Shown is one of the very first known, published and identified holster offered for sale by Abercrombie & Fitch, specifically for the newly introduced DWM Old Model 1900 commercial 30 Cal 4¾-inch barrel Luger or THE LUGER AUTOMATIC PISTOL. The holster is doubly unique as it features the first known, rather large, very ornate and stylized Abercrombie & Fitch logo design, stamped on the holster rear, to the left of the very thin belt loop. There no other known examples. For more information on this holster and more go to: Abercrombie & Fitch holsters

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Pictured are two very rare pre WWI Abercrombie & Fitch tear-drop style full cover flap, closed toe holsters, one for the rarer 4-inch barrel grip safety Luger and the other for a 4¾-inch barrel grip safety Luger. Both have early A&F logo snap fasteners made by the U.S. Fastener Company and both holsters have the early style A&F logo in oval cartouche stamped on the single, wide belt loop. Interestingly, based on the style and stitching pattern, both holsters were made for A&F by the same unknown leather maker and most interestingly, one is for a rare left-handed user and the other is for a right-handed user. Both holsters show extended storage of a 4 and 4¾-inch barrel Luger, as evidenced by deep inside holster body impressions of a fluted thumb safety and rear frame silhouette. Both holsters are curiously tight fitting with the covers difficult to close, with the left-handed example being modified by adding a slit in the cover flap and using the holster body, male brass snap fastener stud to effect closure.

a) Right-handed pre-WWI, full cover flap holster

The holster body closed toe with brass stud and leather slit closure made for Abercrombie & Fitch with early A&F holster logo in oval cartouche and brass snap fastener with circular embossed A&F logo

b) Special order left-handed pre-WWI, full cover flap holster

The holster body closed toe with brass stud and leather slit closure made for Abercrombie & Fitch with early A&F holster logo in oval cartouche and brass snap fastener with circular embossed A&F logo

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Unknown maker, special order left-handed pre-WWI, full cover flap with holster body toe plug with snap fastener safety strap closure with circular embossed A&F logo made for Abercrombie & Fitch with A&F holster logo in circular cartouche. A&F holster style below is pictured for sale in the 1910 & 1911 Abercrombie & Fitch catalogs on page 275 identified as item 7.

Walter Bertolette, Silver City, New Mexico. June 16, 1916

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Unique Pre WW1 A&F style cover flap with slit and brass stud closure holster for a 4¾-inch barrel Luger. Note copper washer and rivet affixed belt loop, similar to Rock Island Arsenal U.S Test Eagle holster belt loop.

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Pictured is a rare circa 1920s Abercrombie & Fitch holster variation for a 4¾-inch barrel Luger with a full cover flap, holster body toe plug, Abercrombie & Fitch logo snap fastener and circular Abercrombie & Fitch logo in upper case letters stamped on the holster rear belt loop. Just above the full cover flap square termination, below the A&F logo snap fastener is stamped with the unidentified three upper case letters U.S.N.

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Very rare triple magazine pouch, full cover flap, brass stud and slit closure with early A&F logo in oval cartouche stamped on single belt loop, made for Abercrombie & Fitch. Pictures provided by Jerry Burney

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Pictured above is a rare Abercrombie & Fitch holster for a circa 1903 – 1904 late Old Model Luger Carbine, with inserted Old Model Luger carbine. Apparently, a very rare A&F Carbine holster, being the only known published example is the exact, same original minus the shoulder strap was pictured nearly 45 years ago, as of this writing in the ©1976, 2nd Edition publication titled Luger Tips by M. Reese II on page 59 with the caption stating: A VERY RARE ABERCROMBIE & FITCH 1920 CARBINE LONG BARREL HOLSTER. NOTE THE TRADEMARK ON BUTTON.

Pictured here with Old Model Luger carbine. The holster/scabbard has the very early variation 1 oval A&F Co logo stamped on the holster rear, single belt loop. Interestingly, the cover flap domed snap fastener A&F Co. logo is of the second variation with an added outer circumference raised edge or lip, used in conjunction with a different design snap fastener mechanism made by CARR’S Fastener Co., which was made between circa 1913- 1918 based on the American CARR’S Pat./13 stamping located in the recess of the cover flap snap fastener female portion.

This variation 2 Carr’s snap fastener assembly slightly reduced the size of the A&F Co. logo. The subject Luger Carbine scabbard, domed brass A&F Co. logo, as new was a combination of brass and black enamel background, which has long disappeared. The oval A&F Co. holster leather belt loop logo is mostly associated with pre-1910 A&F Co. holsters which sport the earlier variation 1 A&F Co. style snap fastener logo and mechanism.

This variation 2 A&F Co. and snap fastener assembly logo is seldom encountered and the subject A&F Co. Luger Carbine Scabbard is the only known published A&F Co. Luger holster with this combination of the variation 1 oval A&F Co. leather stamped logo with a variation 2 CARR’S Pat./13 snap fastener assembly.

Although, there is another similar style of Luger carbine scabbard identified in 2011 with the same oval A&F Co. leather stamped logo and variation 2 Carr’s snap fastener assembly. Unfortunately, only partial pictures are available.

Most A&F Co. circa 1920s – 1930s Luger holsters sport the variation 2 circular, leather stamped logo with the variation 1, U.S. Fastener Co. snap fastener assembly.

The circular, variation 2a A&F Co. leather stamp logo changed again in the 1920s from all upper-case characters ABERCROMBIE & FITCH Co. to a combination of upper and lower-case characters of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. This variation 2b A&F Co. leather logo is seen on 1920s – 1930s A&F Co. holsters made by HH Heiser of Denver Co.

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Pictured is an extremely rare, circa 1920’s Abercrombie & Fitch, a.k.a. A&F soft leather Luger hunting carbine scabbard^[1] for either a late, circa 1903 Old Model or a 1920’s New Model Luger hunting carbine and attaching wooden stock. The unknown leathermaker, well-constructed scabbard was custom made for an A&F customer. The soft leather scabbard dimensions are 17¾-inches x 8½-inches and is made of one continuous piece of leather with the scabbard lower edge and partition stitched together with what appears to be rawhide leather strips. The leather layered carrying handle is well-constructed and positioned for proper balance. An example handle is also pictured in TBLAP, Fig. 19-336. The scabbard interior is not lined. The 0.11-inch thick, dark brown leather appears to be of a pebble grain or pigskin type pattern. When obtained the scabbard leather was soft and supple, considering its age, though slightly dry, however, responded well to leather treatment.
    1) carbine and stock fully inserted
    2) stock partially inserted
    3) carbine partially inserted

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