Leica M3 Olive „Bundeseigentum“

Very rare early version olive paint Leica M3 “Bundeswehr” with long strap lugs and double stroke advance, in good, original condition and in perfect working order, with beautiful patina and small bubbles appearing in paint. Engraved 'Bundeseigentum 12-121-5418' on the top plate, with matching Elmar 3.5/5cm no.1333993 engraved 'Bundeseigentum 12-121-5419', ITOOY hood. When the West German Army (Bundeswehr) was established after 1955, the Leica M cameras formed a large share of the photographic 35mm cameras ordered for the troops. Rare versions are the Leica M3, M1 and later M4 models in the olive paint finish. Leica Produced less than 300 M3 cameras in this finish. The offered example comes from an early small batch of only 20 cameras (serial numbers 920501-920521) delivered to the German army in 1958.