You might be a very lucky man, depending on the condition of the 395xxx camera.
That is a wartime IIIc, made between 1943 and 1946 according to Leica serial number lists.
Questions for that one:
- does it have a 'K' on one of the shutter blinds?
- does it have red shutter blinds?
- what is the number of the Elmar 3.5/50mm you have with that? Or is it a 3.5/35mm?
- is all vulcanite on the body tight, or loose bits? (be careful not to crack it or value could drop)
The wartime IIIc 'Stepper' is a camera with a little 'step' under the rewind lever and Leitz abandoned that in later IIIc's to simplify production. It is generally considered a specific feature of wartime IIIc's, the other models made during the war did not have it.
A red shutter blind is made from experimental blind cloth that Leitz abandoned as quickly as material scarcity was over, the red curtains 'bleed' the rubber that is between them and over time the blinds would show sticky black spots, Leitz would replace them when a camera was serviced. Few camera's had red blinds, even fewer had two red blinds and even fewer with red blinds remain.
A 'K' marked shutter is a 'Kugellager' shutter, meaning it had ball bearings and was built for cold weather service with the Navy and U-boat service and air force.
Collectors are extra interested in the red curtains and 'K' camera's, especially when they are in good condition and have provenance. Any chance you got a story to go with the camera when you bought it?
The other camera is a mere IIIa from 1937-1938 but it might have its original Summar 2.0/50mm attached and that would add some value. Provenance in this case is nice but unless spectacular isn't going to alter the price much.
Nice find!
