Fake leica M3 - IS IT

[kram]

Hi, I am looking to buy a Leica M3 SERIAL No. 8065**. However, looking at the camera quest website, it lists serial Nos. 805001 to 805100 and then 8377221 to 839670; the number 80650** is out of this range, is it a fake

 

[bob338]

for some reason i got it in my head that you were talking about a Black M3, not a chrome one.
i don't think there are any fake M3s floating out there...

bob

 

[kram]

<a href="http://s338.photobucket.com/albums/n424/ishim42/?action=view&current=DSC_0335.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n424/ishim42/DSC_0335.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Image of camera here.

 

[kram]

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n424/ishim42/DSC_0335.jpg
That was no good, try this one. Looks good, that's why i'm asking. Any body good more details on this serail no?

 

[sanmich]

"faking" a plain M3 doesn't make any sense.
Or I am missing something...

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

What is the price the seller demands?

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

"faking" a plain M3 doesn't make any sense.
Or I am missing something...

I agree; and: "Le boîtier portant le numéro de série 806519 est un M3 fabriqué en 1955"

http://www.summilux.net/numeros/index.php

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

1/1/1955 M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded) 800000 - 807500 - 7500


Look at the list again. It seems like it is in this range. to my opinion it is too good to be fake.

 

[MartinP]

I think there has been some confusion over the lists of black-paint M2's and the normal chrome edition.

Or alternatively, someone can pop up and say that it is clearly a FED2 with a bit of a rework . . .

 

[Paul T.]

Hi, I am looking to buy a Leica M3 SERIAL No. 8065**. However, looking at the camera quest website, it lists serial Nos. 805001 to 805100 and then 8377221 to 839670; the number 80650** is out of this range, is it a fake

It's legit. You've misread the serial number database - this falls in with the standard models. There are also no fakes that resemble the M3 - only the Barnacks.

 

[kram]

Thanks Paul- it looks pretty good.

 

[ruby.monkey]

It's legit. You've misread the serial number database - this falls in with the standard models. There are also no fakes that resemble the M3 - only the Barnacks.

Don't be so sure - I've seen a number of tarted-up Fed 5s sold on eBay as declared fake M3s. Almost bought one for the comedy value.

 

[Paul T.]

Don't be so sure - I've seen a number of tarted-up Fed 5s sold on eBay as declared fake M3s. Almost bought one for the comedy value.

Sold as M3 'copies' on eBay, perhaps. Resembling M3s, no.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Looks like an M3 to me. M3's are common. Why fake one, even if you could?

 

[Dwig]

Hi, I am looking to buy a Leica M3 SERIAL No. 8065**. However, looking at the camera quest website, it lists serial Nos. 805001 to 805100 and then 8377221 to 839670; the number 80650** is out of this range, is it a fake

My list, in the back of my old Hove Pocket Book (First Edition, second printing from 1980) lists 805101-807500 as assigned to a batch of M3 bodies in 1955. It also lists several other batches of M3's, three M3 and three M3/ELC, before the batch starting with 8377221. The other numbers between 805100 and 8377221 were a mix of If, IIf, IIIf, IIIf/ELC, & IIIg

 

[payasam]

No camera, not even another Leica, can be made to look like an M3. I do not include here the MP, as turning a rarity into something so common...

 

[Particular]

If you could fake an m3 to look this authentic, then you are dealing with a serious piece of art that is probably worth more than a regular m3.

 

[kram]

If you could fake an m3 to look this authentic, then you are dealing with a serious piece of art that is probably worth more than a regular m3./QUOTE].
I was starting to think this as well. However, the price is slightly high and the shutter speeds are known to be quite a bit out at slow speeds, bty the description.

 

[ferider]

The way you have to read Stephen's table is

1/1/55 M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded) 800000 807500 7500
1/1/55 M3 ELC (Exact Date Unrecorded) 805001 805100 100

There were 7500 Leicas made from 800000 to 807500 (yours is one of those). Of those 7500, 100 were ELC models (large "M3", made in Canada, rarer and more expensive).