Hi I figured the watch out section may be appropriate to for this post. I am such a novice Collector many of you would say 'Wow I remember when I started'. Officially it's been about a month but I began with a collection already passed down from a deceased Brother 5 years ago. Vintage original parts are very important to me, real is real any way you slice it up. Here is my latest comment to a Seller on E-Bay about a reproduction Zuckuss Rifle from what I've learned from Imperial Gunnery knowledge ( I hope I did not screw up???).

Hi Jeremy,
Well there are 3 distinct features that I noticed and as I said I do use my Purposely bought Repro. Rifle to help with reference. Before I list the reasons I must say that the rifle in question matches my Repro. Rifle exactly

1- The stock of the Repro rifle. compared to a Vintage original (3 variations). Both rifles have groves in them for grip, but the pattern is slightly different due to the fact that Repro. stocks are a tad bit longer which causes the grooves to be wider.
2- Original Rifles have a tip of plastic that extends from the trigger guard ( on 3 different variations) as if it was a trigger itself and does look like a little one. The Repro. Rifles do not have this plastic trigger.
3- At the front of the stock just as the receiver begins AND just forward of the front sight there is a little piece of plastic from the moulding process. On the Original rifles this is a Hexagon and not circular on both little tabs. On the Repro. Rifles they are both rounded and not Hexagonal.

So actually the 3rd reason had 2 reasons in one, lol. So I guess that's 4 reasons. Did I pass the test???

I read your listing and I know you make very attempt to distinguish real from fake. What I just explained to you can help allot of people. I know these distictions due to dedicated Men (maybe even women?) who are avid collectors. I do my research and learn all the time. I do not have the money to buy MOC figures and then open them to keep the weapons as examples but others have done this over the years and I always strive to follow their example. My collection is important because My collection is actually one that I continue in Honor of my deceased brother. His collection passed to me upon his death 5 years ago and now I am at point in my life that I may continue his collection and I will do it right.
-Paul

Please understand that I would like to Collect in the right way. I respect the guidance and knowlege from the years of experience that many of you have. I lack so much of that knowledge. But I am dedicated and I will learn and I've been so Happy for a month now discovering that I too have the passion that my Brother did and knowing that I am doing this not only for me... but for my Brother. It helps keep his memory alive.
-Sithlord2013

Mate, Welcome to the forum, i just wanted to say that you carrying on your brothers collection is a really special thing and im sure he is smiling from where ever he is watching you do it, and my hearts with you for the loss of your bro.
I really hope its something you enjoy as much as he did, and im very impressed by your efforts and the knowledge you already have..

Cheers mate n good luck

Welcome to the boards first of all and it's great you're carrying on the collection.

I think your Email was very well written but of course it does matter if you're correct LOL

Can you link the auction or post a rifle pic so we can actually see it?

getting a photo up are even the auction listing number would really help.

Thank you for the welcome to the forum.

The Buy It Now auction was for a Rifle or more if you wanted more and I purchased 2 for a total of $8 U.S. After addressing my issue with the seller and defining what I took to be a Reproduction he then offered a refund of exactly 4 dollars. I sent the rifle back to him and just today I received my refund. As for a link and picture, my state of mind was put to ease once I was offered a refund. But here is the link none the less;

Link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190774761052?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649


The picture on this link is the one for which I doubted and it matched EXACTLY to the Repro I bought over the last 30 days. The other I received from the seller looked to be a V2 not a V1 or V3. I am on Duty right now so I do not have a camera nor do I have my weapons, well I have my weapons just not my SW weapons, the ones I have will kill ya quick

I'm off in a few and I'll upload a photo of the one I kept. Oh ya one last thing. I see many many repro's, some by seller's admitting to it and some not. I try to look very closely at the auction photos and I even ask the seller's what they have. I use the Imperial Gunnery as reference and it has helped tremendously! Even once I have it in hand, under my lamp and little magnifying glass I have
-

Mods would you close this please? Thanks