Two P.38s with 1943 softshell holsters & mags.

[drm2m]

The 1943 dated softshell holsters are not that common as they were only made by a few manufacturers at that time. Most of the holsters for P.38s at that point were the hardshell model.

These 1943 softshell holsters differ from the later produced softshell model as the closing strap was upward instead of downward in 1944.

The manufacturer’s codes on these 1943 dated holsters are “gxy” with WaA706 and “fkx” with WaA869.

The P.38 marking on the “fkx” holster is smaller and different that the P.38 marking seen on most holsters.

David

[drm2m]

By 1944 most of the P.38 holsters where the softshell model.
A few manufacturers still made the hardshell holster.

The holster shown below is one of these 1944 dated hardshell holsters.

“gmo” is the code for Rahm&Kampmann
Lederwarenfabriken, Werk
Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz
WaA 204 is their WaA number.

There are RBNr numbers for (“Reichs-Betriebs-Nr”) above and partially covered by the front belt loop. .“0/0655/0013”

All German plants received such a number late in WW2, and it seems this code was intended to replace the one to three letter code.

However, the war was over before this change was finished, so both kinds of codes can be found on many kinds of military items.

This holster shows both the “gmo WaA204” manufacturer’s code as well as the later RBNr number code.
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The first photo below shows an unissued 44 dated P.38 pebble grained leather softshell holster.

Hans Romer,Fabrik Fur Heeresausrustung, Neu-Ulm, Donau,
Bayern
code -“bml WaA 23” 44 dated.


David

[42rocker]

Lots of great info and pics.

Thanks for sharing..

Later 42rocker