Seeking information about this custom stock

[Roscheck]

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I found this custom camera stock in some of my late grandmother's things and I'm trying to find out any information that I can about it (like who manufactured it and when). Unfortunately, it doesn't have any identifying marks on it at all. Does anyone recognize this from these photos?

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[MarkP]

Welcome to the forum. What a great start!

 

Will be very interested to see what comes of your 'find'

 

leica III camera 'gun stock' - Google Search

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[luigi bertolotti]

According to the well known Leica historician James Lager (see also http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Sabre_Stock) , this gun stock was made in 1956-57 by Sabre Photographic Supply Co., Oak Park, Illinois ; apparently Leitz in itself didn't listed this item (differently from the RIFLE, which you can see in the above linked page, the much longer one) ; it could accomodate both 200mm and 400mm Leitz Telyt lenses. Which is the lens that is mounted on yours ? It is not one of the above quoted... can you post som pics of it ? There were several 3rd parties tele lenses that could be mounted on the Leitz reflex box (Visoflex I), both from US and European vendors (they weren't yet the times of Japanese) and some of them are rather rare and have a specific interest

 

Surely one of the most interesting 3rd party accessories, and to have it into its original case makes this a very attractive collectible.

 

In case you wish to sell it, consider that such uncommon items have very wide ranges of evaluations.... : a well known and specialized US auctioneer (Tamarkin) sold one last year (without case and with 400mm lens, which in itself is not a rare item) at 13.000 US$... but another one was sold on ebay, always in 2013, for less than 2000 US$... another one (always with 400mm and no case) was auctioned in Europe in 2008 at 3000 Euros, another in 2012 at over 5000 Euros with a rather rare old 400mm lens (http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=62&L=1) .... "find the right customer in the right moment and in the right environment" is the golden rule for such "odd" items which, differently from the "mainstream" Leica collectibles (bodies and lenses) have a vey narrow and fluctuating market.

Edited March 29, 2014 by luigi bertolotti

[sabears]

Here it is:

Rare Leica Sabre Gun Stock + Visoflex I + IIIf RD ST+ 400mm f5.6 Kilfitt- rifle | eBay

 

cheers.

[zeitz]

The gun stock was made by Sabre Photographic Supple Co., 1023 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL. It was made longer than Lager reports, at least up to 1959 and probably later. Sabre Model 103 could accommodate Leica, Canon, Contax and Nikon cameras with various reflex housings. Other models were available for Alpa, Bolex, Exakta and Hasselblad. The price was around $80.00. This information is from a camera magazine ad in December 1959.

 

What has always surprised me is that this stock commands Leica collector prices even though there was no connection with Leitz in Germany or New York. It is also not specific to Leica cameras.

[zeitz]

If you want to build one from parts, Camera West has the aft piece for sale.

 

Sabre Gun Stock Shoulder Rest for Leica 400mm Telyt Lens | eBay

[luigi bertolotti]

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Here it is:

Rare Leica Sabre Gun Stock + Visoflex I + IIIf RD ST+ 400mm f5.6 Kilfitt- rifle | eBay

 

cheers.

 

Good find... ... the lens isn't exactly the same, but the brand is surely Kilfitt... I'd say it is the 300 f5,6 (the colored rings are revealing) , not uncommon but interesting lens, made for various cameras and even with a reflex box of its own, styled like the lens.

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Edited March 29, 2014 by luigi bertolotti