[Ron Smith]

Another point I would add is that with Garands and Carbines. It was common practice for them to be arsenal refurbished / rebuilt using new or salvaged parts, known as Arsenal rebuilds. Value ranges between an all correct Garand and a rebuild will be maybe a few hundred dollars. With few exceptions such as Doug's ["Alanint"] comment on Gas Traps.

The value of certain variations of Lugers can vary by thousands of dollars, depending on a few small markings, or skillful alterations.

As an example, there are a bunch of $3500.00-$4000.00 Navy Lugers out there that started out as $700.00-$800.00 Alphabet Commercials.

Replacing matching / period correct parts isn't a travesty with most of us. While it is frowned upon by some of the purists, "Boosting" or purposely altering a common variation to swindal someone out of many hundreds, if not thousands, is criminal fraud.

It's not unheard of that some collectors and dealers having been duped into buying high dollar altered / boosted Lugers, and upon discovery, have simply passed them on so that someone else will be the victim, rather than own-up to their being duped, admit it, and accept the loss. This is when they become, as you put it "Gotcha Guns".

Ron