Electro Stencil ? Do you trust it ?

[Tony8520]

Just as the post states.

Can you really trust it.

We go out looking for a firearm and they can claim all numbers matching. But its mostly Electro Stencil.

Now okay if they want to go as far as MAG due to capacity for Canada.... I may bite. Because I wouldn't expect people to waste their time to pin a factory mag to have the matching number on the magazine.

But like a bolt, or receiver, or bottom plate of an action..... Like where does it stop.

I have a little bit of scratch to buy decent stuff but not a whole firearm with matching stencil everywhere.


is the day of caring for matching numbers over ?

What's your take?

 

[can14]

Matching numbers should be the original factory/ factory rebuild/armour stamped numbers
Stencil and re numbers are the buyer's choice

 

[Eaglelord17]

Armourers did use electropencils depending on the country and time period, its part of the reason you have to do a lot of research to determine what exactly you are buying. I have seen firearms with stamped numbers faked so you have to be careful either way.

To me matching numbers means the numbers are matching from the factory, refurbishment, or armourer repair. Factory matching is what I would call it if it was matching from the factory. Ultimately collecting has no set standard, its based on what you want. Many of my favourite firearms are mismatched, and that doesn’t matter much to me. I also possess some extremely nice all matching examples as well. My philosophy is I buy based on what the norm is for that firearm, ex. If i wanted a Ottoman m1893 Mauser I would not be picky at all, but something like a Swedish M96 I would be looking for all matching numbers.

 

[bearhunter]

Matching numbers should be the original factory/ factory rebuild/armour stamped numbers
Stencil and re numbers are the buyer's choice

Not really.

Some FTRs didn't restamp numbers, they used electropencils instead. Much faster and cheaper, depending on who was doing the refurb and how low their bid was to do the job.

 

[Potashminer]

Not really.

Some FTRs didn't restamp numbers, they used electropencils instead. Much faster and cheaper, depending on who was doing the refurb and how low their bid was to do the job.

Somewhere, I had read exactly that for Swede rifles - maybe Crown Jewels book? - but can't find it now. Rifle serial number stamped inside original wood stock - arsenal overhauls or repairs resulted in "Crown over symbol" on underside of stock behind trigger guard - I have one with three such stampings. Some arsenal overhauls - perhaps M38's(?) - resulted in electropenciled marking on shroud and safety - that were NOT present when made as new. M96 versions of same parts seemed to have had last three digits of rifle receiver serial stamped on the parts. So "all matching" M38 with appropriate stampings on the original wood stock, would have electro-penciled markings on those parts - same rifle that had not had the overhaul would not have the electro-stencil markings. So a rifle with original wood stock with overhaul stampings, with original serial number inside stock, without any markings on the shroud and safety, would NOT be "all matching"...

 

[Snowdingo]

Some people care, some don't.

 

[Horilka]

There are factory matching collectible German firearms with EPed numbers, and there stamped matching refurbs that are shooter grade, so what... Matching is just matching, factory matching is another story, add to this all original condition and you have a winner. And most collectors would not advance to all original factory matching stuff - hard to find, expensive, need to know subject really well, in many cases its better not to shoot it, why bother... Leave it to those who care.
The most funniest part is to be polite when you get messages from "experts" that a collectible gun you have for sale for $1500 is worth $200, because "it's just moison negant, right?"