Yet another fraud
 

Not exactly another "I found Hermann's personal pistol" story, but close:

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=8254437

And if you look at the photos, the font for the serial number on the gun is not the same as that on the mag. Looks like we manufactured a matching mag.

David - Was the "Death's Head" insignia ever used on that type of pistol?

That I don't know. If I had to guess, I would guess no, but it would only be a guess. But that stamping looks a little too sharp-edged and fresh compared to the one right next to it.
The true giveaway is that he starts out with the old "somebody told me" gag. This is popular on ebay with those who want to cheat people but don't want to get caught at it.
It's the "new honesty". If you don't get arrested, you must have been honest.

The holster is a fake and without checking, the 400 isn't even in the accepted Nazi contract range. It is also missing the Eibar proofs on the left rear of frame. I believe this is/was a very early Astra 400. It has the early military acceptance stamp on the left trigger guard web. It is probably pistol number 371. Somebody has ruined an otherwise very collectable Astra.

Here's the seller's explanation, quoted verbatim:

"As I stated...the story was related to me from a person who was the nephew of the guy who brought it back. If you read my feedback, I pride myself on honesty and fair dealing. This may have been taken from an officer that was the camp or it may be a bunch of crap.....but I told the story as it was told to me. Take it or leave it...thats the story."

In one book by Jan Sill there is a close-up picture of the Death's Head insignia on a Luger. I do not think the photograph in his book looks like the "Death's Head" on this Astra.

is that "SS" eagle real? I have never seen a eagle like that.... rather "worn" looking stamp too...

Ed

Those aren't "stamps", they are pantographed.

sorry Ron, my panto-eyes weren't on.

Pantograph???

Pantograph 101 :cheers:

A pantograph is a rotary cutter used to make markings with some precision using a pattern or template. The rotary cutter is on one arm of a parallelogram frame and a stylus used to trace the pattern or template is on another. The arms of the frame can be adjusted to reduce or enlarge the engraving from the pattern. Using a template produces a very clean, even engraving as the stylus rides inside the grooves of the template (that is the way name badges are made using letter templates). When tracing a flat pattern, the resulting engraving is pretty much free-hand and depends on the skill and steadiness of the operator.

On some of the really cheap pantographs, a vibrating tool is used. When magnified, the zig-zag pattern of the vibrating engraving tip can be seen. On a professional pantograph, the engraving tool is a motor driven rotary cutter (somewhat like a woodworking router only on a much smaller scale). A magnified image will show the swirl marks of the cutter and the ends of the lines will be rounded. A stamped mark using a die will have much more squared ends on the lines.

Markings on the Englis High Power such as the Company Logo and the Chinese property markings were extensively pantographed. Jerry Burney

Shame about ruining the gun. As it was stated, it appears to be a very early 400 and as such would be more valuable.
Tom