Quote:
Originally Posted by RPKESQ
High grade American and Browning shotguns, Colt pistols, Winchester rifles, "SS" Lugers, capture firearms and the easiest of all, "dug-up" relic firearms are probably 75% to 90% fake.
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Sometimes with those shotguns the original intent was not to defraud, but to upgrade for the owners own enjoyment..However several owners down the road it becomes a "rare" item.
Also we come to the restoration of firearms that with several owners down the road suddenly have become mint examples of a desirable firearm.
Then we come to those who just plain out and out wish to deceive, enhance for profit.
Ironically there is a
well known English Whitworth Rifle that I have run across that someone decided to mark with CSA...thus making it a Confederate used firearm...thinking it would make it more valuable. However it was worth more money just in the configuration it was before someone tried to jack it up. Now you still have a rare rifle but it now has baggage that has detracted from its real value as a rarity among Whitworths as well as a CSA rifle.
Tom De Haas who was a well known Colt SA collector and restorer during the 1950's made up a dozen or so Walker Colts as there were no replicas being made at the time. He didn't do it to deceive, however today those dozen or so Walkers have entered into the collectible market, some as being real. However people who have been around the block a few times with that particular model of Colt can spot a DeHaas gun from across the parking lot. Much to the chagrin of the collector who just thought he scored an item.
The known De Haas Walkers have a considerable value just because he made them. However that value is about a 10% of a Real Walkers value.
I in
general don't buy guns based on serial number, capture papers, special markings, original boxes etc. I buy the gun for what the gun is, will not pay much of a premium for an extra ( a box only). In general I don't deal with super expensive nor rare guns..Over the years some raritys or nice things have come my way.
Some of you can testify that if there is a doubt on something I will make you aware of that doubt and risk you are taking before you put your money down. Also the money involved was commensurate with the risk being taken..BTW I am wondering how that item worked out...
Several years ago I bought a magnificent Winchester High wall reworked by Sedgley in the 1930's into a 22 Hornet. The quality of the work was every bit as good as G&H. I paid a premium for the gun (the price was inline for a custom rifle), yet when I received the gun it had been reworked since Sedgley into this magnificient rifle. I had a buyer, who would have bought the gun however I told him it was most likely a Sedgley that had been reworked. He declined the purchase. I eventually sold the gun through an after auction sale at what for me was the deepest loss yet. The buyer got a beautiful gun and deal for his money.
However the money that I got from that sale was used to pick up a nice Browning Shotgun that I have good margin on which will/should make up that loss.
So you might say I buy the best quality I can afford and I describe what I have for what it is good bad or indifferent...in other words I don't buy junk nor do I try and pass off junk on others. Sometimes it means I lose money. My reputation is worth more to me than the $$$ profit..
However over the years I have aqquired a bit of knowlege about those
Spoons and the price structure thereof which enables me to pick things up at reasonable prices. There is always something waiting around the corner. I would say that my biggest problem comes with condition rather than fraud.