Went to the Sarasota show a few weeks ago and didn't see the person in question and asked after him "He's dead" was the response.

Hate that. Anyway I, as most collectors will, asked after the guys possessions. Turns out they were being auctioned off by a small place near me. Online I might add.
This is getting long but stay with it, there is a point.
My other pal, the one that was still alive, said "his stuff was bad. He monkeyed with it". Now, that is thinly veiled code for "he creates fakes". I had heard this before so was not surprised. I entered the lists with eyes wide open. I bid on a bunch of things, some tools, old ammunition (ca. 1940's) a few books and a Luger. As you know, I do not collect them.
I figured I would not go over 800-900 and I would get a shooter that I could sell at any point for $1000 or more. No brainer.
So I got the attached for $800. I picked it up yesterday, took a look and said "refinished, faked".
Then I took it apart. Then I realized that while I know a bit about ww1 lugers, I know shit about those made after WW1.
The serial appeared in 15 places, correct as it turns out. The worrisome lack of metal in the white in the guts of the thing was proper. And so it went.
So, provisionally, I have a 95%+ 1939 luger that might be worth $2500??? More? Less?
Looked at it again. Dunno. Something is wrong. The finish is almost too good. But then again, when a gun is refinished there are a couple of tells ... often (I won't say "usually") there is some evidence of corrosion. One or two places where the rust ate into the metal. Tiny. When the thing is refinished the new finish is OVER the corrosion. That is a 100% give away that the thing was refinished.
Then there are the stamps. The Germans liked to stamp stuff. Serial numbers, proofs, inspection marks etc etc. Some were put on after the bluing, some before. Either way they tend to be sharp. When a gun is refinished it is buffed as part of the metal prep. There is no way of "lightly buffing" a tiny inspection stamp. And it the area is not treated the same as surrounding areas it stands out. No way around it.
This example is perfect. Too good. See what I mean?