Need a bunch of help ***New Pictures Posted***

[glowe]

I aint throwing a wrench in here, but has anyone personally handled and examined this piece? Pics are tough to work off. Best.

Take a common model like a Model 1899 and put a barrel lug or a square butt on it. Does anyone need anything more than a few images to tell it was not correct and could not have left the factory in that configuration? You cannot add a feature like the 3 pin Model 2 frame to a gun that was manufactured before the improvement was even invented. Intentionally gouge out the serial number on the right stock, stamp serial numbers on parts that do not have serial numbers, or stamp serial numbers and assembly numbers on the same part, why would you do that at the factory?

As Powderman noted, bottom line is that I guess all the experts did no good convincing the seller that they owned a fraudulent gun, since it is for sale at a ridiculous price and misleading description.

 

[McShooty]

Collectors Firearms lists a lot of guns and is posting new offerings all the time. Sometimes I see one that I think is reasonably priced, but most are at the high edge of what the gun ought to bring IMO. I would think CF would be very interested in the authenticity of their offerings because the reputation of a seller in this business is of paramount importance.

This is a great thread, one of the best I have seen on any forum.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I aint throwing a wrench in here, but has anyone personally handled and examined this piece? Pics are tough to work off. Best.

Mike
Pictures don't lie. "Pics are tough to work off". Not true. If a gun has features only found on later guns, what more proof do you need. Yes, a hands on examination would be wonderful, but "pics" are all we got, and "pics" in this case are all we need. Maybe this was a prototype, maybe it was a tool room gun, maybe it was the personal property of Bo Derek, (get it, 10)! Some of the people who have responded to this thread eat, sleep and breathe early Smith & Wesson. I've learned more from them than what I've read in most books. I understand your hesitation in what is being said, but, these guys are experts, I respect their conclusions. This gun ain't right!
Don Mundell
Assistant Historian
SWHF

 

[glowe]

Well, I sent an email off to the seller two weeks ago and laid out the story about the authenticity issues with the gun. Also reminded them that I had purchased quite a few guns from them over the years but got no response, not even a thanks and we will look into it. What is worse is that they have not changed a word of their description, so maybe we will be going over this gun a third time with a new owner.

 

[glowe]

Reply from Seller

Great news. I received an email from Collectors Firearms, responding to the email I had noted above. Happy to report that this store is a real stand-up shop that reviewed this thread and added the following comments.

It is being pulled off of our website as I type this. A full refund including the shipping was made both ways to the customer. We made an honest mistake and this gun will either be relisted and properly described, or more than likely it will go into my safe and never be on the market again

We have all sent off comments to alert sellers of mis-identified guns they are putting up for sale, but almost always ignored. Be advised that Collectors Firearms is still the quality shop I remember over the decades when I was actively purchasing antiques from them. I would gladly do business with them again without hesitation.

 

[LionWeight]

That's nice to see.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I for one will be contacting that store and thanking them for their honesty! It's good to see them putting their reputation before the dollar.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Thanks To All

Its amazing to realize that you are able to recognize things not correct and then point it out is very impressive. I read through this with interest so thanks for an interesting and informative subject!

 

[opoefc]

As a broker of gun collections for estates, museums, etc, I have been dealing with the various auction houses over the last 50+ years and found that when I tell them they have a suspicious gun listed, and provide proof or identify the incorrect areas of the gun, they usually pull the gun from the action and notify the consignor of the situation, or correct the description to alert bidders of an incorrect gun. Sometimes the gun is owned by the auction house and they then part it out or destroy it. I have even been sent an unsolicited fee from auctions for alerting them to the situation. They are correctly protecting their reputation. The only auction house that refused to withdraw a 100% fake S&W, is Rock Island Auctions. They auctioned off a" WW2 S&W Trench gun" , a gun with fake Rock Island Armory stamps ( done expertly), even after I had the curator at the Rock Island Armory museum tell them it was a fake. The gun was a S&W Model 916 12ga pump shotgun made in the 1980s, long after WW2. A wealthy S&W collector bought the gun at the auction for $8,000, knowing it was a fake, to keep it from getting into the hands of an innocent buyer. S&W, of course, never made any trench guns for WW2, only Victory Model revolvers. Ed.

 

[bcowern]

Looks like Model 2 Army, SN:10 is up for auction!

Caveat emptor.

SMITH & WESSON No2 OLD MODEL .32 RIMFIRE REVOLVER

Regards

 

[opoefc]

It's a bad penny that won't go away! It's now up for auction again at a place called Lewis & Maese Auctions in Houston, TX. Starting bid $1,500 !!! I sent them an email last week about the gun being "dubious" and asked for better photos, etc. No response. Ed. ( The auction house has now posted a "Lot Passed' notice, so perhaps they wised up.)

 

[mnrivrat]

Looks like Model 2 Army, SN:10 is up for auction!

Interesting - hard to keep an old fake down - all about the $$ for some.

 

[bcowern]

Great news. I received an email from Collectors Firearms, responding to the email I had noted above. Happy to report that this store is a real stand-up shop that reviewed this thread and added the following comments.

It is being pulled off of our website as I type this. A full refund including the shipping was made both ways to the customer. We made an honest mistake and this gun will either be relisted and properly described, or more than likely it will go into my safe and never be on the market again

We have all sent off comments to alert sellers of mis-identified guns they are putting up for sale, but almost always ignored. Be advised that Collectors Firearms is still the quality shop I remember over the decades when I was actively purchasing antiques from them. I would gladly do business with them again without hesitation.

Looks like Collectors Firearms decided against keeping SN 10 off the market.

Regards