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Period-Correct Scope for Older Rifle

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South Pender View Drop Down
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    Posted: June/12/2020 at 01:48
This may strike some on this forum as an unusual question, but let me explain.  I've just acquired a very nice rifle, in excellent condition, built in the late 1960s or 70s.  It's a Schultz & Larsen M68DL in 7x61 Sharpe & Hart and came with high-polish Conetrol mounts.  It has a deep blued finish, and I'd like to find a period-correct scope for it with a 1" tube.  My first thought was an older Leupold 2-7 or 3-9 with gloss finish.  There are lots of them available on used-gun sites here in Canada.  Unfortunately, the finish on most is worn or scratched.  So a question I have is whether Leupold will replace beat-up tubes (assuming all the lenses are fine) with new ones.  Does anyone know?

Secondly, a shooting buddy suggested that, since the S&L rifles were manufactured in Denmark (and still are, although with a newer model), I should try to find a nice period-correct European scope with a 1" tube.  He suggested something like a Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica, or Kahles.  However, I think most of those had a sort of matte finish, didn't they?

What would you guys suggest I look for?  What would be a period-correct (so 1980s or, at the latest, 90s) European scope that would work on an elegant rifle?  It just would seem wrong--from an aesthetic standpoint--to mount a new matte-finished super-modern scope on this rifle.

So I need your help, guys.  Perhaps help me to look outside the box.  All suggestions will be greatly appreciated!


Edited by South Pender - June/12/2020 at 02:09
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scrumbag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2020 at 04:35
My W German Zeiss 4x32 had a gloss finish.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2020 at 08:40
I have looked over several different lines of scopes and cannot find a gloss model. Leupold may be able to fulfill a custom order, though.
Those Conetrol mounts are also a good looking on any classic rifle. I found a club dedicated to the S & L guns, too. 

It disturbs me what has occurred with hunting rifles. It must be all the snipers we have these days.
7x61 Sharpe & Hart...wow. That cartridge is still in my 40 year old Hornady, Sierra and Speer manuals.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2020 at 12:17
How about a Zeiss Diatal-Z 6X42? The ones built in the 1970's had a gloss finish, though it wasn't gloss anodizing like on the gloss Leupolds, it was some type of gloss black paint. To identify the version from that era, look for the old style Zeiss "Z" logo on the turret caps that had the German #1 reticle in the center of the "Z." It looks like this (photo found online, not mine):



That would be a very classy period-correct scope for your S&L and would also be a typical scope mounted on that particular rifle at that time, especially since many hunters didn't fully trust variable scopes yet. You can usually find them for less than $400. They aren't impossible to find for sale if you look around on the auction sites. Finding one in really good condition and without a rail mount can be tough, though. Being patient pays off. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Son of Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/13/2020 at 06:41
That's what I would suggest, too. A late eighties or early nineties Zeiss scope. They were glossy and were 1 inch tubes. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/13/2020 at 11:20
A few years back, Weaver had a decent little glossy, steel tube commemorative model 4 X 38. There may be a few around in ok condition.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote South Pender Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2020 at 00:22
Well, I went online and did a fairly extensive search for an older Zeiss scope and came up pretty empty.  The problem for me in Canada is that US sellers are, I gather, prohibited from shipping a scope to Canada.  So that really limited the search as I was unable to find many older Zeiss or other European scopes in really good condition here in Canada.

I did, however, run across the following 6x36 Swarovski in Canada that must be from the 80s or 90s I'd guess.  It doesn't have the current matte finish, so might look OK.  The seller wants the equivalent of $500 USD.

What do you guys think?  I could continue the search....

Oh, by the way, I called Leupold about replacing a beat-up scope with a new exterior in gloss and was told that they couldn't do it.  All Leupolds are now matte.



Edited by South Pender - June/17/2020 at 00:29
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote coyote95 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2020 at 07:11
Thunbs Up i dont know about price but sure it would look good.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tejas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2020 at 10:52
Originally posted by South Pender South Pender wrote:

Well, I went online and did a fairly extensive search for an older Zeiss scope and came up pretty empty.  The problem for me in Canada is that US sellers are, I gather, prohibited from shipping a scope to Canada.  So that really limited the search as I was unable to find many older Zeiss or other European scopes in really good condition here in Canada.

I did, however, run across the following 6x36 Swarovski in Canada that must be from the 80s or 90s I'd guess.  It doesn't have the current matte finish, so might look OK.  The seller wants the equivalent of $500 USD.

What do you guys think?  I could continue the search....

Oh, by the way, I called Leupold about replacing a beat-up scope with a new exterior in gloss and was told that they couldn't do it.  All Leupolds are now matte.



Did you talk to Leupold custom shop? They built me a gloss FX3 6X42 three or four years ago.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote South Pender Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2020 at 11:11
Originally posted by tejas tejas wrote:

Did you talk to Leupold custom shop? They built me a gloss FX3 6X42 three or four years ago.








No I just asked via email and got a response from a CS rep.  I might  try talking to the custom shop.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Son of Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2020 at 13:51




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2020 at 22:04
I think that Swaro is perfect!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote South Pender Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/17/2020 at 23:14
Originally posted by tahqua tahqua wrote:

I found a club dedicated to the S & L guns, too. 

Thanks for that, Doug.  I'm going to try to get registered with that club.  I'm hoping that I can find a copy of the owner's manual, or, at the very least, some instructions on adjusting the trigger.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Code4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/24/2020 at 03:43
Find a Hertel and Reuss scope or older Nickel Supra. They will match the rifle and calibre perfectly. Everyone has a Zeiss.
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