Kluge “Sunday Scabbard” for 6.5 N

[Kansasgunner]

I got this Kluge scabbard from a friend. It has a fair bit of wear, but a wipe down with Bick 4 and a little buffing makes it presentable. Photo shows it with a 5" third model .44 in it. Plenty of room for the longer 6.5" barrel.

 

[steve61]

That looks a lot better!��

 

[StrawHat]

I like it! How many do you have now?

Kevin

 

[Kansasgunner]

Two Kluges, one fits 5" N and the new one. I only have one Brill by Rabensburg, flower carved for a 6" K frame. SAFireman has the other Brill for a 4" K frame.

 

[boykinlp]

Tim, not much better than an old Kluge, and they definitely don't show up very often!
Larry

 

[Papa Lee]

My A.W. Brill marked holster pictured below is something I have wondered about for a long while. This very fine condition Brill seems to be a Kluge based upon the stitching on the back, however, it is for a Browning Hi-Power - and although the HP was introduced in Europe in 1935, it did not become popular in America until after Kluge was dead. So, it is a mystery to me.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Very handsome A.W. Brill holster! From what I remember from posts by Red there may have been some overlap with Charles W. Kluge and N.J. Rabensburg. We can speculate that they were both in the shop in the late twenties, early thirties.
Another identifying feature found on the Kluge built holsters was his use of single thick piece of leather in the welt.
Rabensburg used several pieces skived down to make the welt.
I can certainly see influences from both of these craftsmen in your holster.
If I found the correct obituary Charles W. Kluge was born August 1862 and passed January 1944.

 

[Papa Lee]

Here is a photo of the edge welt.

 

[Kansasgunner]

It looks to me like a single piece going down the welt. I believe your identification as it being made by Kluge for Brill is correct.
I'll try to get some photos of the welt stacks on my Kluges and on the Rabensburg when I get home tonight.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Here are some photos of the welt stack and the toe of the Kluge and Rabensburg scabbards. The Kluge scabbards have a single piece in the welt stack with a second piece fitted into the toe for barrel clearance.
The Rabensburg scabbard has 3 pieces in the welt stack going all the way down to the toe, creating a slightly different pocket for the end of the barrel.
Papa Lees handsome Brill for the High Power has all the Kluge earmarks.