Lee Enfield SMLE Morse Code Signal Shutter Panel, Seen on eBayUK

[Roger Payne]

Indeed, no doubt quite rare. However, I too needed my smelling salts when I saw the vendor's expected sale price. This sale reminds me of a hard learned lesson from many years ago, when an older dealer pal & mentor of mine taught me that rarity in itself does not always walk hand in hand with high value. An item has to be both rare & DESIRABLE, to achieve a high sale price. Lugers are only moderately scarce in the big scheme of things, yet they are quite valuable because there are many people who like them & want to possess them - it's that combination of rarity & desirability that matters. I just can't see there being that many people saying 'I'll pay whatever it takes to get that', no matter how few there are left on the planet!!

But then I'm often wrong...........just ask my wife.