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Buyer Beware!

Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
edited September 2013 in Ask the Experts
This is not a factory original Winchester;

http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364624916

WACA Historian & Life Member

Comments

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    While at a gun show in Ft.Worth Tx. today, I noticed a dealer had an Eagle Arms rifle sitting on an Armalite box with a sign next to the price stating "Lifetime Warrenty". When I questioned him about it, he said that it was an Eagle lower with an Armalite upper. So I pionted out that he was not selling an "Armalite" rifle and it does not have a "Lifetime Warrenty". He did'nt say anything but at least removed the sign. I understand marketing, but flat out lying about a product only hurts other dealers, gun shows, and manufactures.

    (CptK, I know this should probably be on the gen. dis. pg but I never go there, so please leave here for one day).[:(!]

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • TRAP55TRAP55 Member Posts: 8,292 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    This is not a factory original Winchester;

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364624916


    What's a Wincehster?[:o)]
    Bert, What's the story on that one?
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by TRAP55
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    This is not a factory original Winchester;

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364624916


    What's a Wincehster?[:o)]
    Bert, What's the story on that one?


    Look closely at the forend stock.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • TRAP55TRAP55 Member Posts: 8,292 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just had eye surgery, and he takes crappy pics. Long wood version?
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by TRAP55
    I just had eye surgery, and he takes crappy pics. Long wood version?


    Yes, and it is too late in the production run for that feature.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • JunkballerJunkballer Member Posts: 9,304 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Question, if it's a known fake description as you state then why is GB allowing it to be sold as "original" and allowing a bidder/buyer be hurt ?

    "Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee

  • M1A762M1A762 Member Posts: 3,426
    edited November -1
    Are the boxes, hang tags ect. probably repos then too?

    There are Winchesters with boxes out there, but this seller seems to have them quite often.
  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Junkballer
    Question, if it's a known fake description as you state then why is GB allowing it to be sold as "original" and allowing a bidder/buyer be hurt ?


    This opens a whole can of worms that GB may want or not want to get involved with.

    There are lots of fakes, misrepresented, and altered guns out there.

    When I mentioned to a very good seller here to "research" a Nazi gun that was faked by someone stamping it with the "wrong" roll marks. Nothing was done. When I finally called it a fake, which made a $400 pistol into a $4000 pistol, My post was deleted.

    I kind of think it is not the problem of the GB staff to check every sale on the site, BUT if a phoney item is seen, everyone should be able to get the info here on the forums.
  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    This is not a factory original Winchester;

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364624916




    I expect this thread to go "poof" quickly, but what's your point?

    I understand you have expert knowledge on these -- and I respect that -- but I don't understand the motivation to "out" the auction. Have you contacted the seller and he told you to "go and **** yourself"? Maybe he's making an innocent error and would appreciate you explaining what you see with that gun? Why suggest deception?
  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    quote:Originally posted by Junkballer
    Question, if it's a known fake description as you state then why is GB allowing it to be sold as "original" and allowing a bidder/buyer be hurt ?


    This opens a whole can of worms that GB may want or not want to get involved with.

    There are lots of fakes, misrepresented, and altered guns out there.

    When I mentioned to a very good seller here to "research" a Nazi gun that was faked by someone stamping it with the "wrong" roll marks. Nothing was done. When I finally called it a fake, which made a $400 pistol into a $4000 pistol, My post was deleted.

    I kind of think it is not the problem of the GB staff to check every sale on the site, BUT if a phoney item is seen, everyone should be able to get the info here on the forums.


    The problem is that there are probably just as many "experts" who are wrong offering their opinions about the authenticity, or not, of items as there are counterfeit items.
  • coicecoice Member Posts: 53 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It looks original to me. I thought Winchester made the long forearm into the early 1950s. This being a 1951, it quite possibly could have the long forearm.
  • JunkballerJunkballer Member Posts: 9,304 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well I'm definetly against fakes/frauds being sold as originals but I too am against anyone, expert or not stating something is not original and not explaining their reasoning, leaving the post without sharing anymore info, leaving us all to wonder what is the problem ??

    "Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by M1A762
    Are the boxes, hang tags ect. probably repos then too?

    There are Winchesters with boxes out there, but this seller seems to have them quite often.


    Yes... take a look at the end label on the box and carefully note what it says. In the year 1951, there was no "Winchester Repeating Arms Co." The reprinted owners manual has the correct company name "Olin, Winchester Western Division". Additionally, Winchester stopped listing them as a "MODEL 1894" way back in 1920.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by coice
    It looks original to me. I thought Winchester made the long forearm into the early 1950s. This being a 1951, it quite possibly could have the long forearm.


    I wondered when you would comment on your fraudulent sale.[:0]

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • JunkballerJunkballer Member Posts: 9,304 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by M1A762
    Are the boxes, hang tags ect. probably repos then too?

    There are Winchesters with boxes out there, but this seller seems to have them quite often.


    Yes... take a look at the end label on the box and carefully note what it says. In the year 1951, there was no "Winchester Repeating Arms Co." The reprinted owners manual has the correct company name "Olin, Winchester Western Division". Additionally, Winchester stopped listing them as a "MODEL 1894" way back in 1920.

    NOW I understand, thanks for explaining your thoughts/opinion [;)]

    "Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by competentone
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    This is not a factory original Winchester;

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364624916



    I understand you have expert knowledge on these -- and I respect that -- but I don't understand the motivation to "out" the auction. Have you contacted the seller and he told you to "go and **** yourself"? Maybe he's making an innocent error and would appreciate you explaining what you see with that gun? Why suggest deception?


    I have contacted this seller in the past, and yet he still sells fakes. He is not "innocent" of anything in regards to the faked boxed Winchesters he is selling.

    My motivation is to prevent somebody from getting burned on that gun. The reason that I did not publish a diary of what is wrong with that item is simple... the seller will learn what I (and the serious collectors) can clearly see is wrong with it, and then change his tactics.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by competentone
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    This is not a factory original Winchester;

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364624916


    I expect this thread to go "poof" quickly, but what's your point?



    And why would you expect that?

    My point is to prevent an unknowing buyer from getting burned.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    While I am at it, this gun has been refinished, reassembled incorrectly, and the box and paperwork faked.

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364591723

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One bad listing "could" be a mistake......

    Two proves fraud.
  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by competentone
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    This is not a factory original Winchester;

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364624916


    I expect this thread to go "poof" quickly, but what's your point?



    And why would you expect that?

    My point is to prevent an unknowing buyer from getting burned.


    I appreciate your efforts, but I think the forum rules apply to the moderators too.

    As "babun" comments, more than one "bad" listing suggests fraud.

    There are criminal statutes that deal with issues of fraud -- I think a good bit of it is Federal Law. He is doing business across state lines, so the Feds could probably be involved. Doesn't the FBI or Secret Service have a special division that deals with counterfeit items?

    Is the seller an FFL? If going after him for the counterfeiting would be too difficult, maybe someone at the ATF would want to examine if he's engaged in the business of firearms without a federal license?

    At the very least, if you explain your "case" against him, with all the relevant details (you don't want to disclose here, for your reasons as stated above), maybe GunBroker administration will ban him from the auctions?
  • Sooeyman2035Sooeyman2035 Member Posts: 3,226
    edited November -1
    I think we should applaud Bert H. for his expertise & efforts!
  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,087 ******
    edited November -1
    I presume someone reported the alleged fraudulent auctions to Support? That's the place for it.

    I also presume (hope) that anyone willing to pay that much for a rifle will either be knowledgeable enough to know the difference or consult with someone who is.
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    I also presume (hope) that anyone willing to pay that much for a rifle will either be knowledgeable enough to know the difference or consult with someone who is.



    Somebody did exactly that, which is how & why I got involved.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

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