Original German WWI P08 Luger Brown Leather Holster by A. Dahl of Barmen with Unnumbered Magazine – dated 1916 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a standard issue brown leather hardshell P-08 holster, which was used by Imperial German forces during WWI. In 1916 an order came for holsters to be changed to black, but this holster was made before the order was implemented, and escaped being dyed or painted after manufacture.

The holster is marked on the back between the belt loops:

A. DAHL
BARMEN
1916

Alexander Dahl was born on 29 November 1892, in Barmen, today a part of Wuppertal. Dahl was a reserve lieutenant during World War I, where he received training as a free and tethered balloon observer and officer. After the war ended, he became a senior leader at his fathers leather factory, which he took over in 1934. His chief interest remained aviation however, with a particular interest in radio and balloons. From 1941–1945 he took part in the Second World War, once again in the reserve, this time as a major in the Luftwaffe. He was stationed in Dresden as part of Luftgau IV, an aerial reconnaissance group where he was able to contribute to the development of numerous radio related technologies. After the war, he continued work at the factory until its closure in 1958. From this point on he was a consultant at the German Association for Positioning and Navigation until his retirement in 1965. He died in Wuppertal on 15 December 1978.

The overall condition of the holster is very good, with brown dyed leather and mostly intact heavy stitching, original loops, and pistol ejection strap. The original flap securing strap and buckle are present and in functional condition. Both belt loops are intact and complete, as is the take down / loading tool compartment on the inside of the lid. The leather is stiff, but does not show any dry rot, so some conditioning could definitely help it be a bit less stiff.

Included in the spare magazine pouch is an original and unnumbered holster in lovely condition!

A really nice holster that will complete any WWI Era P08 Luger pistol. Ready to display or use!

The Pistole Parabellum—or Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), commonly known as just Luger—is a toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol which was produced in several models and by several nations from 1898 to 1948. The design was first patented by Georg Luger as an improvement upon the Borchardt Automatic Pistol and was produced as the Parabellum Automatic Pistol, Borchardt-Luger System by the German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM). The first production model was known as the Modell 1900 Parabellum. Followed by the “Marinepistole 1904” for the Imperial German Navy. The later versions included the popular “Parabellum Pistole Modell von 1908” or simply “P08” (Pistole 1908) which was produced by DWM and other manufacturers such as W+F Bern, Krieghoff, Simson, Mauser, and Vickers. The first Parabellum pistol was adopted by the Swiss army in May 1900. 1904 they were adopted by the German Navy. In German Army service, it was adopted in slightly modified form as the Pistole Modell 1908 (Pistole 08) in caliber 9×19mm Parabellum. The Model 08 was eventually succeeded by the Walther P38.

The Luger is well known from its use by Germans during World War I and World War II, along with the interwar Weimar Republic and the postwar East German Volkspolizei. The P.08 was introduced in 7.65mm Parabellum, though it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge was developed, also known as the 9×19mm Luger. The pistol has been used in fictional works by many villainous characters over the past several decades because of its association with AH’s Germany.