[Guest]

Hello,
I am fairly new to collecting lugers and was given a vet bring back with capture papers for Christmas. It came with a light brown shoulder holster with a pouch for an extra magazine. There are no stamps on the leather but stamped on the snap clip of the shoulder strap is "D.R.G.M, M5/289, and proof marks "A", a small circle with the letters RZ inside, "U". I understand the meaning of the DRGM is Deutsches Reiches Gebrauchsmuster which I belive signifies the patent office.
Can anyone help?
Mike

 

[Edward Tinker]

Mike, welcome to the forum.

Can you provide pictures?

A good look at it, could help many collectors help you. From what I understand, NO shoulder holsters were military issue to the army, airforce I am unsure, and most shoulder holsters, it is assumed they were commerically bought.

Ed

 

[Guest]

Ed, Thanks for your response. Here are pictures.
Mike

Download Attachment: Shoulder Holster.JPG
170.9KB

Download Attachment: DRGM Snap_buckle.JPG
44.27KB

 

[Guest]

wish I had one..although not an expert,& I could be wrong-I have seen photos of identical holsters, described as tank officers shoulder holsters.worn outside of a tank officers short uniform tunic.this stuck in the "must have" bay of my brain.recently one was on ebay.

 

[Guest_V]

The holster could be for any number of different weapons. The DRGM and the other stamps refer to the snap buckle - not to the holster. No specific "tanker" or pilot´s holsters have been documented. If it were mil. issue, it would definitely have the appropriate markings. It doesn´t, so it isn´t.

 

[Guest]

Hello crazig,
I've been doing some research about shoulder holsters and yes, there was a "tankers" shoulder holster, however, this one doesn't look like the one that I've seen pictures of.
I'm thinking that this one was probably a purchased (by the luger owner?)one. Yes, the luger does fit nicely and there is a magazine holder as part of the holster.
The capture papers that I have don't give any details about the german soldier, so it could have been a pilot or a tanker. Since the holster came with the gun and the papers, I don't think I'll sell it. Thanks for the note,
Mike

 

[Guest_V]

Mike,
could you post pictures of the P08 shoulder holster? Is it marked in any way? Has it been referred to in any of the literature available? I realize that there might have been Luftwaffe "holsters" (or metal frames) for pistols in some aircraft, but a specific holster for tankers must have been made (and accepted) in larger numbers and documented. So any further ionformation would be of great interest.

 

[Guest]

hi All,CMI sells a replica PANZER shoulder holster identical to the one shown above(has REPRO acceptance marks)does this mean there was an original to copy? I will photgraph,& post photos my repro when it arrives.I bought it to be a user.

 

[Guest_V]

No, I don´t think it means that they copied an original. They just want to sell their product.

 

[Grunt]

I have encountered two shoulder holsters!Both were well constructed,
had provisions for extra Mag.,both showed age.Each housed a P-38
pistol.One was a 0 series,the other a AC-41.

 

[keoki7]

Herr Villiers is correct in my thinking; I have seen many and owned a few. None had maker marks, dates, or codes that would be assosciated with German government contracts. The association of such shoulder holsters with armor or Luftwaffe troops is pure speculation unless period photos illustrating such use are produced.

I have no doubt that German troops may have employed such holsters in nonregulation use but I also have no doubt that American occupation troops may just as well have commissioned such holsters to be made for their amusement.