Very Rare 1905 Dutch Trials Holster

This is a pressed bridle leather holster made to accompany Luger pistols during the 1905 trials held by the Dutch military. They are similar in design to the holsters produced for the 1904 trials with the following improvements: a metal tab on the end of the closure strap; small side pockets for the cleaning rod, take-down tool, and screwdriver; and an interior cover to protect the pistol from rain coming through the cover gap when the angled holster was worn. Page 378 of "Luger Holsters and Accessories" by Eugene Bender, (1992) illustrates an example which is described as extremely rare and the only example then known to exist. We are pleased to offer a previously unknown example of this exceedingly rare holster. The holster bears the requisite issue mark on the reverse: "05/Ko/B"; and "Z" next to the top of the cleaning rod pocket. The leather is in fine condition with light crazing and mild flaking along the flex points but the leather is otherwise in excellent condition, however there is what looks like a somewhat crude military repair to reinforce the closure staple. This rare holster is described and pictured on page 194 of "The Dutch Luger" by Maittens and De Vries, (1994), in which the authors state that these holsters were built in the Netherlands and that "at least one example of the 184 Dutch trial holsters has survived." We are unaware if any additional examples have been found since the publishing of these works but at present it appears that this is only the second or third example to have survived. The overall condition is fine to near excellent; one of the rarest Luger accessories one could ever hope to find.