K43 on Armslist

[Hundids]

I'm looking to buy a K43. I found this one on Armslist for $1200, which is obviously completely undervalued at that price. After contacting the seller, he sent me a few photos of the rifle and information about it. It is not import marked and has all original matching serial numbers. Metal finish is original blue with some "turning brown." Bore is bright and excellent with strong rifling, and the wood has been "lightly buffed." I asked why he was asking so little, and replied "my asking price is low because i need the money for something important and i don't really want too much negotiation thats why." Small red flag there. Everything else seems to be fine, except the price. I then get an email saying that the listing has been flagged as a potentinal scam by other users. Should I steer clear, or could the guy really not know the value of his rifle? Here are the photos he sent me.

[Hundids]

[Bobby Ricigliano]

It is hard to say if it is legit or not. Armslist doesn't have a user feedback system and there are a lot of scams there. I almost bought a nice Garand on AL until I saw that the sellers pics were the same as some other stock internet photos. When I asked for clarification he stopped answering emails.

On the other hand, I bought a presumably unfired and mint Romanian SKS on AL for a great price and the rifle arrived exactly as described.

One trick you might try is to ask for a picture with a current newspaper behind it, or ask for a very specific picture of a part that the seller would need the rifle in hand to be able to do. Also, swap ID's before sending any money and don't use paypal gift. Check the seller's address on Google maps and make sure everything looks legit.

Finally, there is a seller on Gunbroker who uses a gray blanket as a backdrop and sells a lot of higher end guns like this. These pics look very similar to his layout.

Good luck, beautiful rifle.

[Flyin Brian]

I'd recognize that stained blanket anywhere! Bobby's right, those photos are from SReisel on Gunbroker out of New York.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=208042

[Rogerbutthead]

That particular seller has been stated to sometimes sell bubba'd weapons as original. He would not sell a nice K43 at half or less of its FMV

What are the chances that a buyer from his sales has to sell it a such a low price?

Good eye Brian.

[19K]

ALWAYS input the images into google and see where else the pictures have been posted.

[Recon-01]

The blanket even has the same stains as the ones on Gunbroker. I would probably steer clear. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

[glennsche]

most definitely gray blanket hysteria Blanket. Highly suspicious

[Grendl]

Also, "lightly buffed"? No. Totally refinished. If you're not alreadyscared off, ask to see close-ups of any remaining stamps

[pitfighter]

Suspicious -

Like the guy using my MP44 photos (lifted from gun boards) to sell my MP44 on arms list - offer to meet him with cash - excuses come really quickly after that, and offers to drop the price.

Or a newspaper in background - as suggested above.

Or, a telephone call, where you can ask if they can look for a marking - you'll know quick if they're BSing.

[sealocan]

I've got it!

we should all put down our own individual stained / colored blanket underneath the guns we photograph as our signature, rather than using a obsolete system like I trader.

I claim the poncho that Clint Eastwood used in good the bad and the ugly...if you see a gun photograph on that type of poncho a blanket it's mine.
(I bought it off Craigslist, so I know it's legit.)

that means duckies and bunnies on a white sheet is still available get it while it lasts...


seriously this is why I don't even look at stuff on arms list or any place that does not have some kind of rating system...even then buyer beware.

if it sounds too good to be true...your hearing should be checked out.

[pitfighter]

The other side of the coin -

I bought my first G43 on Armslist for $1300
Bought (TMI edited sorry.)

I have not been burned there and have done a dozen or so deals.

[joefrank64k]

HAHA!!! That's the famous (infamous???) grey blanket of sreisel on GunBroker!!!

Wow, if you're going to scam, at least use pics from someone who DOESN'T have a 13,698 feedback score on a national gun sales web site.

AHHAHAHAHA!!!

OP's Questionable Listing Pic:



Current sreisel listing:

[Hundids]

I just checked the Armslist ads location. It says Ohio, and that is definitely the same guy on Gunbroker. This is already over.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

CSI Calguns has spoken.