To come across a camera like this is really a marker for what I do. Which is why this one was verified by one of the most eminent Leica specialists, Mr.
#LEICA M3 SERIAL NUMBER#
Coupled with the fact that many of them had the Bundeseigentum serial number removed from the back of the camera, so that they could be ‘liberated’ from military service with less chance of being caught, it is hard to tell the real from the fakes. The military leica’s are particularly hard to verify, as in some cases there are no records of the camera. And almost none of them are double stroke or in this kind of condition.Īs with any kind of rare item there are also a lot of fakes about of this camera. According to the current Leica list there are only 144 of these cameras left now. This was the ultimate in military chic, before it was even invented! You can see the set in detail here.Īccording to records there were around 214 pieces made, although that is only the shipping record and it is inaccurate as there may have been a couple more that were not put on file. When the camera was send to the government it was supplied as a set, with 3 lenses, a leather carry case and meter. In fact I am sure that there are probably still a couple out there languishing in a forgotten storeroom. There is no way of replacing the vulcanite on these cameras, so to have one with it intact is a marvel.īundeseigentum means ‘government property’, and as such many of these cameras never made it out of the military. This is a particularly rare camera because of not only the double stroke action, but the fact that the vulcanite is complete, which is unusual in these cameras as they were subjected to use by the military.
This particular camera came from the first batch, which means it is a double stroke as opposed to the later single stroke action M3’s. The cameras were made during the period from 1957 through to 1968 and only made in very small batches. But for the hardcore dedicated few, the Bundeseigentum cameras produced by Leica are actually some of the rarest and most sought after of all. Many people completely overlook the Olive Leica’s and just see them as an oddity.
When people think of rare Leica cameras, they usually look first at the original MP or the black paint M3’s. The absolutely stunning Original Olive M3 Bundeseigentum. Every now and again I get the honour of being able to find very very special items for my clients, and this really was one of them.
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