Very rare early version olive paint Leica M3 'Bundeseigentum' with long strap lugs and early vulcanite pattern, single stroke advance, in excellent, 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 chrome Elmar 2.8/5cm no.2327087.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 a small batch of 28 cameras delivered in 1961.