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Smiths W10 - weird caseback?

Aquariusmatic
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I'm eyeing this piece from a local watch guy that is liquidating his "old" watches. Somewhat of a rare piece and somewhat of an iffy piece in my eyes?

If I'm not mistaken the caseback is off? Other watches from his collection are all good from the GSTP pieces to the Bunds and the Tricolori stuff. But this watch while it presents to be a honest piece is a mystery in regard to the caseback?!

His story is that it was a Kenyan Military subcontract if I caught his info correctly... Any and all insights would be most welcomed!
 
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OmegaP99
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What part are you uncertain about, just if they made these for the Kenyan military?
You might want to ask over at MWR on these. (Broadarrow.net) When I was more into MIL pieces and spent time there they always had quick answers on these types of questions.
 
Aquariusmatic
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OmegaP99 OmegaP99
What part are you uncertain about, just if they made these for the Kenyan military?
You might want to ask over at MWR on these. (Broadarrow.net) When I was more into MIL pieces and spent time there they always had quick answers on these types of questions.

I know they did by the sheer logic of the British involvement there and the timespan these watches were made in. It's just that I've never handled a Smiths or Record that was marked outside the regular British markings and don't know what to think of it.
I kind of suspect that the guy is there and don't want to insult him by checking his facts over there. But thanks for the suggestion!
 
Aquariusmatic
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Thanks, I've took up his offer and will be taking the watch. I'll update the thread when I pick it up. Thanks
 
wilderbeast
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Caseback aside, the dial and lume look good under the crystal and the scratches can either be buffed out or the crystal replaced easily (they are just generic and inexpensive). I think this looks good as a watch and there’s huge pleasure to be had from these Smiths military pieces.

Shame there are no movement pics.
 
Aquariusmatic
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wilderbeast wilderbeast
Caseback aside, the dial and lume look good under the crystal and the scratches can either be buffed out or the crystal replaced easily (they are just generic and inexpensive). I think this looks good as a watch and there’s huge pleasure to be had from these Smiths military pieces.

Shame there are no movement pics.

Thanks, there will be a lot more photos tomorrow. I can't manage to get to him today. The dial is pristine and the lume looks really good IRL.
 
Engee
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Aquariusmatic Aquariusmatic
I know they did by the sheer logic of the British involvement there and the timespan these watches were made in. It's just that I've never handled a Smiths or Record that was marked outside the regular British markings and don't know what to think of it.
I kind of suspect that the guy is there and don't want to insult him by checking his facts over there. But thanks for the suggestion!
Can you just say to him that you would like to get some thoughts on the caseback from others because you are not familiar with it, and that it's not that you distrust him in any way. Being transparent and up front always seems to me to be the best strategy in such situations. If he's sniffy about that he's probably not the sort of person I'd want to deal with anyway.
 
Aquariusmatic
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Engee Engee
Can you just say to him that you would like to get some thoughts on the caseback from others because you are not familiar with it, and that it's not that you distrust him in any way. Being transparent and up front always seems to me to be the best strategy in such situations. If he's sniffy about that he's probably not the sort of person I'd want to deal with anyway.

It's been verified by a person close to Mr. Knirim so I'm fine from there on out. The mentality of old people who found the "interwebz" in the last few years here is a mentality of paranoia and people out to get them and scam them. I'm fine with him being sniffy and bit secretive, all the watches have been inspected in person and the guy has more confirmed B-Uhrs than I have Omegas. He is throwing stuff out not of WW2 vintage.
 
size11s
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Aquariusmatic Aquariusmatic
Thanks, I've took up his offer and will be taking the watch. I'll update the thread when I pick it up. Thanks
Great, look forward to the pics. I will be interested to see if the movenent is a military 60466E with hack spring and blued hairspring or an M marked 27CS. A potentially good buy I think, if the money was right.
 
Aquariusmatic
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size11s size11s
Great, look forward to the pics. I will be interested to see if the movenent is a military 60466E with hack spring and blued hairspring or an M marked 27CS. A potentially good buy I think, if the money was right.

Think I did really good with an 1:1 exchange for this but wartime: eBay
 
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tapaptpat
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Looking forward to more images Aquariusmatic, The fact it unusual even more so. Like Size11s, I'm also interested if its a mil movement.
 
size11s
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I really think that this thread would benefit from the knowledgable (military and Smiths) folk over at MWR. Now that you have sealed the deal do you not fancy floating it there?
 
Aquariusmatic
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size11s size11s
Great, look forward to the pics. I will be interested to see if the movenent is a military 60466E with hack spring and blued hairspring or an M marked 27CS. A potentially good buy I think, if the money was right.

It's the 60466E just confirmed by my watchmaker. Photos when I get home.

I'm not a fan of being active on too many forums at the same time, but I might join the MWR when i seal a few deals I'm trying to do.
 
wilderbeast
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size11s size11s
I really think that this thread would benefit from the knowledgable (military and Smiths) folk over at MWR. Now that you have sealed the deal do you not fancy floating it there?
+1. Once you’re ready, you’ll find that people there have huge knowledge about these pieces - there is a dedicated Smiths forum and the people on there are lovely. It’s where you’ll find out more about the caseback markings.

For now though, wear in good health! Good to know there’s a mil movement ticking away inside.
 
size11s
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Thanks for the info. Lovely watch and a great catch in that trade. +1 about how friendly and sharing MWR is, the vast majority of the time it is a very calm forum, as forums go.

It sounds like your source is a really exciting contact for you, I look forward to more interesting watches.
 
Aquariusmatic
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size11s size11s
Thanks for the info. Lovely watch and a great catch in that trade. +1 about how friendly and sharing MWR is, the vast majority of the time it is a very calm forum, as forums go.

It sounds like your source is a really exciting contact for you, I look forward to more interesting watches.

True, he's a interesting person and curates his interests better than most of us do. He has a simple and straight vision to his pieces and I admire him for that.

As promised here are the first pics for today, next up a quality crystal and I'm set! Dial is perfect but the crystal is hazy as heck dunno why.
A service has been scheduled...
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size11s
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57 on the movement indicates May 1967, which puts it in the first year of production, similar to the others seen I think. I am just a little jealous...lol. The crystal should just polish up easily as it's acrylic. Congrats again. You will need one of the upcoming 6b/2167 reproduction straps on it once they are in production.
 
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