Educate me on vintage European scopes...

[Dark Alley Dan]

Hey, folks.

I've been looking around over at Intersurplus's scope collection and I see a lot there that I like very much. But much of it is a mystery to me. Brands I don't know in configurations I like and with reticles I REALLY like.

What can you tell me about the quality of makes like Kahles, Pecar, and Wischo? They also have Weavers (steel-tube El Paso scopes, which I dig) and Zeiss (which I am familiar with, lust after, and cannot afford...)

Thanks for your wisdom.

Dan

 

[dan belisle]

Hey, folks.

I've been looking around over at Intersurplus's scope collection and I see a lot there that I like very much. But much of it is a mystery to me. Brands I don't know in configurations I like and with reticles I REALLY like.

What can you tell me about the quality of makes like Kahles, Pecar, and Wischo? They also have Weavers (steel-tube El Paso scopes, which I dig) and Zeiss (which I am familiar with, lust after, and cannot afford...)

Thanks for your wisdom.

Dan

I own Kahles, Pecar, Hensoldt, and Nikal (sp?). All good glass. About the same tube quality as the old Weavers, which is to say good. Adjustments vary from scope to scope, but so far, they've all stayed sighted in once done. Watch out for 26mm tubes on some of the older stuff. - dan

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Thanks, Dan. They look good from this range, but I've only ever seen them in the flesh once, at the recent gun show. I'll watch out for 26mm tubes. Who thought that was a good idea?

 

[dan belisle]

Thanks, Dan. They look good from this range, but I've only ever seen them in the flesh once, at the recent gun show. I'll watch out for 26mm tubes. Who thought that was a good idea?

The Germans, mostly. But others followed suit. - dan

 

[dan belisle]

Thanks, Dan. They look good from this range, but I've only ever seen them in the flesh once, at the recent gun show. I'll watch out for 26mm tubes. Who thought that was a good idea?

Incidentally, there is an old scope and sights books that was published some years back. Lots of interesting info found in it. I have a copy, though mine is somewhat moisture damaged from storage in a garage. We'll worth a read if you can find one. - dan

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

I'd like that. Can you recall the title?

 

[Dosing]

Many of the ones I saw they had for sale are old, and I mean in some cases 60s/70s old. The S&B, kahles and zeiss were the top of the optics tech line at the time. Glass on all of them is decent, but there are some odd elements on older european scopes, like adjustments, tube size, etc. some of the older ones are also no longer supported by some brands, so no repairs or spares etc.
I asked them last year if they would sell some scopes off of rifles they had for sale, guess this is a bonus to them, but their prices seem high.
I would want a good look before buying a 30+ year old scope.