I love Dakota rifles and they are very reliable weapons. There are two types: “collector grade” guns with many add-on features, upgraded, wood, minty condition, rare calibers, etc,etc. Then there are guns that read like this one that have been carried on a couple safaris which doesn’t change its functionality as a safari weapon.
-it’s a Safari grade, not an Africa grade
-it has an island rear sight, not a quarter rib
-Blued, not case colored
-As a safari model, doesn’t have the forend mercury recoil reducer
-As a safari model, doesn’t have the extended bottom metal standard
-It’s been magna ported
-The original stock is cut down to 12ish inches
-Has an additional wood stock from another maker
-Has a plastic stock that is longer
The seller seems quite legitimate to me and the gun sounds like a pretty good hunting tool but not a collector grade/condition/originality weapon. It doesn’t sound like the seller was representing it in any way but what it is, a good shooting iron.