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These boxes were being sold on EBay by a guy who was making them and stated clearly they are reproduction boxes.Guess Vikrant has a new source for these "rare" boxes.I guess people either know they are fake or buy them to live in a safe with thier Colt and they never find out that the box is fake.

Yes I bought 2 off of "OZ" on ebay last year about this time because he clearly stated they were reproductions made BY HIM. NO DOUBT IN MY MIND these are made by OZ, and Vik is buying them in quantity off of him. I would not have bought them if they were advertised or implied as original as this POS always does. I bought them because I just wanted boxes to store a couple "Minty" scarce/rare pre-war revolvers, which didn't have the boxes I had, and they were only 75 bucks each. I know they won't "fool" anyone and am gald they won't. If they save one scratch on one gun, they had paid for themselves to me, quite a few years back I dropped a SUPER-RARE old MINT SMITH in a thick zipper case one time. Sad thing is I had the original box/all paperwork (it was NIB) and have no idea why it wasn't in it:bang_wall:. To this day I still have no idea why it was in that case and I'm the only one who knows the combination lol. It hit the bottom sharp edge of the safe, and REALLY MESSED UP the end of the muzzle. The gun hit perfectly straight down where there isn't any/little padding at the zipper with all the momentum from lying on the top shelf. I have since lined the end of the bottom of the safe lol. I still have the gun and I hide it in the back of he safe because I want to cry about every time I see it...
Anyway back on topic when I ordered the 2 boxes from OZ, which a bunch of forum members did also, mine started coming apart within a couple weeks. The vinyl/clothlike material started coming off. The glue was "a bad batch". I sent them back and it took, from the best I can remember, MONTHS to get it straightened out and new ones back. I thought I was going to have to file a complaint with PayPal, but at the last minute he came through and I didn't have to. Oz told me something about revamping his operation to put out better and faster boxes was why there was such a delay. I guess "the contract" had already been worked out lol. Oz seemed like a good guy, and I hate to see him dealing with this dud. Its sad to see Vik selling them for double (which I wouldn't expect any less, he never fails to disappoint), because they were really well made boxes and were of an "old type" like craftsman. They the most well made repop boxes I ever seen. I wouldn't buy one from Vik if they were a buck a piece, literally. If anyone wanted one I would buy directly from Oz.

 

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<div style="margin-left:40px">His flawless feedback proves to me, his buyers know exactly what they are buying and they are content with his product. If these people were not getting what they thought they were getting, he would have hundreds of negatives. They know what they are buying. </div>

I have to strongly disagree with this John, no disrespect intended of course, but I have alot of first hand knowledge of this guy. there is some stuff I know which I am not going to put out there for the simple fact, its kinda like "an ace in the hole" and I know he is watching. You wouldn't believe some of the stories he has told people lol. Some know what they are getting, the ones who buy his Python boxes,etc, to fake "NIB" packages and deceit people themselves. However there are alot of people who just don't know the Manuals, boxes,etc he sells are not original. I know of people who bought them as original, then found out much later they weren't and were mad. Back before I knew exactly who he was, I actually bought an original S&W box from him. One of the very few original items I ever seen him sell. I thought he was legit then. I ordered a large 1978 Python manual (he told me it was original) and when I got it, I could tell it wasn't of course. I contacted him and he told me he bought items all over the US from various people and sometimes he was taken himself. He didn't know lol. I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he had his lips pressed to my *** the entire time and even offered me extra money back for "his mistake". I left positive feedback, but stated seller had sold me a Reproduction manual but quickly refunded my money, actually he sent my check back with a few bucks extra. He begged me to take that off about it being a reproduction, but I didn't. This is why he doesnt have negative feedback because gun guys give the benefit of the doubt and he kisses *** and gives their money back AND extra money when he is caught. He can do this because his profit margin is probably about 1000% or more on some items and he is a smart guy. He would make a great car salesman I bet. I'll bet he has had a few negative feedback but with the quantity he does, GB probably removed them for him. I've heard and know for a fact they do that for some sellers which do alot of sells (make them alot of money). On a similar comparison note, there are people whom are discussed regularly, with alot of feedback, who sell fake "NIB" packages and they have great feedback too. I know people don't know they aren't getting a real NIB Python, Keystones real Nickel Target Python package VS the fake one which sold is an excellent example of this. If they knew, they would have bought Keystones for sure. jmho.

 

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I just wanted to add one more point I forgot to mention about the FBG. If there is any doubt of intent, which I don't think there is, just look at some of the guns he has sold in the past lol. I remember seeing about 95%, yes about 95% (just by what was actually showed lol) Colts listed as NIB or LNIB with a "fresh brand spanking new box and paperwork" numbered to the gun . I remember some of us laughing at these auctions. Of course if I see a gun for sale by him anymore, I don't even click on it anymore, no need to waste my time.
I personally think it is good to keep the word flowing about fakes and who sells them. Because just about every thread which is started about this, at LEAST one more person has learned about this and is appreciative. I've had people thank me for informing them (even a few gun dealers), and I've had some people share their bad "experiences".
I agree with John that most fakes do not hurt the value of original pieces, however great fakes do if there are enough of them. I know a buddy who used to deal in certain confederate items and the fakes killed much of that market UNLESS VERY rare instances where the items are fully documented historical provenience from the families, etc. There are quite a few dealers around here whom still deal in Union stuff but will not touch most of the confederate stuff because all say literally 99%+ of the pieces out there said to be original are fakes, and on alot of them, the "Experts" cannot even agree on. My buddy had a super rare piece which this happened to, he even bought it from "the family estate" but didn't have documentation going back far enough to get everyone on board. If he could have gotten "everybody" to sign off on it, he would have had a Super Valuable Piece, I think he said only 4 or 5 are known to exist (authenticated). Of course they have been faking confederate stuff for 60-70/+ years from what he says. He stills deals a little in the Union stuff and basically "some Confederate looking stuff", but most turn their nose up at it simply because why buy something that you know odds are it is 99% fake. He says he can't blame them either. I remember someone talking on here about some of the highly collectible toy markets eventually just about being destroyed from all the good fakes. I know absolutely nothing about either one lol, but my buddy does know alot about the first I mentioned. There is no question IF the market was flooded by a bunch of repop boxes which the difference weren't able to be seen, the NIB collectible gun market would suffer. I hope that never happens because I love these guns.