EBay makes it hard sometimes because the pictures are not that great for many of the auctions. Always try to look on the bottom due to the graphics and bulge of the side tube and plating. Many times the bottom is nicked and you can see the brass under the plating. The stamped printing is a great tell all.
If it looks too new, its probably fake. See if they have the original packaging or if it was part of an mint outfit. If not, thats another big clue to a repo. The originals also have a fine grain running around the diameter of the plating on the tubing. There is always some scratching to this, its impossible to avoid with use. You will ussually see marks from the camera clamps on the tube in fine scratching as well some discolorment. The clamp itself ussually has some discolor from corrosion especially around the square locking pins stamped in the clamp.
If it looks too new, its probably fake. See if they have the original packaging or if it was part of an mint outfit. If not, thats another big clue to a repo. The originals also have a fine grain running around the diameter of the plating on the tubing. There is always some scratching to this, its impossible to avoid with use. You will ussually see marks from the camera clamps on the tube in fine scratching as well some discolorment. The clamp itself ussually has some discolor from corrosion especially around the square locking pins stamped in the clamp.
