Vis 1935 (Radom) and FN High Power M1935 pistols with holsters and magazines.

[drm3m]

The Radom was manufactured in the 2nd quarter of 1942-Sn# N 5075.
The holster was ‘bnz’ manufactured with a WaA182 acceptance stamp.

The Browning High Power pistol was manufactured in approx. August 1943.
The holster is code ‘dla’ 44 dated with a WaA195 acceptance.

Two pistols that were adopted by the Germans from occupied countries Poland and Belgium.

The Radom magazines.

The holsters.

The holster markings.

David

 

[9Guns]

Very nice, history in the hand. shows how Jerry was using whatever he could get his hands on. The Whermacht must have issued dozens of different types of pistol throught the war.

 

[Imperial luger]

Couple of nice pistols David, nice to see the WaA-140 marked Hi-Power mag, leather looks to be nice and supple on both examples.

 

[drm3m]

9Guns,

Your are absolutely right.

The Germans adopted and issued many different types of foreign pistols throughout the war.

Hungary contributed the Model 37M...many of which went to the Luftwaffe.

David

 

[drm3m]

Imperial Luger,

When I bought the Browning High Power back in 2003 it came in a rather unusual unmarked holster with the two magazines shown above.

The Browning mag fits perfectly.

A very savvy American collector of these pistols wanted to buy it....a bit of an oddity...I guess.

David

 

[gaff]

its a pre war Lithuanian P35 holster. very rare I would think.

 

[Imperial luger]

Yes Lithuanian contract for the same contract pistol, not that many Lithuanian contract marked Hi-powers either.

 

[drm3m]

Thanks Imperial Luger and gaff for the reference to the Lithunian contract for this High Power holster...I would never have known. It looks somewhat similar without the mag pouch..

David

 

[AdrianM]

Nice pistols and nice pics...thanks for posting.

 

[gaff]

I would think the mag pouch was added later when they moved the closure button. probable by the Germans.

 

[John Sukey]

Really too bad it has a german chicken on the slide instead of the Polish Eagle

 

[fugawi]

Really too bad it has a german chicken on the slide instead of the Polish Eagle

Agreed.

 

[fugawi]

Thanks Imperial Luger and gaff for the reference to the Lithunian contract for this High Power holster...I would never have known. It looks somewhat similar without the mag pouch..

David

David does your Lithuanian holster have an internal magazine pouch? The reference book I have says it does but that's not to say the reference is correct.

I would think the mag pouch was added later when they moved the closure button. probable by the Germans.

Perhaps Gaff nailed it.

 

[drm3m]

This holster has been a mystery to me ever since I got it with the pistol back in 2003.

I can't see where there would have been space for an internal mag pouch.

The additional holes in the flap may have been created when the external mag pouch was added to re-position the closure button???

David

A comment from Jerry Burney "the holster Guru (Lugerholsterrepair)" at one point in the past.

"David, If a HP magazine fits in the pouch it's pretty much a HP holster from the git go. It's made like many German holsters. The closure stud looks German, so does the closure strap. It's a little different in shape but...The bottom of the magazine pouch is correct for a German HP."

 

[fugawi]

It might have been a commercial holster for a Browning HP with a magazine pouch added later when taken into German military service.

Also the belt attachment is different from the one shown in my reference for the Lithuanian HP holster. (Holsters and Shoulder Stocks of the World by Vanderlinden)

Still a nice holster though.

 

[drm3m]

fugawi,

Years ago when I was trying to find out more about this holster the most knowledgeable collector of HP pistols and HP holsters that I know sent me these photos.
He had expressed an interest in purchasing my holster.

The Lithuanian connection was never mentioned.

David

The holster below looks similar to mine.

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John Sukey, I assume that you were referring to the Vis 35 (Radom)

I don't own a Polish Eagle....but I sure admire them.

I guess that I am stuck with the German chicken for now.

 

[fugawi]

fugawi,

Years ago when I was trying to find out more about this holster the most knowledgeable collector of HP pistols and HP holsters that I know sent me these photos.
He had expressed an interest in purchasing my holster.

The Lithuanian connection was never mentioned.

David

The holster below looks similar to mine.

I'm not a German militaria collector (at least not much) but isn't that a Luftwaffe eagle in those pictures you were sent? S could stand for staffel (squadron). Could yours be Luftwaffe issue? I know Finland purchased the Hi Power for their air force, and the German issued the HP as the 640(b), is there any knowledge of Luftwaffe personnel using the HP?

 

[drm3m]

fugawi,

This is part of an email dating back to 2005 when I was trying to find out about my holster. My holster does not have the markings that are shown on his two holsters. There is a single belt loop on my holster, while his holsters show two belt loops.
This fellow is the most knowledgeable collector of HP pistols and holsters that I have encountered. He is in the U.S.

David
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His comments;

“I have a holster that appears to have the same shape/outline as the one you show.

Mine has ink markings on the inside of the flap of an eagle with its wings spread out and with an "L" to the left of the eagle (under the wing) and a "S" to the right of the eagle (under the wing). All of this is in a box.

My markings are in the area where the flap bends and are a little faint.

The belt loops in the back are two in number, similar to those on a P38 holster and not the single belt loop as found on the regular German Hi-Power holster.

What the "LS" represents may be either Luftschutz or Luftwaffe Sicherheit. Truthfully no one knows for sure.

I have collected Hi-Powers and Hi-Power holsters for about 30 years and these holsters are not common.”

If my holster once had these markings, they have long since worn off.

The rear belt loop on my holster.

The front view of my holster.

 

[jbmauser]

Beautiful pistols, great pics, and great information! Thanks for sharing!

 

[drm3m]

As part of the information that was sent to me by this American HP collector back in 2005 is the stuff shown below for they that are interested.

David
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His comments.

Attached are pictures of the "original" holster for the Hi-Power.
Actually, there were two "original" holsters for the Hi-Power. The other one was a holster made from the combo holsters. These are more common that the ones converted from the French revolver holsters.