Leica IIIb chrome (ATOOH) (No.290087), engraved "fur Reichbeshaffenungsamp 1-2" on rear top & "Leitz-Eigentum, Berlin Amp" on top-plate with star after serial number 1938/39

On offer today, we have a Leica IIIb, ATOOH, carrying a serial number that shows it to be one of 2200 cameras of this type manufactured during for 1938/39.  The camera is in lovely cosmetic condition and the shutter and controls work nicely.  The camera has some interesting engravings that point to a military life during WW2 as you can see from the photos.  

 I suspect this to be a very rare Leica camera indeed, however, I have had an e-mail from an "armchair expert" with a hotmail e-mail address denouncing this camera as a crude fake and whining that we are a dodgy website with extortionate postage prices so I shall leave you camera experts to decide based on this gem of wisdom!!

 A little detail about the Leica IIb that I have researched: - 

 The Leica IIIB , Leica Code: ATOOH, was introduced in 1938 and succeeded the Leica IIIa Model G.   Compared to the previous model only minor changes were made. The dioptre correction lever is now situated under the film rewind knob. The Leica IIIb is the first Leica that offers a combined eyepiece for the viewfinder and the rangefinder. The hotshoe is screwed with four screws (instead of three). The Leica IIIb was manufactured continuously from 1938 to 1941 with a total of 32 105 cameras being manufactured. Although, when launched, the camera was initially produced for the export market, hostilities during WWII meant that part of the production was diverted for military purposes.  The Leica IIIb was the first Leica that offers a combined eyepiece for the viewfinder and the rangefinder.  It was succeeded by the Leica IIIc.