Hi, I have come across a black paint M4 in excellent condition with only slight brass visible on the top plate. The M4 features in the original black paint serial number lists. According to your experiences and knowledges, how much should I be willing to pay for it. Any opinions/collector views would be highly appreciated. For your info : a regular M6 here in France is sold for 2600 $ approx, the asking price for the M4. Merci beaucoup.

-- H. Gurung (hgurung@libertysurf.fr), March 20, 2002

Answers

if you don't take it, i will!!

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 20, 2002.

It really depends on how much it's worth to you. Would you be willing to pay as much as for a new M6? And does the seller have an asking price?

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), March 20, 2002.

Well the seller is asking for 2600 $ approx. The camera as I said above is in a great condition.

-- H. Gurung (hgurung@libertysurf.fr), March 21, 2002.

Is this for collecting or for shooting? If the latter is the case, why not just buy a M4 user and have it repainted by Shintaro? - You would save 800-1000$.

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), March 21, 2002.

Nielsen, the camera is definitely for collecting. I have a different M for shooting, something I don't do much.

-- H. Gurung (hgurung@libertysurf.fr), March 21, 2002.

nothing against shintaro -- i have used his services on multiple occasions -- but even he would not claim that what he produces is equal to an original BP.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 21, 2002.

In the past year I've seen original black paint M4's going for $2500 - $3500 (USD) depending on condition. An M4-MOT usually runs a little higher. I bought one last November in Tokyo for about $2700, but it came with a (non-working) black paint MR-4 meter and I took advantage of a favorable exchange rate. In general, M4's (not M4-2 or M4P) of all original finishes (chrome, black chrome or black paint) seem to have increased in value more than other models over the past couple of years.

-- Bryan Caldwell (bcaldwell51@earthlink.net), March 21, 2002.