Original German WWI Artillery Lange Pistole 08 Luger Holster With Take Down Tool, Cleaning Rod and Wood Stock With Attaching Iron Original Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. In the early 1900s, German Emperor Wilhelm II participated in several hunting trips in the Schwarzwald forest (Black Forest), armed with a commercial long-barrel DWM Modell 1902 Pistolenkarabiner (Luger Carabine). Wilhelm II was fond of the long-barrel DWM Modell 1902 pistol because it was relatively light and easy to handle, compared to a hunting rifle, for example. On 3 June 1913, Emperor Wilhelm II personally accepted the long barrel version of the Parabellum P.08 pistol, Lange Pistole 08, as a weapon for artillery and flight crews. The Imperial Army shock troops (Stoßtruppen) were also equipped with this high fire-power weapon. However, far too small a number of these pistols were manufactured to have been produced for all those who needed them. In fact, a little surprisingly, the main users of the LP 08 pistols were the shock troops and infantry.

In 1913, the German army, authorized by the Emperor, commissioned a version of the Parabellum P.08 pistol from DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken AG), with a long barrel and removable stock (Lange Pistole 08).

A leather holster for the artillery parabellum was made for transporting and storing from a brown or a black leather. Wooden shoulder stock could be attached to the leather holster with mounting straps and five screws. The leather strap of the leather holster could be attached with a magazine pouch for two magazines. Leather holsters were usually marked with manufacturer’s information on the underside of the flap.

This holster is a lovely worn example in an aged dark brown. No stamps or marks can be found on the underside of the top flap. The original finish has quite a bit of crazing and cracking present, adding a unique beautiful appearance. The take down tool is still located on the small pocket stitched to the underside of the top flap. The right side of the holster still retains the original threaded cleaning rod with a barrel type wood handle. All stitching is still tight and intact. The cup for securing the wood stock is unfortunately missing.

The stock is an original WWI Production wood stock for the Luger Lange Pistole 08, usually referred to as the “Artillery Luger.” This P08 variation was equipped with a 200 mm (7.9 in) barrel, an 8-position tangent rear sight (calibrated to 800 meters (870 yd)) and a board-type shoulder stock with an attached leather holster. In the event of close combat, the pistol was intended to be used as a carbine with the shoulder stock attached to a lug mounted on the heel of the pistol frame. When set for long range use the rear sight element visibly moves to the left to compensate for spin drift. While initially intended for use by German artillery units who could not be encumbered by the long and heavy K.98 rifle, the LP 08 was also used by Aviation units (prior to equipping aircraft with machine guns) as well as the Infantry, primarily on the Western front during World War I.

This wooden stock originally would have had a holster issued with it, along with various straps and attachments that were screwed into the stock. These are unfortunately missing, but the stock is still in excellent condition. The wood color and finish is very good, and the original attaching iron is still present, and fully functional. The metal finish is quite nice but no longer has any markings present.

This is an excellent opportunity to get an original holster and stock for an Artillery Luger that has lost its original ones!