Gentlemen : This example pictured here is my candidate for the Bulgarian FN HP. Few facts are available so speculation follows but rational reasoning can reduce it down to a matter of accepting logical deductions. If we can accept that this holster is Bulgarian and was made in the WW2 time frame then we have a platform in which to launch into the other half of the problem. Which is , what pistol went into this holster ? This holster is clearly made for the FN HP but only recently has been identified that the Bulgarians did ,in fact, use the FN HP through the discovery of these holsters. We then can ask ouselves, if no other candidate has been found or identified, then what pistol did they use ? I have come full circle on this reasoning but the following pistol is my candidate for the German ally. Comments are expected and encouraged.
Download Attachment: holster front.JPG
136.48KB
Download Attachment: holster rear.JPG
121KB
Download Attachment: holster exposed.JPG
143.67KB Inside the flap is an oval ink stamp which is aged enough to preclude any deciphering.
Download Attachment: pistol left side.JPG
123.23KB
Download Attachment: left side close up.JPG
139.27KB Only the German military test proofmark are applied and is without any of the WaA140 waffenamts that normally would be stamped on this pistol at this timeframe.
Download Attachment: rear slide mark.JPG
144.82KB Perhaps it is only me, but I have not remembered seeing this stamp before. It appears to be a open bottom triangle with the letter J inside it.
Download Attachment: pistol right side.JPG
121.97KB
Download Attachment: right side close up.JPG
136.63KB
Download Attachment: ejection port.JPG
121.49KB I do not accept the above pistol to be a commercial sales gun . There are a number of eagle N proofed FN HP's known that are , in fact, a commercial sales weapon but a weapon with military test proofs is not one of them . This pistol represents a military weapon that has under gone production and testing under German controlled facilities and authorities BUT not paid for with German funds which a waffenamt stamp would represent, but because it has the test proof only and not the waffenamt , this is still a military weapon but paid for by other than German funds . It simply did not go to a proofhouse for testing but instead accepted military standards. This pistol represents a sales purchase by a outside element whose's need and access to weapons of this nature would be over and above the best interest of Germany herself. What other pressing objective would there be but to armed your allies sufficiently to counter the same enemies. If this example is not a Bulgarian pistol, then I have to ask, what did they use ?
Download Attachment: holster front.JPG
136.48KB
Download Attachment: holster rear.JPG
121KB
Download Attachment: holster exposed.JPG
143.67KB Inside the flap is an oval ink stamp which is aged enough to preclude any deciphering.
Download Attachment: pistol left side.JPG
123.23KB
Download Attachment: left side close up.JPG
139.27KB Only the German military test proofmark are applied and is without any of the WaA140 waffenamts that normally would be stamped on this pistol at this timeframe.
Download Attachment: rear slide mark.JPG
144.82KB Perhaps it is only me, but I have not remembered seeing this stamp before. It appears to be a open bottom triangle with the letter J inside it.
Download Attachment: pistol right side.JPG
121.97KB
Download Attachment: right side close up.JPG
136.63KB
Download Attachment: ejection port.JPG
121.49KB I do not accept the above pistol to be a commercial sales gun . There are a number of eagle N proofed FN HP's known that are , in fact, a commercial sales weapon but a weapon with military test proofs is not one of them . This pistol represents a military weapon that has under gone production and testing under German controlled facilities and authorities BUT not paid for with German funds which a waffenamt stamp would represent, but because it has the test proof only and not the waffenamt , this is still a military weapon but paid for by other than German funds . It simply did not go to a proofhouse for testing but instead accepted military standards. This pistol represents a sales purchase by a outside element whose's need and access to weapons of this nature would be over and above the best interest of Germany herself. What other pressing objective would there be but to armed your allies sufficiently to counter the same enemies. If this example is not a Bulgarian pistol, then I have to ask, what did they use ?