BACKGROUND: The P08 ("Pistole" model 1908), more commonly referred to after the surname of its designer, Georg "Luger," saw service throughout the first world war, during the Reichswehr era, and was adopted as the official pistol of the Wehrmacht prior to WWII. Although popular, its toggle breech was prone to dirt entry, which affected its performance. In 1938 the weapons firm of Carl Walther developed the P38 pistol as its successor. Although the P08 was never fully replaced by the P38, manufacture of the earlier pistol was discontinued in 1943.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Smooth, molded, leather construction hard-shell holster for the standard 4", (10.1cm), barrel P08 Luger pistol. The holster features a scalloped, fold back, top flap with a horizontal stitched seam/hinge to the reverse and a slightly diagonally angled, stitched on, closure strap to the obverse. The closure strap attaches to a leather reinforced, magnetic, pronged, roller buckle, which is stitched to the front of the holster body. The holster has a vertical, extra magazine pocket stitched to the forward edge with a semi-circular cut-out to the top edge for ease of accessing the extra magazine. The holster has an internal quick release pull strap which is inserted through a small horizontal slash on the front body of the holster. The reverse of the holster has dual, slightly diagonally angled, belt loops stitched in place (stitching has pulled loose from the bottom of one of the straps). The interior of the top flap has a small, leather pocket with a steel stud (possible glue repair on the stud) closure for the quick loading tool. Maker marked and dated for 1916.