Appraisals, Information, & Etc (Long)

[Marvin]

I have just finished reading some of the posts on the Forum and was very disappointed in one, in particular. I would hope that we would not stoop to personal attacks on this Forum and this posting has come to that very edge! I personaly feel the post concerning the dealings with Tom Heller was NOT justified on this Forum and it looks, smells, and walks like a personal attack. I don't know if this situation happened, it is none of my business and I feel the two parties should settle any differences between themselves. I have know Tom for a number of years and found that he has always been completely honest in his descriptions, fair in his pricing (as with any dealer, if I don't like the price, I don't have to buy), and usually, better condition than described.


I just feel that a rebuttal had to be posted about this because there are many new Forum readers that may get the wrong idea about Tom and I want to set this straight. If anyone has a problem with Tom's merchandise, he will rectify the situation to your satisfaction without resorting to name calling on a public Forum. If this was a constant problem I may be able to understand, but when there has only been one (1) complaint, I feel it is totally unjustified. As to Appraisals, YES, I would trust Tom to give me a true and honest appraisals even if it was one of his pistols. I don't know everything about Lugers and have never pretended that I do, but I do read and try to investigate before buying something that is new to me. If a pistol is priced much lower that the normal value, I ask certain questions like, "is it Import Marked", before I make the deal! An import marked pistol will be less money than a non stamped one and the price will refelct that usually.


YES, we all need to buy books and read them and yes, there are probably a few errors in the books and the authors acknowlege that this was the best know information at the time. Whrn new information comea to light, they do their best to let people know. Most of these authors belong to NAPCA and this is where new information is first know before it is common knowledge. The authors have spent a lot of money and time to make this information available to us collectors so we can enjoy our toys and be able to know the differences in the variations. Yes, I beleive what they have to say until they are proven wrong. Buy books and read them, understand the information presented, and until new information is presented as correct, we use the current information as a Standard. Yes, there are variations to every rule and Lugers are definetly no exception to this rule.


I apoligize for this long posting, but I just felt that the personal attack on a gentleman who helps all of us out with parts, pistols, and INFORMATION, should not have to be subject to this. Personal attacks should be held to the individuals involved and not on this Forum. This is my opinion and I stand by it!


Marvin