AUSTRIAN LANDESGENDARMERIE STEYR Holster

[Major 2]

A while back I was fortunate to add a Steyr 08/34 Pistol to my modest collection of WW II Bring back Trophy guns.
This gun was surrendered in 1945 when the Americans occupied  Austria.
The Steyr was the side arm of the Austrian federal police agency (GENDARMERIE) that were annexed by Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938.
The gun was without a holster which are somewhat rare, though I happened to see one on eBay. I was the opening bit and was quickly out bid ...to the point it was out of my comfort range especially in that it would ship from Hungary.

I decided to fabricate my own. First came the research then design and a pattern     

[Major 2]

I had conferred with my good friend John Saffan , It was decided to send the pattern and leather to him for sewing.
Sadly my hands, actually thumbs are arthritic and sewing by hand will cramp my hands for weeks.

What follows is a photographic view of the progress to finish & completion

The 5 oz leather was cut to my pattern  and laminated to line the holster.

[Major 2]

Johns fine work as the Magazine pouch was wet formed & sewed to the main body.
The welt was glued and clamped in place

[Major 2]

The main seam was stitched,  the sewing complete .
John sent the Holster back to me for final fit ( wet mold to the gun ) and finish

[Major 2]

The Pistol fit like a glove.

The finish is just Skidmores and set out in Sun light, I like the color , it should lighten just a little which will be just fine.

Many , many thanks to John   

[Coffinmaker]

Great Job Major 2.  Most Excellent in deed!!

Hide and Watch 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thumbs up to both of you. That's a fine holster. Research pays off on this type of project. Very nice job.

That is an interesting pistol.

John is one of the good ones. I'm glad he was there to help you out on this.

[Major 2]

John is the salt o the earth, I have several of his designs among my favorites.

This one was a collaboration. The Pistol is UBER cool in 7.65 MM   

[Major 2]

Like a glove

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Nice work, and well done


tEN wOLVES

[Holsterguy]

Very nice Major!

[Major 2]

I'm quite please with the final look , the pistol itself is 91 years young.
It was surrendered at Salzburg, Austria in July -August 1945.

I had actually bid on an original GENDARMERIE holster, on eBay but I was quickly outbid outside my comfort zone.
The holster sold for $125 plus the shipping from Bosnia   

[River City John]

Shipping from Bosnia during these Pandemic End Times is conjectural and hypothetic.

RCJ

Have you range tested it yet?

[Major 2]

Exactly,  part of that comfort zone I mentioned   

Yes, i have shot it ( 10 yards at my home range ) it does not feed Winchester white box FMJ's all that well.
( a few fail to feeds )
But gobbles Fiocchi 32 ACP

[Major 2]

My reason to acquire a holster was my desire to display the WW II bring backs in a temporary exabit a the Veterans Memorial Museum .

Two of my other pistols have the holsters they were surrendered with.

The Erfurt Liger was captured in Falaise, France in Aug 1944.
The Beretta was surrendered in the Rohr Valley April 1945.  I have paper for both.

I'm still seeking a holster for the Mauser P38 ( I may have to settle for a replica ).
Ideally, as replica holster that has of reenacting wear to add to the aura

Course , I apparently have more time till the display will be installed , because of the Covid-19 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's an impressive collection. Thanks for sharing these with us. It's nice to see the original leather with them, too. Please post a photo of the display when it is displayed.

[Major 2]

Thank you

The Colt is a Commando in 38 Special ...  Factory Letter states , the gun was one of four sold to Hood Rubber Company a division of BF Goodrich for armed security.
Hood provided Wartime production during the Second World War.  The company was enlisted by the United States Armed Forces to manufacture many types of rubber products, especially military boots for both the Pacific and European theaters.
Hood Brand founded founded in 1896 by Frederic C. Hood and Arthur N. Hood. was in business  until the plant closing in 1969

*At the beginning of the First World War in 1914, the Company was called upon to supply trench boots for the French and English armies

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Great information about that Colt. I would have guessed it as an M1917. Do you know if the frame is the same size?

[Major 2]

It is medium frame some smaller than the 45 cal.  M1917

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, I wondered about that.