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tom · 01-05-2002, 11:58 PM

Received a supposed Weimar Navy marked Sneak today.

At first blush, it was *very* interesting, especially since I had never seen a Navy marked Sneak before.

Sat down at the collector's bench, aka the kitchen table, and broke out my loupe and Ott light.

Gave her a "naked eye visual inspection" first. Looked pretty good (as in richeous). About 91-92% finish, good looking Anchor M and Nxxx property marks on a patinated back strap. Sn matched wood bottom mag in condition similar to and consistent with the gun. Something bothered me....

Field stripped her. First thing out of the chute, there was a problem with the side plate. There was pitting under the bluing on the reverse side. I could have stopped looking then but I wanted to see if this was the only issue or a portent of more to come.

Popped the grip panels. No pitting or obvious oxidation at the wood to metal contact points. Hmmmm..grips not numbered. No marks of any sort, but well used, but not abused,grips with DWM style checkering.

Off comes the cannon and on with the Ott light. Toggle axel pin out and things start being revealed. The toggle is numbered to the gun on its underside as well as in the customary position rear of the sight. Number is powerfully struck and very bold. But, whats this? The firing pin is unnumbered but is stamped with a capital K.

An Ott light lit loupe examination of the Crown N proofs on the toggle, frame and barrel reveals an oddity. The toggle proof is crisp and sharp. The proofs on the frame and barrel are not. In fact, the barrel proof looks like it has been restruck but done in an inexact fashion that mangles the sharpness of the crown. Further examination of the barrel via loupe under Ott light reveals two distinctly different variations in the surface texture or "grain" of metal surface of the barrel. And neither of these is consistent with the surface texture of the frame or the toggle. This tells me that they have been polished when separate; possibly blued separately at some time. Not fer certain, but don't believe DWM or Erfurt or Simpson blued loads of parts first and then assembled them..mebbe, but not certain.

I lay the piece down and get a glass of water.

Picking it back up again, I see something on the holdopen. It is not immediately recognizable to my 55 year old eyes. Loupe and Ott light time again.

Hmmmmm...it is not a serial number; it is a crown over gothic scriptic B. I suspect an Erfurt piece part has been installed. As I am pondering this, I glance at the overall frame. Zero straw on the trigger. Ditto the safety. And, whadda ya' know? 100% crisp yellow straw on the ejector. Not at all consistent with what one would expect.

Now, that Weimar Navy property mark looks odd. Under the loupe it becomes clear. There is a pin-punch type dimple under the left leg of the M. I know that depot rebuilds by Simpson and Mauser often had dimples but these were on the toggle right side near the breech block hinge. Never saw one on the grip strap before. May not be wrong, but is the last in a string of far too many issues for a $2100 gun.

It went into UPS about an hour later.

For what its worth, the Ott light and jewelers loupe are, IMHO, the absolute best for carefully examining our toys...they make subtleties like metal grain stand out distinctly. A good investment of a $100 that will save you lots more down the trail.

FWIW,

Tom

PS..I wish it had been right; it would have filled a spot on my Navy rack!

01-05-2002, 11:58 PM	#1
tom User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 269 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Not Quite Right Navy Received a supposed Weimar Navy marked Sneak today. At first blush, it was very interesting, especially since I had never seen a Navy marked Sneak before. Sat down at the collector's bench, aka the kitchen table, and broke out my loupe and Ott light. Gave her a "naked eye visual inspection" first. Looked pretty good (as in richeous). About 91-92% finish, good looking Anchor M and Nxxx property marks on a patinated back strap. Sn matched wood bottom mag in condition similar to and consistent with the gun. Something bothered me.... Field stripped her. First thing out of the chute, there was a problem with the side plate. There was pitting under the bluing on the reverse side. I could have stopped looking then but I wanted to see if this was the only issue or a portent of more to come. Popped the grip panels. No pitting or obvious oxidation at the wood to metal contact points. Hmmmm..grips not numbered. No marks of any sort, but well used, but not abused,grips with DWM style checkering. Off comes the cannon and on with the Ott light. Toggle axel pin out and things start being revealed. The toggle is numbered to the gun on its underside as well as in the customary position rear of the sight. Number is powerfully struck and very bold. But, whats this? The firing pin is unnumbered but is stamped with a capital K. An Ott light lit loupe examination of the Crown N proofs on the toggle, frame and barrel reveals an oddity. The toggle proof is crisp and sharp. The proofs on the frame and barrel are not. In fact, the barrel proof looks like it has been restruck but done in an inexact fashion that mangles the sharpness of the crown. Further examination of the barrel via loupe under Ott light reveals two distinctly different variations in the surface texture or "grain" of metal surface of the barrel. And neither of these is consistent with the surface texture of the frame or the toggle. This tells me that they have been polished when separate; possibly blued separately at some time. Not fer certain, but don't believe DWM or Erfurt or Simpson blued loads of parts first and then assembled them..mebbe, but not certain. I lay the piece down and get a glass of water. Picking it back up again, I see something on the holdopen. It is not immediately recognizable to my 55 year old eyes. Loupe and Ott light time again. Hmmmmm...it is not a serial number; it is a crown over gothic scriptic B. I suspect an Erfurt piece part has been installed. As I am pondering this, I glance at the overall frame. Zero straw on the trigger. Ditto the safety. And, whadda ya' know? 100% crisp yellow straw on the ejector. Not at all consistent with what one would expect. Now, that Weimar Navy property mark looks odd. Under the loupe it becomes clear. There is a pin-punch type dimple under the left leg of the M. I know that depot rebuilds by Simpson and Mauser often had dimples but these were on the toggle right side near the breech block hinge. Never saw one on the grip strap before. May not be wrong, but is the last in a string of far too many issues for a $2100 gun. It went into UPS about an hour later. For what its worth, the Ott light and jewelers loupe are, IMHO, the absolute best for carefully examining our toys...they make subtleties like metal grain stand out distinctly. A good investment of a $100 that will save you lots more down the trail. FWIW, Tom PS..I wish it had been right; it would have filled a spot on my Navy rack!