Re: [Leica] Did I really see a Luftwaffe M2 today?

[Lucien <lucien@ubi.edu>]

Mike,

In Lager Volume I, Cameras
on page 157 there is a grey finished M2 Nr 1005756 (picture in color)
and on page 201 the Nr 1005766.(B&W)
In Nakamura Leica Collection there is the Nr 1005759 (color).
All of them have a 35/50/90/135 bright line frames and lack self timer.
Only the cover, base plate, hot shoe and vulcanite are grey. 
All the levers, knobs, dials and lugs are chrome.
According to Lager:
20 M2's (1005751-1005770) factory designated "Luftwaffe-grau" 
(air force grey) were prepared in 1960 for an agency of the
United states government.

I think this grey M2 may be a fake.

Lucien

Mike Dembinski wrote:

> I saw it before two weeks ago at one dealer's stand - and came back to
> check. It was an M2, a half a shade lighter than the black of my M6. The
> number -  10057xx corresponded with the "20 grey M2's for the Luftwaffe"
> mentioned in the Hove pocket book. The camera was as near-as-dammit mint.
> No sign of tampering...
> 
> However, the Hove book says that the Luftwaffe M2's had a 135mm bright line
> frames and 'appeared to lack self timers'. This example had no 135mm frames
> and possessed a self timer.
> 
> Its seller - who had by far the largest range of Leica/Leitz stuff on sale
> today - explained that he had seen "fifteen" of these Luftwaffe M2's and
> that each one was different. He descibed the color as "graphite" - a better
> description than "grey" - yet different to the black-painted M2's.
> 
> It looked and felt genuine enough. Shutter made the right sounds; very
> *very* nice. And - if genuine - at a extremely tempting price when compared
> to McKeown's Guide 97/98.
> 
> Any advice anyone?