American Commercial Luger Holsters: Red Head Brand Company

Pictured is a very early RED HEAD brand holster, possibly pre-WW1, full cover flap holster with slit and brass stud closure for a 4-inch barrel P08 style Luger with No. 1304B 4 stamped on the holster rear, single belt loop. The early categorization is based on another holster in the collection with similar characteristics, having a similar stitching pattern, near identical shape back 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 and is pictured in the “Unknown Maker” section as item 21. 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. Pictured are two views of the subject holster with New Model grip safety Luger; View 1 and View 2. The RED HEAD brand also made a holster for the Artillery Luger.