu-Ulm (Donau), Germany. This was a known maker of holsters and other military accoutrements during the war, according to GERMAN MILITARY LETTER CODES 1939-1945 by John Walter. There is also Waffenamt inspection mark WaA23 above the maker mark.

The holster is faintly marked P38 on the upper right rear, and appears to have seen only light use. There is some wear to the belt loops, and this was definitely a holster that held a pistol for a while, as indicated by the markings on the leather. The holster is still nice and supple, and has a great worn in look to the black finish. There are also some markings under the top flap, possibly indicating the serial number and markings of the pistol it held.

A perfect addition to any WW2 Walther P.38 pistol in need of an excellent condition original holster.

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.