M3 with "patina"

[Roger Hicks]

About 30 years ago I bought a BP M3 for GBP 200 or 220 (at this remove, I forget) and after a few months I swapped it for a new M4-P. I don't regret the swap for a moment, even though the M3 was beautifully and lightly brassed and the new M4-P looked like sh1t in a year (black chrome). It cured me forever of black chrome, though.

Cheers,

R.

 

[johannielscom]

That camera looks real to me, Erik. What makes you think it could be a fake, apart from the serial number?

This image I copied from the Leica section on mir.com.my, the photography in Malaysia site. This camera is serial 779019 and it does look like an original factory camera for sure. Maybe Rogliatti only listed batches, not earlier one-ofs?

I am pretty sure my top plate is original Leitz, it's paint I have not seen anywhere else. All repaints I saw have a different sheen to them. Plus it was flawless and unengraved. Mine looks like the paint in the picture here.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, I also think your top plate is genuine. It is possible that some "lonely" black M3's were produced in those days, but certainly no batches.

The 77X XXX you show above is however questionable. There is a mis-engraving: the distance between the - between M3 and the number is unusually big. The rewind switch and the transport lever are of a much later date than the camera's top plate.
The camera I showed above has similar "faults": the rewind switch and the frame selector lever.

Erik.

 

[johannielscom]

Hi Erik,

obviously I have a lot to learn on this subject, it took me quite some time to compare my own M camera's, internet pictures and the camera's shown in this thread to conclude that you are absolutley right!