Early Brauer Bros Moose Brand L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. Holster

Seller description: A vintage Brauer Bros Inc. Moose Brand, right-handed, fully (chamois) lined, leather holster rear, single belt loop marked "A F L S L" that fit a standard 4" P-08 Luger. The leather is supple with nice, complete stitching, a few light scratches and age soiling but built to protect your pistol in the field. The outside measures about 10" x 6" with an excellent flap imprinted with the Moose Brand logo and the “famous” L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. Minneapolis single line text logo and A F L S L marked single belt loop. This holster is in excellent over-all condition and ready for service. The L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. was a firearms company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although it is no longer active, it left a mark in the world of firearms.

The L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. of Minneapolis holds a place in history, and its legacy is imprinted on a vintage Brauer Bros Inc. Moose Brand holster. This right-handed, fully lined leather holster, marked “A F L S L,” was “designed” to fit a standard 4-inch P-08 Luger. Crafted with supple leather, complete stitching, and a protective purpose, it measures approximately 10 inches by 6 inches. The flap bears the iconic Moose Brand logo ^[1], along with the “famous” ^[2] L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. Minneapolis emblem. This holster, in excellent condition, stands ready for service.

If you’re a fan of historical firearms and their accessories, this piece of history is a fascinating find. The combination of craftsmanship and functionality makes it a collector’s delight. Brauer Bros Inc. Moose Brand RH Holsters P-08 Luger. Please note that the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. was part of the rich tapestry of American firearms history, and its legacy lives on through artifacts like this holster.

The above sellers’ comments/descriptions regarding the popularity of the subject holster markings of the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis located firm may be misplaced, being slightly overhyped, possibly referring to, ironically, another Kennedy firm once based, not in Minneapolis, but in St. Paul titled: Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul which does have a rich history with roots back to 1867 based on the inside cover page of the 1915 Catalog No. 120. For example, pictured are four Kennedy Bros Arms Co. – St. Louis catalogs 1910, 1915 Catalog No. 120, 1922 and 1928 Kennedy Brothers Catalog No. 102, whereas there are no identified L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis catalogs or literature and, as of this article, only one L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis marked holster.

A personal examination of this holster, currently part of the LOB collection, basically supports the sellers’ description of the condition and its markings, except for one glaring error, stating that while it fits and at one time holstered a P08 Luger is true based on the inside cover flap showing a P08 rear grip attaching iron leather contact point it is, however, incorrect as the holster, as stated by the seller, was not “designed” to fit a P08, but originally made to fit an Old Model 1900 grip safety commercial, American Eagle or BUG proofed commercial Luger without rear grip integral stock lug.

An inserted Old Model 1900 or P00 commercial Luger fits perfectly, allowing the full cover flap, slit and brass stud closure to secure to the holster body brass stud without stress. In support of the Old Model 120mm or 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel Luger use, the holster entrance shows long term storage of an Old Model 1900 Luger as evidenced by the impressions of the forward-facing, fluted grasping serrations of Old Model dished toggles, not the cross-hatching pattern of New Model Luger square-faced toggle knobs. In support of the subject holster originally made to fit a P00. Pictured is another period holster of similar style offered by a Midwest retailer with a P00 Luger; View 1 and View 2.

That the subject L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis marked holster was made for an Old Model 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal Luger is most certain as the Kennedy Bros Arms Co. catalogs as of 1915 were still offering these 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal and 4-inch Cal 9mm Luger pistols in their catalogs and most likely up to the 1920s. Note that the 4-inch barrel Cal 9mm offering was a grip safety with no rear gripstrap attaching iron as no commercial P08 Lugers were available prior to 1914 with attaching irons and certainly not imported the USA during the war years. Page 26 of the 1915 catalog described the holsters offered with no mention or reference to Lugers suggests that the subject Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. St. Louis marked holster was a special order for a Luger holster, perhaps listed in earlier catalogs, nevertheless, another indication of the rarity of the holster.

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The Original Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. Moose Brand Logo

It is interesting to note that except for the very stylized Moose Brand text there is no associated Brauer Bros. text stamping around or adjacent to the subject L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis Moose head Brand logo as visible in later holster Moose head logos, in catalogs, on their covers and holsters, however, a detailed examination of the logo shows text writing in the antler rack being B.B.M.Co. in/on the left antler and ST.L. Mo. in/on the right antler. Also, note that the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis Moose Brand logo that the Moose head is applied in a left-side profile view with all later examples, in catalogs and holsters, a right-side profile view with standard font style text.

Since the subject L.F. Kennedy Gun Co – Minneapolis is the first and only known Luger holster to sport the original Moose Brand logo, prominently on the cover flap, that it was probably applied prior to trade mark registration approval of the new Moose Brand logo which Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. was inspired to create, a result of correspondence from Teddy Roosevelt to Brauer Bros. praising their products after Roosevelts’ return from safari in 1914. Brauer Bros., after creating and using the new logo on, at least one holster made for the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis then registered the trademark and added proprietary text to the new logo on holsters and in their catalogs to include the statement: MOOSE BRAND SPORTING GOODS – TRADE MARK REG. ^[3]

The following comments regarding the uniqueness of the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. Minneapolis marked holster Moose Brand logo are based on the identity of another Kennedy marked holster, specifically a Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul circular logo stamped holster which, interestingly, has no other markings or logos associating it with Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. or their Moose Brand logo. The identity of two different Kennedy named gun retailer outlet firms being located in the “Twin Cities” area of Minnesota is unusual with the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. Minneapolis firm, as stated, mysteriously lacking any prior documented history, be it invoices or catalogs, other than a 2 February 1910 original recorded filing date and until further company information or other holster examples are identified, make the subject L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis, Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. – St. Louis Moose Brand logo marked full cover flap, brass stud and slit closure M1900 Old Model Luger holster a one-of a-kind rarity.

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To delve further into Brauer Bros Mfg. Co. holsters, their catalogs and the Moose Brand logo with the exception of the subject L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. Moose Brand logo is that most holsters with the Moose Brand logo invariably include the trade mark registered Brauer Bros. Sporting Goods name in text surrounding the Moose Brand image is different in style from the stand-alone Moose Brand logo, as described earlier, on the subject L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis cover flap marked holster. The Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. offered holsters with three different style logos with apparently the first version a Moose Brand logo first seen on the subject L.F. Kennedy Gun Co.– Minneapolis Luger holster, the second and most seen Moose Brand logo with text above and below the Moose head and the third being an all text logo with no Moose head.

With the subject, unique L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis Moose Brand logo the Moose head is facing left while in the official company catalogs the Moose head is facing right as are the many identified Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. holster stamped Moose Brand labeled logos which are usually stamped on the exterior belt loop surface of the 1920 – 1930s standard Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. holster style with folded over belt loop, unfortunately, a poor, rough surface location, being not as defined in detail, subsequently not surviving as well as the subject holster front cover flap applied logo. Most importantly, the other Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul identified holsters are with a circular logo along with another example, however, also of semi-circular design leather product logo, of which neither logo is related to the Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. – St. Louis Moose Brand logo in catalogs and on holsters.

The L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis and the Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul companies were primarily retail outlet sporting goods stores and as such any items, in this instance, holsters offered through their stores were made by outside suppliers/manufacturers such as Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. – St. Louis, Mo., Red Head Brand Co. – Chicago, Ill. and marked per request, in addition to the maker’s logo, sometimes with the retailer’s name. This is a recognized practice with well-known American based holster makers and their retail customers, be they large retailer outlet firms, such as Abercrombie & Fitch or small-time operations such as local hardware stores and local retailers.

With the Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul located, being the more recognized, long time Minnesota sporting goods retailer as there are several identified examples of their catalogs and correspondence, and during their long time in business, their address and name has changed. The earliest retailer catalog identified in this article is dated 1910 located at the Corner (of) Robert and Third Sts., St. Paul, currently part of the LOB collection is a 1915 Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul address Catalog No. 120, also located at Corner (of) Robert and Third Streets. – St. Paul and a 1922 Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. catalog with an address of Minnesota and Fifth Sts. – St. Paul, and a January 13, 1926 letterhead address of Kennedy Bros. Firearms And General Sporting Goods, 326 NICOLLET AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. and finally a 1928 Catalog No.102 titled simply: Kennedy Brothers with an address reverting back to the Corner (of) Robert and Third Sts. – St. Paul.

Until a Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul holster is identified with the unique or “standard” Brauer Bros Mfg. Co. Moose Brand logo it has to be assumed that the pictured, unidentified holster maker semi-circular and circular design Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul logo stamped holsters are the sole, unidentified leather holster maker logos used by the Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul. It is interesting to note that in the entire 60-page 1915 Kennedy Bros Arms Co. – St. Paul Catalog No. 120 there are no pictures of products with, or references to, the circular logo(s) used on the two identified holsters pictured in this article, although, based on the unique stitching pattern and yellow thread the holsters were made by RED HEAD. See below.

L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis

With no, as of this article, identified literature or catalogs of the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis retailer, except for the subject Brauer Bros. Mfg. Co. holster, made per request of the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. as attested by the early, first style Moose Brand logo and L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. Minneapolis stamped address, the subject holster will remain the sole, stand-alone evidence or example of the existence of the L.F. Kennedy Gun Co. – Minneapolis firm.

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Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul Commercial Old Model P00 Luger holster

The second featured holster, of which there are two basically identical full cover, brass stud and leather slit closure holsters, both made by Red Head, identified as examples 1 and 2. Example 1 is a Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul logo marked holster made for an Old Model 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal grip safety plain chamber or American Eagle crested Luger. The holster has a full cover flap with brass stud and slit closure with a holster body toe plug. The rear, single, narrow belt loop has a horizontally applied semi-circular Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul logo along with the number 1304. Seller description: Great vintage collectable of early 1900's U.S. commercial made version holster for the “P08” German Luger. Manufactured and clearly marked by the Kennedy Bros. Arms Company of St. Paul Minnesota, holster model number 1304.

Example 2 is mostly identical to example 1 with the following exceptions:

1. the styles are slightly different with the example 1 holster body with a toe plug vs stitched holster body closed toe of the of example 2.
2. The Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul logo of example 1 is on the rear side, single belt loop along with the Red Head ID number 1304
3. whereas the Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul logo is on the front cover flap
4. and the Red Head ID number 1304 only is on the rear is also a single belt loop folded over and stitched at the top with the lower rectangular end secured with a pan head rivet.

The fact that the examples 1 and 2 holsters, made for the Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul more than 100 years ago, only identified in 2024 attests to their rarity, and in addition, contributing to their rarity is that example 1 remained in Minnesota for 100 plus years to be sold by a St. Paul resident. Interesting that it was stamped with the Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. – St. Paul logo and that the seller is located in St. Paul, Mn. which strongly suggests it was originally sold in St. Paul, Mn. to a local resident and was used and stayed in St. Paul, Mn. for 115 years. Without the modern, broad global reach of the internet and auctions both holsters would still be in a closet or drawer in Minnesota.

In example 1 the rear, single, narrow belt loop is folded over and stitched at the top with the lower portion terminating in a tapered “U” shape stitched edge. Based on these features described above, it resembles certain characteristics in common with some pre WW1 period Red Head brand manufactured holsters, including the style number, in this case 1304, usually found on belt loops, pictured are some examples and the unique cover flap closure and as in example 2. Pictured are multiple views of example 2 and compared with example 1. Pictured are Red Head examples 1 and 2 together.

The holster construction of Red Head 1304 B 4 holster for a 9mm, 4-inch barrel, grip safety Luger exhibits certain features, specifically the unique shape of the cover flap termination and the pan head shape of the holster body brass stud and cover flap slit closure, in this case, not a slit but more in the shape of an hourglass or key slot with the upper portion being approximately the same diameter of the pan head shaped brass stud. The method of closure required the cover flap to be pulled down past the lower part and slip into the upper, larger diameter of the hourglass shaped hole and releasing with the resulting, upper tension of the cover flap, pulling the cover flap into the lower diameter portion of the hourglass, thereby firmly securing the cover flap closure, to release required the user to first pull down the cover flap to align with the upper, larger diameter portion of the hourglass. This method of closure and release, if done properly, minimized distortion of the cover flap hourglass slot throughout the life of the holster.

From a 2019 Colt Forum post are the following comments: Red Head holsters used a yellow thread on the seam with an interesting stitch pattern visible on the rear of the seam. Per another Colt Forum member who stated: That's a chain stitch, one of the earliest sewing machine types. Not used on gun leather because once frayed, all of the stitch line comes apart like a zipper; and it frays readily because it all sits proud of the leather (the 'knot' is not inside the stitch holes as on a lock stitch). They (Red Head) made a lot of holsters under other brand names and imprints. Their holsters were light and medium grade and were apparently popular as there are quite a few of them around. A number of VL&A holsters are identified as Red Head brand holsters. Example 1. Example 2.

Interestingly, the stitching pattern and color of thread used in the construction of the RED HEAD brand, subject Kennedy Bros. Arms Co. St. Louis Luger holster is not always the yellow color described above, but brown or black and the stitching pattern, also is not always “chain stitch” but normal “lock stitch” stitching. Regarding the yellow thread, chain stitch pattern, RED HEAD holsters have been identified with chain stitching with yellow and brown thread and normal stitching patterns.

Also interesting, is that the more intricate, flamboyant holster seam chain stitching is done to the hidden, holster rear while the holster front side, lock stitch seam stitching is always visible under normal usage.

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The first example, variation 1 is a very early RED HEAD logo brand stamped holster, possibly pre-WW1, full cover flap holster with brass stud and “slit” closure for a 4-inch barrel P08 style Luger with No. 1304 B 4 stamped on the holster rear, single belt loop. The early categorization is based on another holster, variation in the collection with similar characteristics, having a similar stitching pattern, near identical shape rear side and single belt loop with identical 4-digit No. 1304 number stamped on the belt loop. The unknown maker holster with similar features to the subject RED HEAD brand holster was listed in a 1909 Pacific Hardware and Steel Company catalog as No. 1304, a very early pre-WW1 commercial holster for an Old Model, 30 Cal Luger with a 4¾-inch barrel. This places the subject RED HEAD brand holster in the same, early, circa 1909-time frame manufacture with the RED HEAD brand name first used in 1908, possibly being the earliest association of the RED HEAD brand and holster manufacture. The RED HEAD brand also made a holster for the P04 Navy Luger 1204 DB 6 ¾ and Artillery Luger 1204 DB 9 MM 8

[1] Seems when Teddy Roosevelt was going on safari he ordered many mutton-leg rifle cases from Brauer Bros leather in St. Louis. Upon returning from safari Roosevelt wrote a letter of praise for the Brauer Brothers products. Inspired, Brauer named the line of their best quality products "Moose Brand". Theodore Roosevelt's political party at the time was the "Bull Moose" party.