American Handgunner – March / April 1985

Verifying the authenticity of an ultra-rare firearm isn’t just about protecting your investment, it’s about preserving history and ensuring the piece you’re adding to your collection actually has the story everyone claims it does. From securing factory letters and scrutinizing physical “fingerprints” to building a verifiable paper trail and knowing when to call in professional experts, authentication requires a multi-layered approach that separates genuine treasures from expertly crafted fakes.