FRAUD or FACT? "Original" Luke ESB Prop on eBay

[TerryMcIntosh]

I found this tonight on eBay (*not* my auction) and I've been in contact with the seller who swears he was told it's an authentic piece made by the folks during production of Episode 4. I call utter and complete BS, so I'll throw this out there to discuss.

Here's what I immediately notice as issues -- belt clip is die cast metal, bizarre extra buttons around clamp area, no Graflex branding on pommel end or on clamp, no metal 'greebles' up near the bulb release, metal stock is too thick of a gauge, no gold prongs in the connection ports, chrome (or at least highly polished) finish, odd fit around second red button where a glass eye would sit, and the list goes on. In short, it's not even a real (or decent quality repro) Graflex to say nothing about it being in an attempted ESB configuration and not ANH.

For a mere $50,000 this prize from Palin-land can be yours! Your thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250600317467

 

[sebmodio]

Wow, that's incredibly not right. There's the buttons and screws on the clamp (which doesn't bear the GRAFLEX logo), no glass eye for the front, and, if it's from ANH like the seller claims, the grips and the activation matrix are wrong.

That's what I caught, but I'm sure there's more.

 

[GINO]

Pretty sure that is a Marco Ent. saber.
Someone should page jediscout, she might be interested in this, although not quite at that price.



.

 

[Funky]

And with 8 positive feedback, you can feel safe dropping 50,000.00 lol:lol

 

[Lear60man]

When you ask a seller a question does it automaticly show at the bottom of the auction? I agree with Gino, loks like a Marco Ent.

 

[EvilRocketeer]

When you ask a seller a question does it automaticly show at the bottom of the auction? I agree with Gino, loks like a Marco Ent.

what is a marco ent?

 

[starbuc]

Gino is right, that is an Marco ESB lightsaber.
I used to have one just like it. In fact I still have parts from the one I had from the early 80's.
It looks to be in great shape, but to bad the guy wasted the listing fees. I am sure they were not cheap to list something for $50,000. :lol

Terry

 

[TerryMcIntosh]

I found this tonight on eBay (*not* my auction) and I've been in contact with the seller who swears he was told it's an authentic piece made by the folks during production of Episode 4. I call utter and complete BS, so I'll throw this out there to discuss.

Here's what I immediately notice as issues -- belt clip is die cast metal, bizarre extra buttons around clamp area, no Graflex branding on pommel end or on clamp, no metal 'greebles' up near the bulb release, metal stock is too thick of a gauge, no gold prongs in the connection ports, chrome (or at least highly polished) finish, odd fit around second red button where a glass eye would sit, and the list goes on. In short, it's not even a real (or decent quality repro) Graflex to say nothing about it being in an attempted ESB configuration and not ANH.

For a mere $50,000 this prize from Palin-land can be yours. Your thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250600317467

Well, he's dropped this down to $10,000 now since I think he's realizing his uncle lied to him (he claims that's the person who told him it was an original prop from LFL). If someone actually offered him $8,000 for this thing like he's now claiming in the edited auction description then I bet he's punching himself in the junk right about now for letting that crazy person slip through his fingers! :lol

 

[Lear60man]

what is a marco ent?

Marco Enterprises was a pioneer in the replica prop business. Mostly inaccurate pieces but the 'best' for what was out their at the time. Advertised out of Starlog magazine. I still have a couple of his catalogs.

 

[EvilRocketeer]

Marco Enterprises was a pioneer in the replica prop business. Mostly inaccurate pieces but the 'best' for what was out their at the time. Advertised out of Starlog magazine. I still have a couple of his catalogs.

Thank you lear60man...I appreciate the info..

 

[IFA]

When you ask a seller a question does it automaticly show at the bottom of the auction? I agree with Gino, loks like a Marco Ent.

Only if the seller wishes to show the "question & answer" to all ebayers in his auction !!

 

[Jack Bauer]

Well, wait a second fellas!!!

It clearly says on the orange button above the photo he offers "FREE SHIPPING!"

 

[arkangel]

Poor guy was "forced to rethink things" and lower his price to a mere 10 grand.
Can't his uncle do up a certificate of possible authenticity? :lol

 

[Darth Lars]

Help the guy out will you! If you have one of these sabers, take a digital picture of it. If you have a magazine with an ad for it, scan it.
Then put them on a web page (or in this thread) and give him the link to the web page (or thread) in a "Ask the seller a question" message. That will persuade him.

 

[Lear60man]

I sent him a message via Ebay. He might have been totally clueless but now he is enlightened.

And the response;

Dear lear60man,

thank you fir the info, i appreciate it

- jeffreyhanssolo

 

[sycor]

yep cancelled the auction and remove the description and title. I think he was clueless and is now embarrased.

 

[Dann]

Anybody got pics? I haven't seen a Marco saber in ages.

 

[Sym-Cha]

I was looking at this tonight on ebay also *not my auction but was this the lightsaber in question? :confused

http://cgi.ebay.com/EARLY-STYLE-STA...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item25597b1b21

Any way does anyone recognize who made this early lightsabers?

-Chaim

 

[nwjedidave]

I ALWAYS wanted a Marco 'saber! I still have 2-3 catalogs around here somewhere.

Anyone know what he made them from "way back when?" Possibly 3-cells? They looked really good in the catalog pictures.

 

[TerryMcIntosh]

I ALWAYS wanted a Marco 'saber! I still have 2-3 catalogs around here somewhere.

Anyone know what he made them from "way back when?" Possibly 3-cells? They looked really good in the catalog pictures.

Going only from the many detailed photos that I studied from this (now canceled) auction, the thickness of the metal of the Marco unit appeared significantly thicker than a real Graflex -- I'm using a genuine Graflex 3-cell sitting in front of me as a reference. There were other clues, such as dimension and detail errors in the metal, which support that conclusion. That being said, I'd wager heavily that he simply had them machined.