Luger loading/takedown tool
 

Just surfed onto EBay, there is a Luger tool there going for $127.50. It is a Mauser marked eagle over 655. Are these people just plain stupid or am I out of touch with reality in my old age? Please educate me!

Hello Herb,

I just attended a small gun show in Reno, NV this past weekend ( 80 tables or so...).

Saw some take-down tools with E/655 and E/135 markings for around $ 100 and $125.00 firm asking prices. Some looked awfully "new", even with the stampings...

I passed them up... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Wm, I know what you mean, an awful lot of rare items are suddenly appearing. I note that there is a lot of Black Widow grips for sale and luger loading tools with desireable stampings, I figure they are probably fakes. But for someone to spend $125+ for a loading tool is madness as in all probability they are a fake. How anyone can sell such an item as original, although not stated, is way beyond me. I have a hard time sleeping as it is without the thought that I just ripped off someone! I am in the process of entering into a deal whereby I can get some really good repro tools marked BYF41 that I hope to offer to members of the Forum for an affordable price to complete their display or whatever. I fully intend to offer them as REPRODUCTIONS, I want no mistake on that. I too have been burnt in the past by that little omission. In addition, they make a great thumb saver when trying to load those mags with a good spring.

Herb refers to byf 135 tools as "reproductions." These do not reproduce anything, as there never was such a tool, only the E/135 type. Hence, a byf tool is just a fantasy piece, and no experienced collector would give one a second look. As for the price of tools, as long as one is rare and is needed to complete a rig, they will bring high prices. I specialize in rare tools and have no trouble getting prices from $200 to $400 for many of them.

Standard price for E/655 at the gunshows is $40/45. E/135 will get you $125 ++. Of course, these are original, not repro. If you have one that is original and want to sell it for less, I would be intersted in talking to you. There are a LOT of repros out there. I wouldn't pay anything for a byf 135 marked tool.

Good Hunting,