hi,
i have a holster with my vietnam gear, fore reference, but is this a real vietnam issued holster used bij american soldiers?

any help is apriciated!
regards, johan berkvens

That looks to me like something more modern. I think every holster I've ever seen from the Vietnam era was black leather, at least the issue ones. I suppose this could be some sort of privately contracted one, but I doubt it.

Rob

The only holsters I had seen were black or brown leather similar to what was commonly seen in WWII and Korea.

If that is in fact a legitimate issue holster, it must be something very rare and highly collectible.

Any markings on it?

Most probably under the flap.

These will help ID the item.

To me, it looks more like a holdter for a Browning Hi-Power, which was on issue to the Aussies and Kiwis, but that had a different holster.

Colour looks wrong for GI too - Canadian..?

acav out

That does not appear to be American. It would have to be a special make if it is. It was not uncommon for GIs to canibalize gear to make other things. My uncle turned his warn out BDUs into cammo stripps for his gear cut the pockets out and reused them as extras on his newer uniform.

Check the marking and you should be able to find something with a quick google search!

-Mike

It was must likely made in country, either by the G.I. himself or by a local. There was lots of locally made stuff used. Everything from pouches like this, to insignia, to actual uniforms (mainly camo stuff). Or it could be foreign and was traded for. It is not Australian issue, but I agree, it does look British. Maybe French?

hi,
thanks for all your comments. i have lookt under the flap, but there are no markings what so ever on the holster. from the holster itsel i cannot tell what country it comes from... ore what pistol was carried in it. i have checked google and i cannot find anything, maby look harder

well i will sort it out and tell you guys if end when i find something.

thanks a lot so far!
regards johan berkvens

If there are no markings anywhere then it is almost definately made in-country. That's interesting to have if it is. Probobly some soldier bought the pistol in a market or found it and needed a holster!

-Mike

hi!
i checked the browning page, containing all holsters mabe by Browning. from about 1900 until now. it is not on there. but i did find a internet page selling this holster, regretfully they had no information about it. so it is probably not made during the war. stil a mistery....
thanks
johan berkvens

That thought had crossed my mind. Not knowing how or where you aquired the piece, especially if you did not get it yourself "in country", if you picked it up from a surplus shop, garage sale, etc. with out any story behind it, that thing could have come from any where at any time.

A guess the real question is why do you want to know. If it is just because you are curious, then by all means, continue the search for knowledge. If it is because you are doing research and you need to know what kind of holster to give a Vietnam U.S. figure then I would say use it at your own risk. As previously stated, it is not of any known issue, but, it is possible that it could have been aquired by some other means. It could have been made/purchased in Vietnam. I have seen many examples of locally made holsters. It could have been made by the user himself or someone in his or another unit. I have also seen examples of this as well. But I think the main thing to remember is that pistols were not a standard issue to everyone. You only get one issued if your an officer or your job dictates one. If that is the case then you usually get the holster issued with it and in this case it would be, most likely, brown or black leather, stamped U.S.

Does that mean that one could not be aquired by other means? Not at all, hence the need to come up with a way to carry it.

I have no idea why but subjects like this get the best of me. It is those little obscure things that I love.