BACKGROUND: In 1935 the Heereswaffenamt, (Army Ordnance Office), began looking for an alternative pistol to replace the P08 Luger which had been in service since 1908. Although the Luger was favored by the troops it was expensive to produced and was prone to allowing dirt into the toggle breech affecting its firing. In 1938 the Heereswaffenamt accepted the new P38 pistol, developed by the Carl Walther Waffenfabrik. The new P38 pistol didn’t completely replace the Luger which was still being manufactured until 1943 when it was finally discontinued. The P38 originally came in a molded "hardshell" holster until a "softshell" holster was introduced in late 1943.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early pattern, smooth, molded, blackened leather construction, "hardshell" P38 pistol holster. The holster features a scalloped, fold over top flap with a horizontally stitched, hinged seam to the reverse top edge and a stitched on, vertical leather closure strap to the obverse. The obverse closure strap has a corresponding horizontally oval, rivetted on, sheet metal plate with a cut-out horizontal slot situated on the front of the fold over top flap with a corresponding, raised, horizontal steel bar on a horizontally oval sheet metal plate rivetted on the front body of the holster. For secure closure the raised steel bar on the body of the holster is inserted through the sheet metal slot on the oval plate of the top flap and the vertical strap is in turn inserted through the raised bar. The forward edge of the holster body has a vertical, stitched on extra magazine pocket. The reverse of the holster has two, slightly diagonally angled, stitched on, leather belt loops. The interior of the holster has a quick release strap stitched to both the top flap and the internal body. Maker marked "dkk 42".