[kidvett]

Hello,

I have this Black 1918 dated & Makers marked under flap Holster with a marking I cant ID. It is composed of the letters L.Z.A. then looks like an bird w/ wings below and last line is Berlin. The marking is of the front face of the holster right on top of the pull strap. Help would be gladly appreciated on this as I'm totally puzzled by this marking.

THANKS,

MARK

Download Attachment: Dscn1661.jpg
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Here is the Makers marking ( inside flap )

Download Attachment: Dscn1662.jpg
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[Heinz]

LZA is an abbreviation for a leather goods warehouse. It think it goes something like Lederwerke Zeugamt (hopefully someone will correct my botching of the first word). The city is the location. If you look at my posting on 10/6/2003 under P08 1914-1918 you will see similar stamp for the LZA at Koln on my 1918 holster. The LZA/eagle/Koln on mine is on the back.

 

[pisto]

LZA is the meaning of Leder Zensur Amt (leather proof authorities)--Because of the bad leather quality at the end of WWI they decided to proof the leather quality (=> my own interpretation).
They used everything just to get quantity - also the skins of almost died cattle - and so the leather is been so bad sometimes. I did see that on a 1918 Erfurt holster, in my own colledtion I have a LZA stamp on a broomhandle harness.
i have that knowledge from another collector, so I hope the information is correct!

 

[Heinz]

Pisto, Thank you for your update.

 

[pisto]

Heinz, (German name!), I hope I be on the right side with that information - it is just what has been told to me!

 

[Heinrich]

Hello friends,

L.Z.A. means definitely Leder-Zuweisungs-Amt or Lederzuweisungsamt.
(translated it may be:leather allocation administration)
This administration, established in 1914, controlled the leather supply to commercial manufacturers for military leather goods. The L.Z.A. inspections were scattered over whole Germany.

 

[Heinz]

Danke Heinrick, Would this indicate the LZA controlled the supply of leather to the small manufacturers OR did the LZA serve as a collection point/acceptance depot for leather goods from small manufacturers going to the army?

 

[Heinrich]

Hello Heinz,
The L.Z.A. was a collecting point for hides. The hides were checked and after acceptance they got the typical marking:
-L.Z.A.
-Prussian eagle
-town, where the facility was located.
After this procedure the hide could be delivered to the commercial manufacturers. The L.Z.A. had therefore two tasks: quality control and a local quantity control.
The mentioned marking is often to be found somewhere on the holster, because the marked section of the hide was not selected and used as it was.
Look to the image of kidvett or in the book "J.P.Sauer & Sohn, Vol. II" by Jim Cate and Mrtin Krause on page 62. In both cases the mentioned stamp could be found on an indefinable place, partly cut away or oversewn.
If it would be a quality inspection mark for a finished holster, you can be sure that the German army would have instructed this procedure and the stamp would have always the same place and design.
regards