Giving the seller credit!

[SKIPH]

Hey Gang! Found this Imperial blade-dated M3 on ebay, item # 204461207668. I give the seller a lot of credit for announcing it was a restoration. The work is fantastic, and very scary. I looked at it multiple times and was hard pressed to find flaws, just taking the pics at face value. This is the level and skill  of restorations collectors have to deal with these days. Granted, I have not dug out the books to see the flaws, too impressed, will be a challenge.  Check it out!  If someone wants to post the ad it would be appreciated.  SKIP

 Looked a little closer, blade stamps may be off, no "line of white" on blade edges, and blade rough. Leather could be from another repro. Scary stuff!

[sactroop]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SKIPH]

sactroop- Thanks for posting.  SKIP

[Misfit 45]

Keep in mind, I am not an M3 guy, but the first thing I noticed is the grooves are far too narrow for a dated M3. They should be big big little big big little, if you know what I mean. Like in the picture of my early ACC M4 (but with 8 grooves not 6).   Also, the tell tale sign for handle replacement is the tang peen.  They almost never get it right.  This one to too banged up. Too many hammer marks.  You can get away with it, if it is a somewhat used knife, but not on a mint one.   It should have a nearly smooth surface.  Just my observations, which may be off base.... but I don't think so.  Overall, nicely done.

Marv

[SKIPH]

Just for comparison. All 3 are legitimate Imperial M3s. Note the one w/ black spacers.  SKIP

[Misfit 45]

Hi Skip,  You sure get up early.. 

There is no question that the quality of the restoration is very good.  Also those are beautiful examples you show.  The one on the right looks very similar to the restoration M3.  I know I am being over critical, but I would suggest that the grip variations would have come a little later, after the dated blades.  The ones you show are guard marked.

The focus is on an Imperial blade dated M3 and what it should look like.  If there are significant grip variations that early on,, then I am completely off base.  I know that you and others have way more experience with M3s than I do, and I will yield to your better judgment.

Marv

[SKIPH]

Marv- Point well taken.  I did not want to dig out my well used Imperial blade- dated.  So I referred to Bill Walters book,  the Imperial pics. Depth is pretty close, plus keep in mind that a novice collector and maybe an experienced one would have jumped on that, if, the seller had not stated it was rebuilt.  When I first saw the ad I couldn't quite figure out why bidding wasn't a lot higher. I know one thing, at this point and time in collecting, we all have to dig in the weeds to avoid a rip off.  Restoration work has improved substantially.  SKIP

[SeanR]

Personally, don't like it when blades seem overly messed with.

 

Like a bit of natural wear, not to keen when folks re-blue, re-patinate etc over old pitting.

 

Original patina missing, don't like the shiny tang

 

Id have to say restoration has ruled me out as a buyer, but we are all different.

 

Like things original

 

As you point out though, good of seller to make that clear