The price of fakery :-(

[Aaron]

I am in full agreement with all of you as to changing or altering the appearance of a weapon so as to elicit a higher price. I am such a purist that I even resent touching up tiny spots via various bluing techniques. I remember some years ago, back in the sixties, I was heavily into Lugers at gun shows, usually taking a table so that I could acquire better pieces for my collection. An elderly, distinguished gentleman approached my table and laid before me a polished steel sheet about a foot square. On that sheet were dozens of stamped imprints of almost every conceivable Luger and Walther marking! These were of excellent quality, and he offered to mark any of my guns in any manner I wished. I remember among his samples were Kriegsmarine, Reich Ministry, Death Heads, numerals, letters, proofmarks (both military and Commercial), Stoeger, and almost anything you could think of. Of course, I didn't do any business with him, but since that day I have alway wondered how many spurious pieces reside in collections due to his efforts. No matter how experienced you are, I caution you to exercise extreme caution when dealing with any unusual or collectible piece!