BACKGROUND: After the successful invasion of the Low Countries in May 1940 the German army expropriated large quantities of Belgian weapons and equipment, including pistols and holsters, en masse and distributed them widely to make up for the inadequate supply of German produced personal side arms. Eventually the Germans would also reactivate the armaments industries in the occupied countries and produce a wide assortment of weapons and munitions which were generally issued to second line troops. The Belgian Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre, (National War Armaments Manufacturer), located in Herstal Belgium purchased a licence to develop and produced handguns designed and patented by John Browning as early as 1898. In 1903 the Belgians developed the 9mm M1903, (622), and in 1906 they developed the M1906 (626) automatic handgun based on a Browning patent. On May 20TH 1940 the Germans seized the Belgian Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre plant and all further production was allotted to the German armed forces.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Smooth, molded, brown leather construction Belgian 626(b) pistol holster features a fold over, top flap with a scalloped forward edge and a leather reinforced, natural steel stud to the obverse. The front, body of the holster has a vertical closure strap with a single, cut-out stud eyelet, secured in place by a rectangular, swivel, steel ring. The closure strap was designed to affix to the stud on the top flap for a secure closure. The right side, forward, edge of the holster body has a vertical, stitched on, spare magazine pocket. Both the obverse and reverse bottom tip of the holster has an inserted steel grommet. The holster has a unique belt loop attachment consisting of two, vertical, straps riveted to the reverse, running over the top flap and riveted to the interior of the obverse, which secures a wide, horizontal, sliding, belt loop (the wide lelt loop portion is missing on this example). The interior of the top flap is well marked with "Nur für lange Browning Pistole Kal. 7,65", (Only for the long Browning Pistol Caliber 7.65). Well worn and used example.