Identifying marks on Les Baer frame

[gwoneg]

I recently bought a Les Baer premier II from an out of state dealer, it arrived at my local FFL on Thursday. I tried to order one through this shop, but none of their distributors had any in stock and they told me it would be a 10 month wait. Friday I get a call from the shop, the guy tells me that my Les Baer is in but that no SSE barrels are available so I'll have to wait until one is freed up. When I informed him that the Premier II is on the roster, he replies that I'm correct but that there are no identifying marks on the frame or the slide besides the "Baer Custom" and ".45 ACP" roll marks so they may have to treat it as a SSE.
I know Les Baer doesn't cover his guns with writing, that's one of the reasons I was drawn to them in the first place. However, nothing else that he said really made much sense to me. Has anybody else ever encountered this kind of reaction or a similar situation before? Seems like all Les Baers (and presumably some other handguns) would have to be treated as off-roster if the writing on the frame/slide were the only permissible method for determining model. The pistol is NIB and is (or should be, again I haven't seen it yet) accompanied by paperwork giving the model, date of manufacture, etc.

Further complicating the matter is the fact that the guy I've always dealt with at this particular shop is no longer there and I've never worked with the person with whom I spoke on Friday. Also, the guy didn't take a hard stance but told me he "come in and we'll discuss it." I'm going in to talk to them tomorrow, any suggestions on how to approach this conversation? Are there any ways to positively ID a Premier II without reference to the paperwork?


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[JackRydden224]

I would email Les Baer with the Serial # and ask them to provide paper work. I asked them to do something similar when I saw a Baer on sale but seller wasn't so clear on exact model as it was used.

[gumby]

I would email Les Baer with the Serial # and ask them to provide paper work. I asked them to do something similar when I saw a Baer on sale but seller wasn't so clear on exact model as it was used.

This^^^^^^^^^^ and the lgs guy doesn't know what he is talking about.

[nahpungnome]

My PII only says 45ACP and Baer Custom. Baers don't come with the model marked anywhere as others have said. Serial # and a call to Baer will get you the right model.

[trigger945]

No identifying marks on the frame nor on the slide. The box has the model number, but then again, one can argue that the box may have been switched.

PII has target sights, 30 lpi front strap checkering, etc., but nothing that says "PII" or the like.

Good luck!

[gwoneg]

This^^^^^^^^^^ and the lgs guy doesn't know what he is talking about.

I'm hoping that's the case, that the guy didn't know anything about Les Baer and that I'll be able to work it out without resorting to hair pulling and name calling. In the interest of being thorough, there's no requirement that a FFL be able to determine the model from the physical markings on the frame or slide? The serial number/paperwork/confirmation from Les Baer should be sufficient?


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[gumby]

Yes to both questions

[thorium]

The FFL could easily call Baer to confirm its on roster via serial number check. He'd rather charge you a high GP SSE fee than be hassled by that I guess.

[gwoneg]

The FFL could easily call Baer to confirm its on roster via serial number check. He'd rather charge you a high GP SSE fee than be hassled by that I guess.

That's what I suspect may be going on, hopefully I'm proven wrong and the whole thing is the result of poor communication rather than greed or malice.

Thanks all for the confirmation.


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[heidad01]

Les Baer 1911s come in the cheap cardboard box, hence the attitude from the LGS guy about the model etc. the box cheap as it is for a $2k gun, has a sticker with the serial # and the model. The side at the shop is totally off if he is expecting to read the model off the slide. Also, any one working a gun counter should be able to recognize a premier ii. That is the most common of Lb's 1911s.
Change shops if they are that far out of touch.

[heidad01]

OP, just read your post again. There are many shops that have the sse kits ready to with no wait.
Check out ADDAX Tactical in SFV. No wait, great prices for SSE. So if the guy is giving you excuses you can have him ship it to another dealers. The extra shipping may be worth your time.
The guy sounds like he is trying to rip you off for extra cash. If he received the gun from another ffl, that means the paperwork shipped with the gun should says "quantity 1 LB Premier ii ser# xxyyzz" plus the sticker on the box says that. Avoid this shop, or find someone else to talk to.

[gwoneg]

My faith in humanity is restored. The shop separated the gun from the box after writing my name and number on a tag attached to the gun, when I spoke to the guy on the phone he was just going off of what was in front of him and he didn't recognize it as a premier ii. They even gave me a discount on their transfer fee on account of the confusion.

[gumby]

Awesome! Just another gun store commando; glad you got by him.

[gwoneg]

Identifying marks on Les Baer frame

It might not have even been that sinister. Best case was that the guy I saw spoke to saw a handgun he didn't recognize and offered to SSE it for me since I would not otherwise be able to DROS it. Either way, it was a painless transaction after the initial communications hiccup and that shop will continue to get my business.


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[skosh69]

The uber expensive box ( sarcasm ) that the gun comes in says the serial and model # on it!

Your LGS is 8TFU. Sorry.