1940 “JKB” P38 Holster - Riveted

[fishermankw]

Received this Hardshell along with a M/M P38 that I recently picked up. Looking at it the leather it’s supple with no cracks, the stitching is also all tight and present with no evidence that it was ever re-stitched. What’s puzzling to me is the rivets, look old but no way to “date” has anyone seen rivets on the holsters? Curious people’s thoughts, bubba in the good old US of A or an over zealous armorer?

 

[Philip]

WWII holsters placed into service by Austria fairly early after the war were routinely reinforced like this one. I looked at many many dozens in the late eighties P08, P38 and P35b from Austria and the P.38 holsters particularly were reinforced with these type rivets. The KM also used rivets frequently when their arsenal(s) made holsters, but this one is not one of those.

 

[CanadianAR]

I got a 2 matched mag ac40 on a indirect vet buy, with rivets like that. The vet story was he tore it off a guys belt. And fixed it later.
Seemed to make as much sense as anything.

 

[Hambone]

That would indicate postwar use and repair IMHO.

 

[fishermankw]

That would indicate postwar use and repair IMHO.

Assumed as much, but on an off chance wanted to get opinions. I don’t know a ton about holsters other than the limited info in my books. Though the P.38 book has quite an extensive section on them.

 

[pwcosol]

There is at least one manufacturer ("joa" if memory serves), whom used black enameled, solid-back rivets in the construction of a 1943 dated hardshell P.38 holster. This is also observed on some Kar98k ammo pouches. Key is the P-38 holster lid securing strap, lift-strap and belt loops are secured with these rivets only. No stitch holes or stitching will be present. A friend owned the example I refer to back in the early 1980s. Holster was as-new and recall the code stamp, year of production, and WaA acceptance stamps stacked up perfectly right down the center lane between the two belt loops. Still the finest example of the type I ever laid eyes on...! The other type of rivets with "hollow-back" are typically larger and also seen on some few S84/98 T3 frogs of late WW2 manufacture, as well as occasional usage for field repairs...both during and after WW2.