Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2240 Location: Hayden, AL

Saw this holster today, owner says its for US Paratrooper for a .45. The stiching and design make me think Japanese, anyone know what it is or have one like it? A Type 94 and Mag fit nicely, its too small for a .45, and the outline of the previous 'resident' really looks like a 94. I'll only include 1 pic with links to the rest. I added the pistol for fit. Don't know that it really is Japanese, but I thought it was interesting. Trey

Franchi · Joined: Aug 25 2003 Posts: 5 Location: Calif.

Looks Japanese or Chinese to me. Best way to tell is if the "rub" marks match up. You said it looks like a T-94 was in it. Do the areas were the safety lever, muzzle, magazine floor plate, grips, etc touch/rub the holster line up? From the pictures the magazine floor plate appears to line up.
Do you, or anyone else, recognize the shoulder strap clips as Japanese or some other country?
David Franchi

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2240 Location: Hayden, AL

The scuff marks pretty much appear to line up, the profile of the backside looks like a 94, and the mag pouch has scuff marks that match the button on the mag. It has the typical cloth patches in the muzzle of the holster and bottom of mag pouch that I've found in a lot of other Japanese holsters, usually cloth, but sometimes waxed or rice paper. I went ahead and bought it as it was 'neat'. I figured even if it's not Japanese, its old, and worth $35 as 'trench art'. It appears to be a shoulder holster, I was wondering about the placement of the clips, if they would match up with a pilot's harness or something. I'm not sure if the Clips are Japanese, they are unmarked though, If they were US I'd think there would be some sort of inspection/lot/ or proof but I'm not all that familiar with this sort of thing. The holster does not appear to be cut down and retaining strap and holster itself are all made from 1 large piece of leather. I'll have it in Birmingham this weekend (Oct 18-19) if anyone wants to drop by and take a look at it. Thanks for your comments. Trey

Franchi · Joined: Aug 25 2003 Posts: 5 Location: Calif.

Just picked up a web shoulder holster which I don't know the country of manufacture. Thought I would post a picture here as it has a clip similar to the ones on your holster.
Link to your clip pictures..

http://www.castle-thunder.com/pics/casc920/casc640F.jpg

http://www.castle-thunder.com/pics/casc920/casc641F.jpg

My holster is Khaki color with dark green thread and dark green pistol hold-in strap, the snap is marked "-PERMEX-PERMEX-" I have seen Japanese holsters with U.S. made snaps before (I guess we supplied them before WWII or they were captured, but I doubt this is a Japanese shoulder holster.The holster will take a Type 94 and FN 1910 Browning but the magazine pouch won't take either mag. The only thing which would fit in the mag. pouch is a .25 cal mag. (holster is to big for a .25 pistol) or a cleaning rod or, this is way out there, a silencer barrel. Note the steel clip is very similar to yours, although all clips like this might be close to the same design. David Franchi

Links to my holster pictures

Holster
http://photo.starblvd.net/cyq2/6-3-2.jpg

clip
http://photo.starblvd.net/cyq2/6-3-3.jpg

clip
http://photo.starblvd.net/cyq2/6-3-4.jpg

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2240 Location: Hayden, AL

That's interesting. I showed my holster to George Taylor, he was pretty certain it was Japanese (leather), but wasn't sure about the clips or webbing. Thought they might have been added by a GI, or remote chance modified by a Japanese soldier. I like it though. Thanks for the pics and posting. Trey