Krebs & Nicolaus-Bremen 'Police' holster
KREBS & NICOLAUS - BREMEN
Pictured is an early pre 1925 made P08 style, possibly commercial Luger holster made by Krebs & Nicolaus-Bremen, being a brown leather holster incorrectly described by the seller as a possible WW2 police issue holster, where in fact it is a first pattern undated holster, based on the separately attached magazine pouch and separate cover flap/holster body hinge, although purportedly made in the 1920s was, at least prior to 1925. As of this time one other known 1920s holster maker has been identified as being made in Bremen, the first one by K.Budde – Bremen, first pictured in History Writ in Steel, a.k.a. HWiS © 2009 by Don Maus and the other holster, being the subject of this article made by Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen and only one pictured example of each, with the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster example, first surfacing 11 years later in 2020, which attests to their extreme scarcity.
Prior to this writing the Krebs & Nicolaus-Bremen holster maker had been identified only in a 2018 list of holster makers by a German collector who stated: I found only a few new holster makers during the last years…identifying the subject holster maker as number 206 in a list of 423 German holster makers. Both Bremen made examples were originally made with standard military-style P08 diagonal buckle and strap closure, later converted to Police style holsters with holster body vertical up-strap with cover flap affixed strap keeper and steel stud closure.
K. BUDDE – BREMEN
The K. Budde-Bremen holster is pictured and discussed in the excellent publication titled History Writ in Steel, © 2009 by Don Maus, Chapter 17, page 277, Figure 17-4. The undated brown leather holster appears to be in excellent condition and is maker marked K. Budde-Bremen. Per Don Maus It originally had a diagonally attached P08 style buckle/strap closure that was replaced with a studded “up-strap” police-style closure. Inside the cover, in ink is “F.E.” and “…ning.” The former (F.E.) is partially covered by the back of the steel closure stud washer and the latter is partially obscured by what appears to be glue from a subsequent label. The inside of the cover is also stamped POL.BRH. The holster includes an unmarked takedown tool. Since only the front of the holster is pictured, and only cropped pictures of the holster rear, one assumes that the holster is of the first pattern, pre-1925 manufacture with a separately attached magazine pouch.
KREBS & NICOLAUS – BREMEN
The subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen first pattern holster is in excellent condition and is identically configured to the K.
Budde – Bremen holster with both holsters being converted from Imperial era, first pattern type, military-style P08 holsters with diagonally affixed buckle and strap closure, later converted to a P08 Police style holster with vertically affixed holster body up-strap with cover flap keeper and steel stud. Both holsters, except for the external, undated logos have no other external markings. Per Don Maus the K. Budde – Bremen holster is marked on the inside cover flap with a small stamping POL.BRH., indicating Police Bremerhaven.
The subject Krebs & Nicolas – Bremen holster is also marked under the cover flap, except with the stamping P.D .B n. followed by a 2 / 3 ? stamping, with the 3 mostly covered by the cover flap stud steel retaining washer with the P.D.Bn. marking indicating per HWiS, C17, page 276, Table 17-1 titled Markings of the Ordnunsgpolizei of the Polizei Direktion-Bremen to mean Polizei-Directorate-Bremen or if spelled as one word Polizeidrektion could also mean Police Headquarters-Bremen. Also, under the cover flap there is an upper case, ink stamped K.
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The meaning of the stamping of 2 / 3 ? is uncertain, however, another Bremen made holster marking is pictured in The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, a.k.a. TBLAP © 2011 & 2012 by G. Sturgess on page 1261, Figure 19-134 with an identical P.D.Bn. stamping followed by a 6 / 3 6 stamping. In the Figure 19-134 text caption Sturgess states that it is: a wholly anomalous, but apparently police unit marking in a converted holster, not matching either 1922 or 1932 regulations: P. represented a Polizeischule (Police school) in both 1922 and 1932, but neither Dusseldorf nor Breslau had one, and the letters make no sense together, nor does the 3/ mark, which could have represented a centuria[1] in Berlin, but not elsewhere.
The TBLAP Figure 19-134 internal cover flap marking is identical to a Krebs & Nicolaus-Bremen Police configured holster currently being advertised for sale by a US mid-west gun dealer, described as formally of the G. Sturgess collection. It is therefore unclear, since the Krebs & Nicolaus-Bremen marked holster was part of his collection, how he could be not aware of or mention the holster maker, nor had read the prior 2009 publication History Writ in Steel by Don Maus where the POL.BRH., indicating Police Bremerhaven marking was identified in a Bremen made holster. With the identification in TBLAP of another P.D.Bn. or Polizei-Direktion
Bremen marked in a Krebs & Nicolaus-Bremen made holster, fortunately with the complete P.D.Bn. 6 / 3 6 stamping not covered by the added steel retention washer, while not completely explaining the marking, does further substantiate that the inside cover flap Bremen Police markings were applied prior to these WWI style, undated Bremen made holsters being later converted to new manufacture, post 1929 “up-strap” police style holsters.
A similar, under-the-cover-flap police converted holster marked H.n. or Hannover and S.H. or Schutzpolizei Hannover is followed by a three-digit, possibly unit number 133.
As stated above, it is certain based on the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster P.D .B n . 2 / 3 ? stamping is that it was applied prior to the holster being converted to a police holster configuration with an up-strap and stud closure. This conclusion also applies to the K. Budde – Bremen holster POL.BRH. stamping, as although the Bremerhaven Police marking is not near the inside cover flap stud steel retaining washer, the F.E. ink stamping is, as stated earlier by the Don Maus description, the upper leg of the E. being clearly partially covered by the stud steel retaining washer.
Although the Table 17-1 contents indicate P.D. Bremen markings on pistols other than P08s, this is the second instance of a Bremen made, military-style holster for a P08 with Bremen type Police stampings. It is interesting to note that the K. Budde-Bremen made holster is Police Bremerhaven stamped while the Krebs & Nicolaus-Bremen made holster is marked Polizei-Direktion Bremen, cities separated by 55km or 34 miles.[2]
Additional comments below Table 17-1 state that: The four reported serial numbers on Dreyse M1907s in Table 17-1 suggest these pistols and probably the others were purchased and marked during the Imperial era. They may have been issued to the Schutzmannschaft and/or Kriminalpolizei.
This seemingly implies that the P08 pistol originally holstered in the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster, prior to Polizei conversion may have been also so marked in the Imperial era and gives questions as to the manufacturing time fame of the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster, Imperial or Weimar, although regardless when made, one would expect the Bremen made holsters to be dated.
Additionally, to further confuse matters the Police Sear Safety was not installed on P08 Lugers until the 1920s era, meaning if a Police Luger was used in either Bremen made holsters in WW1, they would lack Sear Safeties and be identified by markings only. Since the Don Maus Police Luger serial number 8185m, based on
the m-suffix was made in the 1925 to 1929 time frame, that the later added Sear Safety comports with the 1929 or later K. Budde – Bremen POL.BRH. marked holster conversion from a military-style P08 to a Police regulation up-strap and stud configuration. Additionally, based on the added military-style placement of the serial number on the receiver and other small parts it was initially routed the Army prior to Police service.
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The Analysis
Per Don Maus: The holster and magazines were keys to the interpretation of the SP.Bn.669. marking on the pistol as being from Bremen and not Bautzen. The holster was manufactured in Bremen, probably in the early to mid-1920s as a commercial holster. It is stamped POL.BRH., which almost certainly is an abbreviation for Polizei Bremerhaven. Administratively, Bremerhaven was a part of the Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen and would have been policed by a unit of the Bremen Schupo. While the holster does not bear the serial number or property stamp of the pistol, the fact that there are two magazines with serial numbers matching the gun convinces me that these items were all part of a single policeman’s rig.
If the holster had not been paired with the gun until after the war, it is highly unlikely that it would have contained a magazine matched to the pistol. This rig reportedly was brought back from WWII by a Canadian vet. Bremen was captured by Canadian troops, who were nowhere near Bautzen, further supporting the Bremen identification. More information supporting this identification may be found in Chapter 17 of HWIS. The author states he has observed another converted holster by the same K. Budde-Bremen name with the same POL.BRH. stamping.
The above description of the K. Budde – Bremen holster as a Police holster strongly supports the identity of the subject modified Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster also as a Police holster, however, some mysteries of these holsters persist, such as the actual pre 1925 manufacture date of these undated Bremen “commercial” made holsters.
It is most likely that if or when a P.D. Bremen marked Police P08 is identified, it will be marked as the M1907 Dreyse pistol as pictured in Figure 17-3, except the marking will be located on the front gripstrap.
That these holster makers have never been identified only until recent times suggest very few were made or survived and additionally, despite the fact that there are, at least two Bremen holster leathermakers, both purportedly being commercial that the market in 1920s Weimar Germany, that demand would support two commercial holster makers in one town, seems unlikely. Another interesting observation is that despite being two different identified Bremen commercial leathermakers that both holster logos share the same identical character font style and size.
Another commonality is that both Bremen converted holsters have loading tool pouches with brass stud and slit closure while the later added Police type up-strap stud and slit cover flap closure use steel studs and steel retention washers. An examination of Police holsters in the collection shows that holsters that were converted from LP08 Artillery holsters to P08 Police style holsters with added up-strap strap stud and slit closures, many used steel studs.
The only published information regarding Police holsters with up-strap stud and slit closures can be found in another excellent publication titled: Police Lugers – German Police Lugers and Their Markings 1918 – 1958, © 2012 by E. Tinker & D. Gruber on page 176, illustrations 368 and 369. Illustration 368 pictures and describes various closure stud types, including a close-up of an unknown holster maker Police style steel stud closure, basically identical to the two Bremen holster examples.
The illustration 369 shows various Police up-strap holster brass stud and strap closures of assorted years, with the straps being of basically equal length. Unfortunately, however, all close-up pictured stud and strap closures are 1929 through 1941 new manufacture Police holsters, while not picturing or addressing the illustration
368 pictured Police style steel stud, nor discusses or pictures any examples of the 1941 through 1943 new manufacture Police holsters with up-strap steel stud and slit closures, leaving only the Bremen converted examples and several observed LP08 conversions with steel studs.
The 1930s variation Akah Police up-strap and keeper style first pattern[3] Police holsters also, in addition to brass studs, used steel studs with unfortunately, the cover flap keeper being functionally useless because of the shallow cover flap design leaving the steel stud too close to the keeper. It is evident with the pictured
example, although well-used, the tapered, pear shape, up-strap was never feed through the cover flap keeper.
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Pictured is a close-up of multiple views of the steel stud of the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen Police holster, compared to a typical 1941 Otto Sindel – Berlin steel stud. A side-by-side comparison of the illustration 368 unknown holster maker steel stud and strap with the Krebs & Nicolaus
– Bremen steel stud and strap shows that the steel studs, if not identical, are remarkedly similar.
What is certain is that the illustration 368 steel stud is not a 1941 – 1943 new manufacture Police Luger holster with a steel stud, although appears to be a P08 military-style, diagonal buckle and strap closure converted to a Police up-strap steel stud and slit closure based on two empty, diagonally positioned stitch holes situated to the upper left side of the cover flap strap keeper.
It is stated that many different leathermakers were involved with conversion of P08 and LP08 holsters to Police style P08 holsters with up-strap stud and slit closure and with 420 identified leathermakers in Germany that all identified, converted holsters consistently used steel studs, i.e. there is no published example of a diagonal buckle and strap Police up-strap conversion holster using a brass stud. Pictured is an LP08 to Police holster conversion with an up-strap stud and slit closure using a steel stud.
Another interesting observation is related to holsters used by the Weimar Navy and army, although many WW1 holsters were used, one “undated” example being Gustav Reinhardt – Berlin, yet there were some new holsters made by 1920s leathermakers, such as 1926 dated Adalbert Fischer – Berlin C2, and 1926 dated C. Pose A.G. Berlin holsters. With that said there are no identified, as yet 1920s, purportedly commercial made Bremen holsters with WaA18 WaffenAmt Army control stamps, or any contract markings on Bremen or any police holsters until 1929.
Since the Weimar Police were technically a civilian organization to about 1936 when they were nationalized, one would not expect to see WaA18 army control markings, although if a Bremen Police holster contract exists, one would expect to see some form of external marking other than the makers name (s).
Why two Bremen based holster makers existed, especially in the 1920s, purportedly both commercial, supports the suggestion that, although military-style, they were made, allegedly for commercial sales and not military. Additionally, some collectors recognize the rarity and desirability of these seldom located Bremen holsters as indicated by the very active, competitive bidding by several collectors on the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster. Also uncanny is the near identical appearance of both holsters, as if they were made by the same leathermaker, i.e. to contractor specifications yet there they are, each with different Bremen leathermaker names.
Also in Police Lugers – German Police Lugers and Their Markings 1918 – 1958, ©2012 by E. Tinker & D. Gruber on page 199 show a list titled New manufacture Police holster years as observed: In that list from 1919 to 1925 the authors indicate that no new holsters were manufactured. In as much as, although discussing Bremen Police markings on page 41 do not mention the existence of Bremen made and Bremen/Bremerhaven Police marked, first pattern holsters, it is uncertain where, chronologically, they would place the manufacture of these holsters. Even though one example of these Bremen made first pattern, Police marked holsters were first identified three years earlier in the publication History Writ in Steel, a.k.a. HWiS © 2009 by Don Maus.[4]
The authors do state, however, on page 176 that: Police holsters used prior to 1926 were either converted army holsters or curiously, undated new production with
military or commercial markings. With the exception that some LP08 conversions did use up-strap stud and slit closures by adding a brass stud and keeper to the cover flap, that holsters with up-strap Police type closures were not used until 1929 and later on new contract production Police holsters. Most converted LP08 and P08 holster to Police up-strap configurations occurred after 1929 and into WW2. Prior to 1929 most all holsters used by the Police were reissued army P08 holsters with diagonal buckle and strap closures. A clear example is seen on a Weimar era Bremen Police officer in 1928.
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Since there is evidence of German Police using P08 style, diagonally affixed buckle and strap holsters in the 1920s it is possible that the K. Budde and the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holsters as originally made for and used by the Bremen police, were converted to Police style up-strap holsters in 1929 or later. Furthermore, it is possible that the die-stamped markings on the cover flap inside surface were pre 1925 Police applied. Conversely, although highly unlikely, these markings could have been applied post 1929 representing official conversion to Police holsters.
Also confusing is the significance or purpose of the hidden location placement and small font size cover flap inside Bremen stampings and the lack of external markings, such as pistol serial numbers or other Police unit related markings usually found on 1929 and later, newly manufactured Police holsters and even some converted WW1 military holsters to Police use.
Prior to 1925 many Weimar police holsters were a mix of: 1) standard reissued WW1 P08 holsters with diagonal buckle and strap closure and, 2) cut-back LP08 holsters with modified up-strap and stud closure with, 3) some LP08 Artillery holsters, completely converted to P08 style buckle and strap closure, including modified cut-back LP08 holster body with closed toe and added, spine attached magazine pouch.
HWiS, © 2009, page 212, Figure 14-6 pictures a group of Saxon Police taken in the 1920s with a text caption that states that graduates have military style diagonal, buckle closures. Note that there are eight Police officers pictured with holstered P08 Lugers, which, for identification have been numbered 1 through 8. At first glance all holsters appear, as stated in the Figure 14-6 text caption to be of the above 1) described standard military-style WW1 P08 with diagonal buckle closures being numbers 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8, however, holsters 2, 5 and 7 appear to be of the above category 3) described LP08 modified holsters based on the vertical positioning of the buckle and strap closure, while actually, none are considered 1929 Police style holsters. Pictured is one such LP08 converted example.
This identical Figure 14-6 picture is also featured in Police Lugers – German Police Lugers and Their Markings 1918 – 1958, ©2012 by E. Tinker & D. Gruber on page 161, Illustration 345 with the text caption Saxon Police,
May 5th, 1926. Note the mixture of Army and police style holsters.
Some of the diagonal buckle closure holsters pictured in Figure 14-6 could
be originally configured, Bremen made holsters with Saxon Police markings, although being totally speculative, does point out the difficulty of identifying or associating these holsters to any 1920s – 1930s German police groups other than the tenuous association of, up to now, albeit only two published examples, the sole use of all Bremen made holsters by the city of Bremen and Bremerhaven police.
Pictured is a Weimar era Bremen Police officer at the shipyard A.G. Weser, shortly before the launch of the steamer Bremen in 1928. Note the P08 military-style holster with the original diagonally affixed buckle and strap closure. As to the
configuration of the P08 holster is of Imperial or pre 1926 Weimar era manufacture is unknown, although probably Bremen made and internally Bremen “property” stamped, however, what is clear is that as of 1928 at least, the Bremen
Polizei were not using, i.e. had not yet adopted the the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen made, modified P08 to Police style holster. Pictured are multiple views of the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster, view 1 and view 2. Also pictured is the Police House Am Wall - Headquarters of the Bremen Police from 1908 to 1999.
Note that the P08 pictured with the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen holster is considered an appropriate pairing, being a circa 1913, no stock lug manufactured commercial Luger, serial number 69859 routed to Imperial Army service and finally converted to Police service as evidenced by the added Sear Safety, installed no earlier than the 1920s era.
This position is somewhat supported in Imperial Lugers © 1991 by Jan C. Still, in a page 25 paragraph titled 1908 COMMERCIAL ARMY where it states: it has been suggested that they were in Police service during the Imperial era, and that the C/X inspection stamp was related to Imperial Police issue. A similar statement can be found in HWiS © 2019 by Don Maus, C17 on page 276, Table 17-1.
Based on the above P08 Police Luger and holster information it seems certain, albeit incidental, that at least for the K.Budde and the subject Krebs & Nicolaus – Bremen, being first pattern holsters, that they had been in the service of the Bremen/Bremerhaven Police, possibly prior to the 1920s and into, if not the entire Weimar era and maybe into WW2.
[1] Centuria (Latin plural centuriae) is a Latin term (from the stem centum meaning one hundred) denoting military units consisting of (originally) 100 men.
[3] Apparently Akah, being a commercial holster maker didn’t have to comply with the post 1926 Waffenamt second pattern holster design.
[4] Actually the K. Budde – Bremen holster was discussed at length in Jan Still’s Luger Forum in 2006 by the two Police Luger authors referenced in this article.
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