Original German WWII Field-Modified P.08 Luger Black Leather Holster by Carl Busse – dated 1942 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a standard issue black leather hardshell P-08 holster, which was used by German forces during WWII. During WWI German forces had switched from brown to black leather for the majority of their gear, and this is a good example.

The holster is marked on the back with the standard P.08 designation on the upper right, with a Waffenamt WaA291 proof between the two belt loops. It is also marked and dated with a German three letter code, jkh / 42, for 1942 manufacture by Carl Busse, located in Mainz, Germany along the Rhine River. This company manufactured holsters, pouches, map cases, and other leather wares, according to GERMAN MILITARY LETTER CODES 1939-1945 by John Walter.

The overall condition of the holster is very good, with supple black finished leather and  intact heavy stitching, original loops, and pistol ejection strap. It does show significant wear, so a lot of the black finish is worn. Also, the original flap securing strap and buckle have been removed, and were replaced with the style of closure used on police and artillery Luger holsters. This was a bit easier to open in a hurry, and did not require a buckle, so if the original closure had broken, this was a workable field repair. Both belt loops are intact and complete. The tool pouch on the lid of the holster is intact, and overall this is a very nice example of a service used holster.

A really nice holster that will complete any WWII 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.