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A.K. (Akah) early Old Model 4¾-inch
barrel Luger Commercial Holster
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This is the first instance of the identification of a pre-WWI (Albrecht Kind), a.k.a. A.K. or (Albrecht Kind – Hunstig) a.k.a. Akah commercial, Old or New Model Luger holster without an externally located company logo. The subject holster was identified
through a 4-digit faded, but still readable black ink-stamped number 2098 located on the underside
of the cover flap. Generally, collectors rely on the presence of the A.K. or Akah company logos, pre WW1 A.K. logo or post WW1 Akah logo, of which unfortunately, the addition of the company logo on their holsters were very inconsistent. Very few pre-WWI A.K. holsters have been identified/located with the earlier, lesser-known pre-WWI A.K. holster logo, despite the A.K. logo being prominently pictured throughout their pre-WWI catalogs.
The black ink-stamped No. 2098 holster is identified on page 77 of a very rare, original circa 1909-1910 Albrecht Kind-A.K., English and Spanish language export catalog. In the catalog, a line-drawing, facsimile picture of the subject holster is shown with the following English language, detailed description: No. 2098 German Service Pattern, strong brown Cowhide, double stiff Back, Stud, Sheath for Cleaning Rod, small Pocket for Turnscrew inside, Pouch for 2 suppl. Clips sliding on Belt.
The © 2010 publication titled Pistole Parabellum by Görtz/Sturgess, V3, Chapter 41, page 1245, Prototype and Early Old Model Holsters, in Figure 1151 comes close to identifying an identical holster as made by Akah stating: The reddish-brown colour of the leather and stitching suggests that these may by products of Albrecht Kind [Akah], but the absence of markings makes this impossible to confirm. Note: the figure 1151 pictured, near perfect condition A.K. made holster is currently in the LOB collection.
The A.K. No.2098 Style Holster Ink Stamping
Note that the subject holster No. 2098 numeric font style ink stamping is identical to the Akah catalog No. 2098 print stamping. This supports the stamping being applied at the time of manufacture by Pre-WWI A.K. or post-WWI Akah. With that said, it is surprising that the ink-stamping survived 100 plus years considering its small 15mm x 6mm size or footprint. It is stamped under the cover flap on unfinished, rough leather in the most unfortunate location of directly in the cover flap folding crease. Furthermore, the black ink used could have been vegetable oil based, which tends to degrade or fade over time[1].
It is interesting that the circa 1909/1910 A.K. catalog identifies the No. 2098 holster as the “German Service Pattern”. This commercial style was occasionally used by Imperial German Army officers, which were allowed private purchase of their holsters and pistols, and not always necessarily a “regulation” P08. The same holster was offered in the 1908 A.K. and possibly earlier, A.K. German language only catalogs.
The translated description is basically the same
as in the circa 1909-1910 A.K. catalog, except in the 1908 A.K. catalog it was identified, not as No. 2098, but as No. DOPF, an acronym for Deutsch Ordonnanz Parabellum Futteral or German Ordinance Model Holster.
Apparently, the No. 2098 designation was first used in the circa 1909/1910 A.K. export catalog. As such, this most likely dates the manufacture of the subject No. 2098 marked holster as part of the last batch[2] of A.K. commercial holsters made from 1909/1910 to no later than 1914.
1909/1910 Brazilian Contract A.K. No. 2098 Style Holster
It is quite certain that some of the 1909/1910 A.K. export catalog described No. 2098 German Service Pattern holsters were used with the circa 1909/1910 Brazilian order of 5,000 New Model, 30 Cal, 4¾-inch barrel, grip safety Parabellums, as identified by some Luger authors, of which an example was pictured in Lugers At Random, © 1969 on page 408 with a text caption of: 1906 Brazilian holster. It was also described in the © 1986 publication titled: The Luger Book on page 82, B73 Brazil: holsters in a paragraph (i) description very similar to the 1909/1910 A.K. export catalog description. The B73 Brazil: holster describes a second Brazilian holster in a paragraph (ii) description as: A rarer holster, virtually with the standard German commercial type with the interesting comment of: Though the encircled-B property appears on these holsters, they are probably German made. No such B73 paragraph (ii) described encircled-B property marked holsters have been identified, which would be easy to miss as the Brazilian Luger receiver left side ”circle B” property mark is less than 3mm diameter.
Pictured is one such B73 paragraph
(i) described Brazilian holster example and another of the same holster pictured with Brazilian contract pistol, s/n 14. Since the No. 2098 holster was offered in the early A.K. catalogs with a belt carry, twin magazine pouch, it is possible that the magazine pouch would be part of a Brazilian Luger rig.
Yet another, unusual ca. 1920s
“box” type style Brazilian holster is pictured on page 277 in the © 1959 Luger Variations publication by H. Jones. Pictured is a another, four-view
color example of the same unusual box style Brazilian holster.
Another early Pre-WWI holster is pictured with a 1906 Brazilian contract Luger, being described by the seller as a Brazilian made holster for a ca. 1906 Brazilian contract Luger. The holster varies from the A.K. No. 2098 tear-
drop style full cover flap with brass stud and leather slit closure holster. The noted differences are the unusual shape, full cover flap with snap fastener closure. The holster body rear has single belt loop and holster body, spine attached, open top spare magazine pouch, but lacks a cleaning rod sheath and a loading tool, snap fastener leather pouch under the cover flap.
The “Brazilian-Made” holster could certainly be pre-WWI or even possibly the 1920s, based on the very fancy cover flap, stitched scroll work design, or would appear at most, to be an unofficial, one-off aftermarket, non-standard commercial holster made for a Brazilian soldier or officer.
A very informative article titled: The Lugers of the Tropics by Douglas S. Aguiar Jr. and Luke Mercaldo - Wednesday, April 10, 2019 in the American Rifleman presents an alternate interpretation or definition of the original holsters issued with the 1909/1910 Brazilian contract Luger pistols.
Finally, pictured are multiple views (
View 1,
View 2,
View 3)
of yet another, third contestant of a possible “Brazilian” contract holster as defined by the previous owner, Dr. Geoffry L. Sturgess.
A.K. catalog No. 2099 holster
It should be additionally noted that the Akah No. 2098 Old and New Model grip safety Luger holster designation was discontinued as of the 1928 Akah 75 year Jubilaums-Ausgäbe (Jubilee-Edition) catalog, superseded by “New Model” holster No. 2099 (aber ohne putzstockschiede or but without cleaning rod sheath) now with strap and square buckle with roller closure on page 328. Pictured is one such extremely rare, only known published example, as described in the 1928 Akah catalog as for a 4¾-inch barrel Luger, amazingly, with the Akah logo on the holster body, immediately below the entrance lip, to the left of the pull-up strap.
Interesting that the 1928 Akah catalog would picture the No.2099 holster for a 4¾-inch barrel Luger with a leather covered “D” ring type buckle and strap closure with a magazine pouch and cleaning rod sheath attached to the holster body spine, while explaining in the accompanying text description that the holster offered does not come with a cleaning rod sheath, but only a magazine pouch and with no mention of the change to the original cover flap loading tool pouch. Pictured are three variations of the Akah cover flap underside loading tool/screwdriver/pin-punch, snap fastener closure leather pouch.
There are pre-WWI commercial
holsters similar to the No. 2099 pictured in the 1928 Akah catalog, except for the 4-inch barrel Lugers and with two, equal length, vertically positioned belt loops of which are not a characteristic of the pre-WWI Akah No. 2098 holsters with their uneven length, angled positioned belt loops.
In Pistole Parabellum volume III, chapter 42, page 1250, figure 1154 pictures two Akah
holsters with the text caption stating that: Pre-WWI Akah commercial holsters for 120mm (left) and 100mm-barreled Parabellums, both with a pocket for the spare magazine. The leather covered “D” shaped steel buckle is characteristic of Akah’s production of this (pre-WWI) period. Another feature of these later holsters, in addition to the leather covered buckles and the holster spine attached spare magazine pouch, is a leather sheath for an all steel, short, 5-inch length shaft cleaning rod and under the cover flap a combination loading tool-pin punch leather pouch.
Based on information in The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, a.k.a. TBLAP © 2011 – 2012 by Görtz/Sturgess in Volume III, Chapter 19-Accessories on page 1174 states the following highlighted, clarifying additional information about the (1909/1910) A.K. Catalog No. 2099 holster:
1) From ca. 1906 A.K. offered a distinctive holster for both 100 mm and 120 mm barrelled pistols in their catalogs as Nr. 2099.
2) Prior to WWI these holsters also had a pocket for a cleaning rod alongside the spare magazine pouch on the spine.
3) This style continued to be listed by Akah after WWI, but without the additional pouches for pin-punch and cleaning rod.
This information makes it possible to define multiple variations of the New Model Akah catalog No. 2099 holster first noted in the 1908 A.K. catalog as No. DOPF through the 1928 Akah 75 year Jubilee catalog as No. 2099 and are:
1) Variation 1 – A.K.-Akah catalog No. 2099 holster with leather covered “D” ring buckle and spine attached magazine and cleaning rod pouch, ~ ca. 1908 – 1925.
2) Variation 2 – Akah catalog No. 2099 holster with leather covered “D” ring buckle, but without cleaning rod and with loading tool pouch, but without pin-punch compartment. ~ Ca. 1920 – 1925.
3) Variation 3 – Akah catalog No. 2099 style holster, but with square metal with roller bar buckle, and also without holster spine cleaning rod sheath and with loading tool pouch, but without pin-punch compartment. ~ Ca. 1925 – 1930. Note: this variation is not pictured in any known published Akah catalog nor identified in Pistole Parabellum or TBLAP.[3]
Additionally, the above variation 2 and 3 stated production range assignment is completely arbitrary as it uncertain if the variation 3 example is a one-off variation, considering that as of this article, it is the only known published example.
Pictured are front views of all
the Akah catalog No. 2099 “New Model” Luger holster variations and a front view with cover flaps open of No. 2099 Variation 2 and Variation 3 for comparison.
The other Akah catalog No. 2099 holster
In the circa 1939 Akah catalog No. 175, which is believed to be the last Akah commercial catalog issued prior to the start of WW2, pictures and describes a different style commercial Luger holster with up-strap and cover flap keeper closure, full cover flap commercial holster on page 272, identified as No. 2099 Parabellum, interestingly, being offered for 7.65 and 9mm caliber pistols. Pictured is one such holster with an Akah logo on the rear between the belt loops.
No. OPF (Ordonnanz-Pistole-Futteral) or No. 2097
Another interesting Parabellum holster is offered in the 1908 A.K. catalog identified as No. OPF (Ordonnanz Pistole Futteral) and in the 1909/1910 A.K. export catalog and the 1928 Akah catalog as No.2097, described in English in the circa 1909/1910 A.K. export catalog as a Swiss Service Pattern holster and in the 1928 catalog, simply as Parabellum, apparently for Old and New Model Swiss commercial Lugers. A unique feature of these Akah No. 2097 Swiss commercial holsters is the carrying strap metal “D” rings and the parallel stitching attached closing strap.
These A.K. or Akah No. 2097 Swiss style commercial holsters could have been ordered individually or in batch, although the word “batch” may not be appropriate as even though featured in multiple A.K. and Akah catalogs the holster(s) could have been made on an individual order basis only, although “batch” orders could have been placed by retailers such as W. Glaser – Waffen - Zurich who advertise in their 1933 Jubilee catalog the Akah No. 2097holster on page 157 as Art. 1114. Ordonnanzpistolen – Futteral aus Militärleder, hellbraun, samt Umhängeriemen (Ordinance pistols - Holster made of military leather, light brown, with shoulder strap). It is certain in some cases that there is the possibility of government or military contract orders for other A.K. or Akah catalog Parabellum holsters, such as No. 2098.
Pictured is an example, and based on the early A.K. logo, probably intended for an Old Model Swiss commercial. Also, pictured is a similar 1928 Akah catalog No. 2097 Parabellum style, unmarked holster with leather strap and appropriately pictured with a M1906, new model Swiss crested, BUG proofed commercial Luger.
The Subject A.K. No. 2098 Holster
The subject pre-WWI Akah No. 2098 tear drop style, full cover flap with brass stud and slit closure was originally made to house an M1900 30 Cal., 4¾-inch barrel commercial Luger. The holster was made using Akah signature, red linen stitching with a spine attached cleaning rod sheath with brass stud and slit closure. Under the cover flap was a loading tool pouch, but with snap fastener closure. A typical 8-inch long, but with an unusual, tapered width pull-up strap was used with the narrow end width of 7 mm, attached to the holster back panel upper horizontal stitch line with the other 14 mm wider width end, exiting though a rectangular slot in the holster body front, just under the entrance lip.
It should be noted that a signature feature of these early, Old Model Akah holsters, is that there is no separate leather hinge strip interface, as the top of the cover flap is directly attached to the holster body by a single line of red linen stitching. These holsters are similar to, and probably modeled after the first DWM 1899 Swiss Test Trials holsters and the first DWM associated, circa 1901 commercial holsters.
Another important feature, unique to
the Akah No. 2098 commercial holster is the holster body interior full length, entrance to toe, finished leather rear panel liner, externally noted by the lack of the holster, center located rear side horizontal stitch line. It is not certain that all Akah No. 2098 commercial holsters have a full length holster body rear panel liner as there are otherwise identical examples that appear to have a top half panel liner only, secured by a horizontal stitch line visible on the holster rear, however, internal examination shows the horizontal stitch line was an added reinforcement to a full length panel liner.
The Modifications
The subject pre-WWI Akah catalog holster No. 2098 was later modified by removing the spine attached cleaning rod sheath and snap fastener closure combination loading tool pouch under the cover flap. The holster was additionally modified by replacing the cover flap brass stud and leather slit closure with an early style, oval shaped, steel “Twist Lock” type closure assembly stamped ЯG. Black Whip Stitch rawhide lacing was added to the cover flap border and a braided, brown leather rawhide strip was added to the holster body toe, inserted, front to rear through two added holes.
The uneven length, angled twin belt loops were removed and replaced with a U.S. Army type, steel metal belt hook, secured through the added, shaped leather backing by five steel, pan head rivets, of which the added leather backing was later modified by adding two vertical slits in the leather backing for direct belt carry, bypassing the still intact metal belt hook.
It is difficult to determine when and where the changes were made or if all the changes were done at the same time, although, based on the early style of “Twist Lock” type closure, probably in the 1920’s or 1930’s. What is certain, however, based on deep depressions of Old Model Luger dished toggles that the holster housed an Old Model Luger for many years before, and possibly after the holster was modified.
The Whip Stitch laced, full cover flap border, along with the added holster body toe braided rawhide leather strip, suggests the work was done in the western United States, although does not explain the removal of the cleaning rod sheath and loading tool pouch. However, there is nothing “out west” about the U.S. Army type added belt hook.
The relatively good condition of the holster eliminates the possibility of removal of the cleaning rod sheath, combination loading tool/pin-punch leather pouch and twin belt loops resulting from damage. Further supporting “out west” changes was the personalized cover flap addition of the very stylized owners’ initials surrounded by fancy scroll work, although the art work looks suspiciously Teutonic, suggesting the changes could have be done elsewhere. Some sort of, possibly triangular shaped “emblem” was once attached to the cover flap as evidenced by three triangular located holes, apparently, prior to the addition of the personalized logo, that partially covers two of the three holes.
Pictured is an original, unmodified pre-WWI Akah No. 2098 Old/New Model Luger commercial holster with belt carry twin magazine pouch.
Possible Akah Variant Design Holster
The final featured commercial holster is a full cover flap with brass stud a leather slit closure with Akah holster characteristics of chestnut brown leather with red linen stitching. Unusual features are the holster body entrance lip, which has an added reinforcing strip of red lined stitched leather and the cover flap has stitched red linen attached, shaped ears on each side, creating more of a bucket style cover flap.
The holster body rear has a single, wide belt loop, folded over at the top and attached at the bottom with two parallel stitch lines. Additionally, the holster body has a toe plug, which is unusual for an Akah holster. Although, definitely of German origins with a holster body pull-up strap, however, the lack of an internal lined leather holster body rear panel and no loading tool pouch under the cover flap errs more toward Swiss. The holster shows evidence of long-term storage of an Old Model Luger, dating it to pre-WWI manufacture.
Albrecht Kind
Attached is an extremely rare, 30 Aug. 1910 dated, one-page, two-sided, hand written letter by Albrecht Kind on official A.K. stationary and signed by Albrecht Kind, personally addressed to Herrn (Mr.) W. Glaser of Waffen Glaser, Waffen Zürich, and signed on page 2 hochachtend! (Yours Sincerely!) Albrecht Kind
Summary
Without access to these very early and extremely rare, pre-WWI
Akah commercial catalogs, with their pictures and detailed holster descriptions
with assigned designations, i.e. No. 2098 German Service
Pattern,
it would be very difficult to identify these early and equally rare, unmarked commercial,
Old and New Model Luger holsters as made by A.K./Akah.
Additionally, it is uncertain how many of these early A.K./Akah commercial holsters were marked under the cover flap with a catalog “style” or “Model” No., ink-stamped numbers that survived and, if found so marked and still readable, with no other information available, or any familiarity with early A.K./Akah commercial catalogs and holsters, the number could be mistaken for a pistol serial number, summarily dismissed, the holster maker remaining unidentified.
It should be noted that there are several documented examples of early commercial holsters, similar or identical to the A.K./Akah style No. 2098, some in Luger book publications identified as A.K./Akah commercial holsters. Additionally, these No. 2098 holsters have been associated with the Example 2 pre WW1 German army and the Example 6 with the circa 1909 Brazilian contract Parabellum. Pictured below are several probable A.K./Akah style No. 2098 Brown Saddle Leather holster examples in the collection.
Mouse-over individual holsters for a detailed view
Other early Akah catalog offerings
Other Akah catalog leather items of interest is a 1920s Akah logo marked, fancy style leather sheathed period German hunting knife, described and pictured in the pre A.K. and post WW1 Akah catalogs as Jägersfriend or Hunters friend. Akah catalogs also offered period German hunting daggers, an example described in the 1909/1910 A.K. catalog as No. 8529 Sword for Foresters with the dagger being made by CHR. KÖNIGSHOFEN - DÜSSELDORF. or CHRIST KINGS SHOP - DÜSSELDORF.
[2] The word “batch” may not be appropriate as even though featured in multiple A.K. and Akah catalogs the holster(s) could have been made on an individual order basis only, although “batch” orders could have been placed by retailers such as W. Glaser – Waffen - Zurich or in some cases government or military contract orders.
[3] Note that there is no mention of the No. 2099 variation 3 in the 2011 – 2012 TBLAP publication, which, apparently the author(s) were not aware of, or didn’t address the variation 3 with steel, square buckle with roller, although a variation 3 example was pictured in the 1992 publication Luger Holsters and Their Accessories of the 20th Century © 1992 by E. Bender on page 265.
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