I got one of these recently from this Ebay store http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RUSSIAN-M-1895-NA ... 3a60048aa6, after some searching for a decent leather, WW2 pattern one. My main concern was whether or not my Tanaka M10 would fit inside it and, thankfully, it does! The holster was posted quickly and very well boxed up and, is a very nice colour and, well made to boot. It can be worn either on the belt loops, or on a strap, using the attachment rings.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Very nice.
I considered one myself, but in the end picked up a post war vinyl one for about £5 from schuster as it's very rare I'll actually use it. Oh and the M10 fits in that as well. 
Yes, I had a vinyl one too but, it didn't look right on my Sam Browne style belt. As you say, it was fine for airsoft but, I wanted a leather one!
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Ah yes, it wouldn't look right on a sam browne!
I'm not planning on doing a russian officer impression... Though I do rather like the field cap... lol. But a senior NCO can have one of those as well, from what I can gather.
i was thinking of getting a holster to carry a pistol in, as im going to be foucusing on being a russian maxim gunner. but looking in all my books, ive never seen a russian private with a pistol any time before the battle of berlin (and they were mostly captured german loot)
so ill probably have a maxim gun on a carrage, a belt, a grenade or two, breadbag and thats it. 
i did consider a rifle slung accross my back, but that would probably be more hassel than its worth.
"Take that you rotton helping of strawberry flan!"
Joseph Porta to "strawberrys and cream", in the sven hassel book ,ogpu prison
Wouldn't machinegunners be issued with pistols ( or a Nagant revolver) for self-defence?
Well that's the regulations but you never see it in photos*.
Mind you there were a fair amount manufactured during the war - 1.45 million in total with about 90% being the Tokarev. Curiously the peak year was 1944 with 570k made.
*accepting that 99% of Soviet 'combat' photos were actually taken in training so don't really show what soldiers would have looked like in combat.
*accepting that 99% of Soviet 'combat' photos were actually taken in training so don't really show what soldiers would have looked like in combat.
Tak Tochno Comrades!, as Russians say
" When we party we party, when we fight we fight."
Pistol use was largely limited to Officers and some trophies* by individuals.
*Remember to be seen not to conform to State Norms was to asked lots of questions by Very unsympathetic men, first such things would have to be permitted by your Kommendeer, then not to be seen as Anti Soviet behaviour by your Regimental "Special Department", then by your Serzhant who might want it himself..... if you were a big enough man then you could get away with it, most didn't bother, they had enough to carry .
Tread carefully Comrades, as did the Heroes of Russian People's we portray.
Urrah!
