I’ll try to keep the long story of being an idiot short and objective. I’ve purchased from byf_41 on CrookLocker before. The gun I bought and transaction were solid. We chatted for a while after the first purchase, he offered some other stuff offline and we discussed some fakes sold on different platforms. So I was sure he is a nice reliable guy.
And I didn’t know about this https://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?39269-Humper-Die-De…
I was quite surprised by final prices at the Amoskeag auction 129, that was actively discussed by folks here, and after not winning 6 out of 7 (ridiculously high, in my opinion) bids I reviewed my mental pricing and decided to acquire long wanted all matching pre-war 98k somewhere else. And came across this: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/895157691
So I thought the rifle looked correct apart from the front band and frankly after our communication I thought he wouldn’t sell fakes, renumbers etc., so I didn’t scrutinize all photos (check the post name again). Also I read in the description, that he had issues removing front band, but it didn’t seem to be alarming, especially after his story of a million dollar chip and that he didn’t do full gun strips. Pimped butt plate and discs, sanded stock seemed acceptable. So I bought it.
When I received the rifle, I noticed the machining line on the bayonet lug along with cold bluing "smears" that indicated that it was renumbered. So I reached out to the seller requesting return, although it was listed to be sold as is. I offered him to keep as much as he deemed necessary for his effort to make a gazillion pictures and me not properly looking at them. At first, he said 20% restocking fee and I agreed, then, after I asked him to transfer me the remaining 80%, he said that the person who gave him the rifle for a consignment didn’t have the money to pay me back and that it was not a fake/renumbered and looked pretty normal. After this he blacklisted me.
I sent him an email: “Well played sir”. The response was:
“I said in my description, I couldn’t get that barrel band OFF Twice and Pictured everything as much as I could. I told everything about the rifle and Pictured everything Multiple times. There’s nothing else, I could Do and Nothing was played.
I done my job to the Fullest.”
I replied:
“Sure. Hopefully you’ll use the money for the turd for a good thing : ) I sent you pictures and you said it is not a fake and blocked me. I don’t know how to discuss this. We both know it’s a fake and that real money was paid. Let the Lord be your judge. I simply thought that you wouldn’t sell shite. I was wrong.”
And received this email from his account:
“Sir let me tell you one time and One LAST Time,
The Next time you talk bad about my husband or say one negative thing about him again. So help me,
We know the people with GB very well and I will personally tell them about you running your mouth. My husband doesn’t own BYF_41 BTW. I own it and I do thing by the book.
BTW your FFL told me all about you, Especially the way you nitpick all the stuff that comes in and That’s your Bad Nature. You need to buy NIB guns and Not 70++ year old guns.
As I stated, You best stop your junk about my husband Now.
End of conversation.”
So I posted negative review on CrapStocker. The review stated: Rifle turned out to be fake - removed old # and re-stamped matching serial. Seller agreed to process return but then blacklisted me. Buyer beware. No responsibility for fakery is taken here.
After that I received a text:
“Let me tell you one Thing buddy
You best remove that feedback or I will be lighting you up on GB myself
This is a two way street
I done my job and I am fixing to light you up on feedback”
And a phone call. From the guy. After some emotional talks we agreed on 70% refund and rifle return, with the condition that I’d remove that feedback. I was supposed to drop the rifle off at the same time as I received Zelle payment back. I changed the feedback. But in an hour it turned out he had a $500 daily limit and suggested me to ship the rifle receiving $500 and then $500 everyday while the rifle would be in transit. When I said that we clearly had a trust issue there, women on the phone in the background told me that I’d better agree, because I didn’t have a better option.
I texted him next day, suggesting that the rifle stays with FFL and he can start sending me money, so before the last instalment I’d ship the rifle. He went emotional, saying if I didn’t call him immediately, the deal was over. So we had no communication since then.
I’ve picked up the rifle after 5 days of waiting that he changes his mind and goes back to what we agreed. Didn’t happen.
Fun fact the rifle has been discussed here already:
https://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?46045-243-1939-k98k-opinions
So, it’s a duffel cut, poorly repaired, seems to be original, looking at matching laminate lines. Bayonet lug appears to be a bubba replacement (why? lost? looking at similar pattern at front band, is it fake too?) and has a re-struck number and messed up front band that doesn't move, because it is sitting to far back to accommodate the length of band spring. Not sure that I will try to remove it, because chances are it won't fit back in. The rest of the rifle seems fine. Please see pictures attached (would be hard to beat 162 pictures, I’ll post only relevant ones). Don't know how to classify it - half & half shooter/keeper?
So I don’t know if I behaved like a jerk leaving negative feedback having all the pictures and not thoroughly checking them. I am certainly not at the level of heavy_mech knowledge/experience, but that line is visible in the picture. And the dude stated issues with front band. Have a feeling that I learned a lesson hard way and that I shitted my pants at the same time
Hope it can be a teaching moment for folks on this forum.
And I didn’t know about this https://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?39269-Humper-Die-De…
I was quite surprised by final prices at the Amoskeag auction 129, that was actively discussed by folks here, and after not winning 6 out of 7 (ridiculously high, in my opinion) bids I reviewed my mental pricing and decided to acquire long wanted all matching pre-war 98k somewhere else. And came across this: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/895157691
So I thought the rifle looked correct apart from the front band and frankly after our communication I thought he wouldn’t sell fakes, renumbers etc., so I didn’t scrutinize all photos (check the post name again). Also I read in the description, that he had issues removing front band, but it didn’t seem to be alarming, especially after his story of a million dollar chip and that he didn’t do full gun strips. Pimped butt plate and discs, sanded stock seemed acceptable. So I bought it.
When I received the rifle, I noticed the machining line on the bayonet lug along with cold bluing "smears" that indicated that it was renumbered. So I reached out to the seller requesting return, although it was listed to be sold as is. I offered him to keep as much as he deemed necessary for his effort to make a gazillion pictures and me not properly looking at them. At first, he said 20% restocking fee and I agreed, then, after I asked him to transfer me the remaining 80%, he said that the person who gave him the rifle for a consignment didn’t have the money to pay me back and that it was not a fake/renumbered and looked pretty normal. After this he blacklisted me.
I sent him an email: “Well played sir”. The response was:
“I said in my description, I couldn’t get that barrel band OFF Twice and Pictured everything as much as I could. I told everything about the rifle and Pictured everything Multiple times. There’s nothing else, I could Do and Nothing was played.
I done my job to the Fullest.”
I replied:
“Sure. Hopefully you’ll use the money for the turd for a good thing : ) I sent you pictures and you said it is not a fake and blocked me. I don’t know how to discuss this. We both know it’s a fake and that real money was paid. Let the Lord be your judge. I simply thought that you wouldn’t sell shite. I was wrong.”
And received this email from his account:
“Sir let me tell you one time and One LAST Time,
The Next time you talk bad about my husband or say one negative thing about him again. So help me,
We know the people with GB very well and I will personally tell them about you running your mouth. My husband doesn’t own BYF_41 BTW. I own it and I do thing by the book.
BTW your FFL told me all about you, Especially the way you nitpick all the stuff that comes in and That’s your Bad Nature. You need to buy NIB guns and Not 70++ year old guns.
As I stated, You best stop your junk about my husband Now.
End of conversation.”
So I posted negative review on CrapStocker. The review stated: Rifle turned out to be fake - removed old # and re-stamped matching serial. Seller agreed to process return but then blacklisted me. Buyer beware. No responsibility for fakery is taken here.
After that I received a text:
“Let me tell you one Thing buddy
You best remove that feedback or I will be lighting you up on GB myself
This is a two way street
I done my job and I am fixing to light you up on feedback”
And a phone call. From the guy. After some emotional talks we agreed on 70% refund and rifle return, with the condition that I’d remove that feedback. I was supposed to drop the rifle off at the same time as I received Zelle payment back. I changed the feedback. But in an hour it turned out he had a $500 daily limit and suggested me to ship the rifle receiving $500 and then $500 everyday while the rifle would be in transit. When I said that we clearly had a trust issue there, women on the phone in the background told me that I’d better agree, because I didn’t have a better option.
I texted him next day, suggesting that the rifle stays with FFL and he can start sending me money, so before the last instalment I’d ship the rifle. He went emotional, saying if I didn’t call him immediately, the deal was over. So we had no communication since then.
I’ve picked up the rifle after 5 days of waiting that he changes his mind and goes back to what we agreed. Didn’t happen.
Fun fact the rifle has been discussed here already:
https://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?46045-243-1939-k98k-opinions
So, it’s a duffel cut, poorly repaired, seems to be original, looking at matching laminate lines. Bayonet lug appears to be a bubba replacement (why? lost? looking at similar pattern at front band, is it fake too?) and has a re-struck number and messed up front band that doesn't move, because it is sitting to far back to accommodate the length of band spring. Not sure that I will try to remove it, because chances are it won't fit back in. The rest of the rifle seems fine. Please see pictures attached (would be hard to beat 162 pictures, I’ll post only relevant ones). Don't know how to classify it - half & half shooter/keeper?
So I don’t know if I behaved like a jerk leaving negative feedback having all the pictures and not thoroughly checking them. I am certainly not at the level of heavy_mech knowledge/experience, but that line is visible in the picture. And the dude stated issues with front band. Have a feeling that I learned a lesson hard way and that I shitted my pants at the same time
Hope it can be a teaching moment for folks on this forum.
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