advice on Unertl Spotting Scope

[Pete G]

I have an excellent condition Unertl spotting scope ( 24 x 63), stand and leather cover which I will likely try to sell at some point this year. I am hoping that someone here may be willing to share their knowledge on value of this Unertl spotter . All I know is that the scope seems to be of high quality and that there is some collector interest in Unertl . There is a built in sun shade and the eye piece moves in/out and rotates for focus.The resolution on this spotter is pretty amazing.

 

[sillymike]

Nice "collectable" scope.
- You'll most likely get more $$ for it South of the border.
- With the stand/cover, it could probably get + $500 on fleabay.

This side of the border?
You're guess is as good as mine.
- Stand, +/- $100
- $200-$300 to the right buyer

 

[Pete G]

Mike, thank you for taking time to post on this.Hopefully will hear from others here who also know Unertl.

 

[sillymike]

Funny how certain things are somehow associated to other "things"
- Looking at the marred scope stand and leather scope cover, I was half expecting to see an old aluminum shooting box in the background...

Not to be picky but on your top picture with the scope on the stand, it should be on the other side. The idea been that you can bring the scope closer while in the prone position,

 

[Pete G]

Mike, you are of course correct on the way I put the scope up for the photo. At the time I was only thinking of the photo, not actually getting everything in position for live fire.

 

[AP]

Pete ... I have this scope as well ... mine is not as nice a shape as yours from what I can see. Nor does it have the lovely cover. The downside to mine is that the edges of the objective are showing early, and faint, signs of lens seperation - this apparently is not uncommon with older optics where balsam cement was invariably employed to secure the doublet. In my situation - so far after acquiring it a decade+ ago the seperation has not progressed and doesnt seem to effect the image; (owners of old optics should be aware that physical shock or thermal shock can cause separation); also the ocular on these Unertl’s has a short eye relief and the metal eyepiece that retains the ocular lens can scratch shooting glasses if you are not careful. The ocular has a really excellent fast focus system though that is very convenient. As common to optics of this period the scope is not waterproof or fogproof which is not desirable for the really ‘keen’ shooters who must tough out rain while competing; users should also be cautious when cleaning these optics as the single coating is a little softer than todays multicoated efforts; and finally an angled (45deg) scope is easier to use for prone shooters than the straight tube provided by the Unertl...

having said all that, and to be accurate, it must be said that the image is excellent and as you point out the resolution is very high (although mine could do with a touch more contrast).