Old Zeiss Restoration /// Project almost finish

[ben777lemay]

I have a vintage Carl Zeiss / Jena - ZF 4X32-M-
Its not a collector item but I plan to use it on a project hunting rifle.
The glass and turrets looks in VG condition.
For the external finish, thats another story...

Anyone know a good place to restore a telescope ???

 

[ben777lemay]

OK no replys, its time to post photos...
The top and side finish is fine/not so bad.
The problem is at the bottom...

This scope came from factory with dovetails and they were removed at some point.

Top / Side view

2 next pics = Bottom view

 

[bellero]

Did you try contacting Zeiss Canada?

 

[ben777lemay]

Did you try contacting Zeiss Canada?

not yet...

 

[ben777lemay]

Finally I will paint it myself... I will follow the advice of Mr. wheaty
I just don't want to spend more than this scope worth !!!

I Know I can't make it like new...but I can make it look better.

 

[AP]

This scope came from factory with dovetails and they were removed at some point

Are you sure?? most of the Jena scopes I have seen with integral rails did not have the windage turret ... windage was handled by opposing screws bearing on the rail. If it did have an integral rail it seems to have come off ok other than the finish ...

FWIW in the old days when gunsmiths (silver?) soldered rings to scope tubes (ie claw mounts) they dismantled the scope down to the bare tube first in order not to damage the innards with the heat. If you wanted any kind of a durable finish on that scope you would probably wish to do the same. I'd probably take a dremel and soft wire brush and smooth up the tube and find some black lacquer (Kodak Black brushing lacquer - if you can find it)

I have a few of these Jena scopes (with rail and without) .. the ones with rails (at least) are not nitrogen purged and they all perform pretty will ... the later versions are multi coated apparently but all have a lot less flare than the first Leupold VarXIII 1.5-5 I purchased.

 

[ben777lemay]

Are you sure?? most of the Jena scopes I have seen with integral rails did not have the windage turret ... windage was handled by opposing screws bearing on the rail. If it did have an integral rail it seems to have come off ok other than the finish ...

Yes, I'm sure it looks like a Diatal but you can read ZF4X32 on mine.

I'm almost done with it. Now I need some touchups on the turrets caps and on the *end-rings*
This is gonna make a nice little hunting scope.

Before Painting - Bottom view
Like you can see I did not painted the back part. The paint was already almost perfect.



After painting - I'm very pleased with the results !
Note that the gloss almost match the rear unpainted part. With wax, its gonna be close.



Bottom view



Before - Bottom view