[Leica] Forgery, was: Did I really see a Luftwaffe M2 today?

[Lucien <lucien@ubi.edu>]

Mike Dembinski wrote:

> ... you've answered the question, leaving no doubt ... 
  ..snip..
> And the camera on offer has one of the above serial numbers! 

Mike,

A high percentage of the fakes, I heard of, were from Poland.
(Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and USA might be
other sources)
Even if the distinction between a restorer and a forger is sometime
difficult to perceive.  :-(
Leitz and Leica have also restored their cameras.
(And even changed the color of some of them)
IMHO a real collectable Leica, is a camera which was never restored,
but only serviced.
A well know dealer from Frankfurt, together with the factory is restoring 
a lot of M cameras.
Those are not fakes but are at the very least debatable, IMO. (and to expensive)
(ex: M2 with M4 or M4-P back hinged flap, new top cover etc...)

> Moral of the story - to Leica fakers - check all known rarities before
> assigning the serial number!

One of the method used by the forgers was to cut two top covers 
in two parts in order to forge one camera with the correct number.
Its easier with painted body to disguise the cut. (Luftwaffe Grey IIIC , 
black IIIF, IIIG, MP, M2, M3, M4, olive M1, M3, M4 etc...)
But I also heard of the same method used with fake Luxus (gold finish).
One have to dismantle the camera to find the proof of the forgery.

An unusually low price from a normaly well informed seller is 
usually a sign of forgery. 
(But a high (normal) price is not always a sign of honesty either)
A like new painted Leica is another warning sign.
Even new, a painted Leica was never perfect, specially the white 
filled engravings.
The quality of the paint used was not so good.
That's what is giving that brassy charm to an original camera.

Check also the font used for the engraving. 
(Ex: The 4 in M4 is not always the correct one etc...)

Fake M-4M-Da or M4-Mot-Da are becomming more common.
I've seen 3 of them at the last Photo-Puces in Brussels.
Two of them at least were questionable.

BTW, I will love to spend a weekend in Warsaw.
;-)

Lucien