Rifle Scope History

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   Might as well start a new thread and get away from the 6 page one below.

Here's what I've learned so far:  Dates these companies first made rifle scopes

Kahles -  1900

Swarovski - 1976

Leupold  -  1943, first hunting - 1947

Bushnell  -  mid 1950's

Weaver  -  1930's?

Zeiss  -  ?

Nikon  -  ?

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mwyates Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Master Joined: June/15/2004 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1196	Post Options Post Reply Quote mwyates Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Rifle Scope History Posted: June/04/2006 at 21:23
	Might as well start a new thread and get away from the 6 page one below. Here's what I've learned so far: Dates these companies first made rifle scopes Kahles - 1900 Swarovski - 1976 Leupold - 1943, first hunting - 1947 Bushnell - mid 1950's Weaver - 1930's? Zeiss - ? Nikon - ?

koshkin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13159	Post Options Post Reply Quote koshkin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June/05/2006 at 00:05
	The first Zeiss scopes I've heard of were made in early 1930s. Nikon made its first scopes in 1950s, I think, although it is quite possible that they made weapon sights during WWII as well. ILya

cheaptrick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844	Post Options Post Reply Quote cheaptrick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June/05/2006 at 05:14
	I thought I read somewhere that Zeiss made their first rifle scope in 1920 or there abouts. Kahles in 1900?!?!?
	If at first you don't secede...try..try again.

mwyates Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Master Joined: June/15/2004 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1196	Post Options Post Reply Quote mwyates Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June/05/2006 at 09:15
	From the Kahles website 1900 KAHLES introduced the legendary TELORAR rifle-scope in five different magnifications. Precise and reliable, these early KAHLES rifle-scopes soon became highly respected by hunters everywhere. Nikon built rifle scopes in the 50's? I thought they were much later than that; like the 80's. I know they made binoculars in the 1920's, but they didn't do much with binoculars until 1982. I can't find anything on their site about rifle scopes.

rootmanslim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Professional Joined: June/04/2006 Location: Pinedale, WY Status: Offline Points: 557	Post Options Post Reply Quote rootmanslim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June/05/2006 at 15:21
	Lyman? Unertl? Malcolm? Noske? Kollmorgan? Redfield? Fecker? this could become a real quest!

Trinidad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Master Joined: May/04/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1555	Post Options Post Reply Quote Trinidad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June/05/2006 at 17:44
	Here is one from the Win Malcom telescopic factory Circa 1855.

mwyates Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Master Joined: June/15/2004 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1196	Post Options Post Reply Quote mwyates Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June/05/2006 at 18:44
	OK, Somebody pitch in and help Maybe we should write a book. There must not be one out there. Hey Chris, how about a lot of up front money and I'll do the research

fourinone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Optics Apprentice Joined: January/14/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 169	Post Options Post Reply Quote fourinone Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June/06/2006 at 05:17
	In 1848 Morgan James of Utica, NY invented the long-tube telescopic sight that would be used by civil war marksmen. Priced at about twenty dollars, they were no more than four power. I found this on a Civil War info page, but I could not cut & paste it here.
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