A typical gun shop is not going to let themselves be held liable for guaranteeing the authenticity of a rare rifle. What they say in an email is of little consequence if the sales contract has boilerplate "as-is, where-is, no express or implied guarantees" language. Going after them for fraud on the basis of an email, when a subsequent purchase agreement you have entered into includes tried and proven small print which releases the seller from any liability or ongoing obligation is unrealistic. This is why it is important to verify what you are buying before you buy it.
There are a few obvious problems with this rifle:
1. Despite what the seller says, the recoil pad is not original. No pad of that style was available on any type-3 model 70.
2. The stock has been refinished.
3. The stock has been bedded.
4. There is evidence of what looks like barrel replacement by someone not equipped to do the work.
Because SG Fwt rifles are so extremely rare, I'd be very concerned that this is one of the many fakes out there floating around. I know the owner told the gun shop a nice story that sounds believable. Of course, people who make up fake rifles also make up fake stories to go along with the fake rifles they peddle - those two things go part and parcel. This is why pulling the rifle apart to verify its authenticity is important. Even if it is genuine, the issues described above make a significant dent in any collector value.
