Refinished Krieghoff. Help!
 

Guys, I need your help.
There is a sideframe marked Krieghoff coming up in a auction down under here soon which is described by the vendor (not the auctioneer) as "mint". I have my doubts as I believe it has been refinished. We don't see too many refinished guns here as we havent got into that yet. Most refinished guns are fairly obvious but this one looks great.
Things I have picked up are as follows:
The overall blueing is a nice satin blue but there is no wear what so ever, such as the side plate or barrel end as in holster wear.
The very end of the barrel is not blue and is slightly pitted.
The breach block face is totally unmarked, like it has never been fired but the barrel is worn.
The hold open lever/spring is mis numbered

One side of the extractor is polished on the geladen side but blue on the other side.
The extractor action is sluggish and sometimes sticks.
There is no toggle wear on the rear frame where the rear toggle link levers during firing.
The safety lever is nicly strawed but the groves on the lever look like they have been rusted at some time and bits are missing.
There looks like pitting under the blue on the barrel around the breach.
The take down lever is extreamly dificult to operate and then falls out of the gun when turned on its side but the spring is there. I think it is bent.
The reserve price is NZ$10,000 which is about US $4700 and the vendor (who is has a bit of a reputation) bases his price on a recent Rock Island Arsenel auction prices.
I would really welcome your advice.
Regards
Murray.

Sir, you have vaild doubts. Worn barrel and no outside wear whatsoever or bolt face & link wear?

RK

Hi Murray,

I'd ask all the standard questions - like about if the thumbprint is still visible, the style of the lettering, the serial number, etc. - but my guess is you already know the answer. Also - the hold-open shouldn't be numbered (a very few were numbered by Krieg, but they would match), or it should have a rejection star (for a commercial - which mine has).

Based on your description ("The breach block face ...like it has never been fired but the barrel is worn" and "..looks like pitting under the blue on..", etc...), honestly - if it were me, I wouldn't walk from this example, I would run....

Murray, I think you have answered your own question.

--Dwight

"If there is any doubt...there is no doubt."
--Robert De Niro, from "Ronin"