Just some further thought and returning to the issue of lost logbooks. Lost airframe logbooks poses little problem. For a thorough inspection before purchase can find any major discrepancies.
The engine may be a different matter. Without the engine's history, there is no way, without dissection, to truly know it's current condition.
In this situation, an earlier or interim logbook being lost may also be no problem. As long as there is a continuation logbook which faithfully picked up where the lost one had left off.
Bill
