Art Buchanan

In recent years I read frequently the disccusion and bitching about Fakes and Restored lugers being represented as original. Then the advice to buy only from reputable dealer which seems to be synomous with Big well known dealers. After 40 years collecting I am convinced that most of them have sold the afore mentioned merchandise. I think they know it. They may or may not now the origin of the so called enhancment. I'm fairly certain that in some cases they are a party to such work. These so called reputable dealers are like used car salesman---each has his style---but all let you sell yourself. Sure greed allows them to do this--theirs and ours. I believe with out exception; Lugers bought sight unseen can be returned within reasonable time. Those bought in person after our person exam and evaluation are ours to keep or palm off on someone else. All of us and especially the big names with money to travel the major shows; look for the old vet to come in with a rare Luger that we can buy for a song and sell for thousands---and then brag about it. Don't pay attenton to the tag or the ad. Words such as Near mint,Hard to find, Deep eagle are catch phrases just like used cars--sharp! one owner--Low miles! Learn to look past this ask questions of the dealer and yourself. Does the barrel have a hole in it, does it have rifleing in it. is it bright. Numbers match--are they all the same style and appropriate to the model. Ask all the quetions before you order. Ask yourself these same questions when you examine it. Make sure in your own mind that it truely is what it should be not what you want it to be. Don't pay attention to the sales pitch---very few sales people are primarily interested in doing you a favor---they want the $s. Certainly Luger deals between truly close friends[I believe ]are an exception to this. The guys in Auto Mag continually worry about fakes etc and spend a lot of words in writing about the subject. If you don't know what you are buying--don't buy it. My father collected coins. I have some interest. 40 years ago I was in a shop with him looking at a coin with a condition note and price. Dad said "don't pay any attention to the tag indicated conditon, you decide what condition you think it is, then is the price appropriate to your evaluation of condition" I have used this advice in buying Lugers for 40 years. So you bought a fake Death Head--If you only paid a $500 shooter price--what is the problem. I wonder--have I stired up more comment than if I again said stainless steel?