Quote:
Originally Posted by alvin
Dealers normally handling American guns in business cannot tell much those German pistols. I have met quite a few examples in the past. The difference is too big to apply one domain into another. But, that may not apply to European gun dealers,,, they handle European guns everyday.... Is that a safe assumption? No?
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I think it boils down to experience, combined with the ability to do research, along with a big helping of mechanical aptitude. We don't really know something unless we have accurate information about it. So, although European dealers are probably generally more experienced in handling European guns, an individual dealer can be totally ignorant about one make/model or another.
My experience, albeit perhaps still callow, with toggle pistols has accumulated as time has progressed. Having learned a bit about the Parabellum, and acquired some examples, I added Erma's toggle pistols to my list of pursuits/interests. Although I could disassemble a Luger entirely at that point, these skills were not particularly transferable to the care and maintenance of an Erma, even though they both have "toggles". I encountered a cheap, but ailing Erma at an Ohio gun show. After embarrassing myself by my demonstrated inability to field strip this one, I found out how to do it after returning home.
As suggested, it is impossible for every "gunsmith" to know everything. Seek advice from the knowledgeable. Due diligence is absolutely paramount in discovering just who this might be. There are too many credulous collectors who do not not know how to judge the quality of advice. This keeps prices up, I think, and confusion rampant--thus thrusting the door even wider open for charlatans who may wish to enter! Misinformation, even (maybe particularly) that which is well-meant, is not a good thing.
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/rant)