counterfeit stamps

[Norme]

Originally Posted by Brien

General question,

Is it becoming difficult to trust the provenance of lugers now that it seems you just go on eBay (or wherever) and buy proofing and numbering stamps? I have collected medals and have been burned quite a few times buying fakes. How hard is it to tell if that matching mint condition all matching Krieghoff is th genuine article or a well executed counterfeit.

Obviously research is a factor, but it's hard enough sometimes to differentiate a real iron cross from a good faked one.

How about a luger Made from re-stamped parts etc.

How do you folks deal with this?

I'd hate to find that beautiful piece, drop thousands on it and later find out its a dud. Or it just luck of the draw?

Hi Brien, To return to your question. If you are contemplating "dropping thousands" on a Kreighoff, you should first drop a couple of hundred on the appropriate reference book, in this case "The Kreighoff Parabellum" by Randall Gibson. In it you will find that Kreighoffs have several distinctive features that are virtually impossible to duplicate, short of fabricating a new frame from scratch.
Regards, Norm