Is my Leica M3 authentic?

[Samascha]

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Hi all,

I recently bought an early batch m3 that was repainted by Kanto Camera (Japan).

And saw 2 little details on the top plate that makes me wonder whether the camera is really authentic...

1. The rewind knot is a dot; rather than a line

2. the number '3' on M3 has a slight differences from other m3.( or was it a paint job that makes the font a bit bigger?)

i would like to know whether this camera is authentic, thank you all.

 

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[a.noctilux]

No worry,

if your M3 works like it should, why worry if it's authentic or not.

Just use it and be happy as proud owner of this unique M3.

...

As side note, when this M3 was manufactured in 1954, it was the only time that it was authentic.

Over time, happily, this M3 may have had some modifications to gain reliability or easier use (double stroke to single stroke for example, or viewfinder replaced ...).

 

My M3 has zero modifications, but if it needs one day why not

 

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Edited October 14, 2021 by a.noctilux

[colint544]

I wouldn't worry too much. Kanto are very reputable, and they won't just paint a camera, they completely disassemble/service it.  They did my M2 eight years ago, and it's never missed a beat.

[Anthony Miller]

My 1955 double stroke M3 is similar. Single red dot on the rewind, the M3 engraving is slightly larger than the serial number font. It also has the "Budda Ear" strap lugs and no frame preview lever. 

Yours looks fine to me

[earleygallery]

It's clearly NOT authentic as it's been repainted, but it is a Leica M3.

[250swb]

It is an authentic Leica M3. It is not an authentic Leica M3 black paint camera, it's a refurbished chrome Leica M3. You could suspect it's a fake simply because of the black painted shutter release, it should be silver.