Just thought I would share this info. I went looking on CGN for a classic fixed 10X to add to a rifle, and was able to buy a Kahles ZF 95 from a user here, who had bought it in the state it was already in. He was very upfront about the fact he had a damaged scope, and priced it accordingly. I figured from the outset I would just send it back to the factory for some cosmetic touch ups, but it turned out to be a little more than that.
The original finish is/was almost rubbery, like a cross between paint and underbody coating, thick, kind of rubbery. The damage was pretty obvious, but what wasnt was that there was mechanical damage.
Kahles is tied in with Swarovski, so Swarovski USA does the warranty work, and the process is pretty painless. Firstly I will mention they no longer service some of the older ZFM models, but they still handle the ZFs. A quick email led to confirmation they could work on the unit. You start a work PO online, and then they send you a fed ex prepaid slip, package up your scope, keep track of the tracking number as you will need this as proof you sent it out to be worked on, when it comes back through customs, and drop it off at a fed ex shipping point.
Mine went to the US, but they found the tube was actually damaged and suggested it be replaced. At that point it got a little interesting, as that work had to be done in Austria, and it was not work covered by warranty, so I was presented with a cost for the work, and return shipping, and had to decide to pay for it or not. In full disclosure, the whole thing (new scope tube, refinishing, new occular lens, AND new BDC, and shipping) came to over 600$s. By that point I was into this scope about what a used one undamaged would have cost me, so gave them my CC over the phone and waited. In all it was about two months, and besides the work to repair a chipped lens, and replace the tube, they were able to change the bullet drop cam that ZF 95s have. During a call with Swarovski USA I asked if they could tell me what the original was, and if I could get it swapped.
The original turned out to be #335-831, for 308Win 9,3g (144gr) FN SS77 (100-800m) 856 m/sec 2808 ft/sec
For 40 Euros they swapped it out to #335-2177, the 1000m 168gr for me.
The cams still available are here:
I personally was surprised that nearly 30 years later they still could sell and install new cams, so it was a nice plus for sure. I was a little surprised they included the original cam, and it looks like an easy item to swap out if wanted.
The scope came back with a new lens, new tube, and new finish, a matte coating, nothing like the original. The clarity is pretty much on par with Schmidt and Bender, very crisp and bright, and the reticle is crystal clear.
Compared to other fixed 10s, the ZF95 is pretty nice, and the glass seems very clear, like I say maybe just a bit below a Schmidt and Bender.
For comparison in size : old s&b PMii (AI marked 30, tube, 42mm objective), another 10X42 (1 inch tube) S&B, and a Millet 10X50.
Over the years I have had a lot of fixed 10s, mainly for tacticool and sentimental reasons. IOR, Bushnell, Falcon, S&B etc. My preference is still the S&B PMii line, of which I have two currently, plus this older AI one. At anytime a little googling will bring up a good half dozen current production models, and if you want used, there seems no end, including Swarovski, Hensoldt, Kahles, S&Bs, Sightron, Leupold, USO, etc etc.
While the one inch tube scopes seem to have fallen clean off the face of the earth, anyone building a retro gun can still find used ones, and with companies like Kahles you can get the modded if you want, so there is that option if you want one. Just bare in mind that some of the Kahles out there are no longer serviced, so if you plan on sending one in for work, maybe drop them a line with the model and serial number first. Otherwise they are pretty good at updating older scopes.
The original finish is/was almost rubbery, like a cross between paint and underbody coating, thick, kind of rubbery. The damage was pretty obvious, but what wasnt was that there was mechanical damage.
Kahles is tied in with Swarovski, so Swarovski USA does the warranty work, and the process is pretty painless. Firstly I will mention they no longer service some of the older ZFM models, but they still handle the ZFs. A quick email led to confirmation they could work on the unit. You start a work PO online, and then they send you a fed ex prepaid slip, package up your scope, keep track of the tracking number as you will need this as proof you sent it out to be worked on, when it comes back through customs, and drop it off at a fed ex shipping point.
Mine went to the US, but they found the tube was actually damaged and suggested it be replaced. At that point it got a little interesting, as that work had to be done in Austria, and it was not work covered by warranty, so I was presented with a cost for the work, and return shipping, and had to decide to pay for it or not. In full disclosure, the whole thing (new scope tube, refinishing, new occular lens, AND new BDC, and shipping) came to over 600$s. By that point I was into this scope about what a used one undamaged would have cost me, so gave them my CC over the phone and waited. In all it was about two months, and besides the work to repair a chipped lens, and replace the tube, they were able to change the bullet drop cam that ZF 95s have. During a call with Swarovski USA I asked if they could tell me what the original was, and if I could get it swapped.
The original turned out to be #335-831, for 308Win 9,3g (144gr) FN SS77 (100-800m) 856 m/sec 2808 ft/sec
For 40 Euros they swapped it out to #335-2177, the 1000m 168gr for me.
The cams still available are here:
I personally was surprised that nearly 30 years later they still could sell and install new cams, so it was a nice plus for sure. I was a little surprised they included the original cam, and it looks like an easy item to swap out if wanted.
The scope came back with a new lens, new tube, and new finish, a matte coating, nothing like the original. The clarity is pretty much on par with Schmidt and Bender, very crisp and bright, and the reticle is crystal clear.
Compared to other fixed 10s, the ZF95 is pretty nice, and the glass seems very clear, like I say maybe just a bit below a Schmidt and Bender.
For comparison in size : old s&b PMii (AI marked 30, tube, 42mm objective), another 10X42 (1 inch tube) S&B, and a Millet 10X50.
Over the years I have had a lot of fixed 10s, mainly for tacticool and sentimental reasons. IOR, Bushnell, Falcon, S&B etc. My preference is still the S&B PMii line, of which I have two currently, plus this older AI one. At anytime a little googling will bring up a good half dozen current production models, and if you want used, there seems no end, including Swarovski, Hensoldt, Kahles, S&Bs, Sightron, Leupold, USO, etc etc.
While the one inch tube scopes seem to have fallen clean off the face of the earth, anyone building a retro gun can still find used ones, and with companies like Kahles you can get the modded if you want, so there is that option if you want one. Just bare in mind that some of the Kahles out there are no longer serviced, so if you plan on sending one in for work, maybe drop them a line with the model and serial number first. Otherwise they are pretty good at updating older scopes.
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