Unertl scopes

[DRob]

Looking for a Unertl scope expert. Got three of them. Two are just over 1" tubes. One is 3/4". They are not marked as to magnification. The two larger scopes have a logo "Unertl Optic Co". The smaller one is marked "J Unertl Optic Co" and is in a metal box. They all have fine crosshair reticles. One of the larger ones is a fine crosshair with a dot. I don't know Jack Feces about them but I'm thinking they may be reproductions. Appreciate any info.

 

[jcj54]

Looking for a Unertl scope expert. Got three of them. Two are just over 1" tubes. One is 3/4". They are not marked as to magnification. The two larger scopes have a logo "Unertl Optic Co". The smaller one is marked "J Unertl Optic Co" and is in a metal box. They all have fine crosshair reticles. One of the larger ones is a fine crosshair with a dot. I don't know Jack Feces about them but I'm thinking they may be reproductions. Appreciat any info.

There should be a number on a flat milled on the knurled ring ahead of the eyepiece adjustment ring. That is the magnification.
Pictures of the logos and the rear mount would help.

 

[indyjohn]

From the viewpoint of an old school Highpower LR shooter, if they are not repros you would be sitting on a virtual gold mine. I wish I knew more about them, state of the art tech back in the 1950s (I think they went back further, not sure).

 

[jcj54]

Here are pictures of a very early Unertl 10 power with 3/4" tube.

 

[jcj54]

Here is a picture of a late production scope with the logo on it. The number is the serial number of the scope.

 

[jcj54]

I know of no reproduction Unertl scopes that have the name or logo.

 

[jcj54]

John Unertl got his start working for Fecker who made many different optical devices including telescopic sights. Unertl saw there was a market and asked Fecker if there would be a problem if Unertl started making scopes on his own. Fecker told him it would be no problem and even sold the ring mounts to Unertl until Unertl could make them. My 10X Unertl is serial number 171, pre WW2 production. By the 1980s government contracts were the majority of their business. Unertl was the sole source of periscope lenses for US submarines. When there was a large reduction in military spending under Clinton the lack of a civilian market was the end for Unertl. Another company bought the rights ti the name and made some military sniper scopes but that did not last long.

 

[DRob]

Been out of town for a week. Just got around to taking some pics.
Top to bottom.... 24X, 15X, 10X.


Rear mounts.


10X in it's metal box with owners' manual.

 

[jcj54]

The 10X 3/4" tube target scope with box and papers should bring around $1000.
The 15X should bring $1100-1200.
The last 24X I saw sold for $2000, but that was 5 years ago. May bring more now.

 

[DRob]

Thanks for the info, jcj54. Hope I can get near that for them.

 

[Kdf101]

I am always amazed at these older pieces of precision equipment that were made entirely by man and machine. No computers. The craftsmanship and level of detail and precision just fascinates me. I have never even seen one of these in person. I wonder how they compare to the modern scopes? I would expect the modern ones to be better, at least in features and coatings etc.

 

[jcj54]

Unertl external adjust scopes had incredibly good lenses, especially the 1950-1970's production. Unertl was the sole supplier of US nuclear sub periscope lenses, Unertl was on the cutting edge of lens technology. They are precision instruments but are fairly rugged so long as you do not drop them. The adjustment depends on the spacing between the front and rear bases on the rifle. The most common in 7.2" spacing which nets 1/4" at 100 yards. Interesting fact, the rear mount has the adjustment and each click moves the scope body .0005". And it repeats precisely day in day out. My 10X power was made in the 1930's, is serial number 171, and for fun I set up a dial indicator on it and discovered it still adjusts as well as it did when new.

 

[DRob]

Am I missing something or does the adjustable objective max out just over 200 yards?

 

[jcj54]

The adjustable objective max setting is for 200 yards and beyond. These scopes were regularly used from 50 feet out to 1200 yards. The beauty of the external adjustment is that you rarely ran out of elevation adjustment.

 

[BE Mike]

They were tops for small bore competition back in the day and still perform very well against today's offerings. I have a Unertl 20x54 spotting scope that is super clear. I've looked through Swarovski scopes and the Unertl compares favorably.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

You definitely have something there. I paid $900 for mine. No box and some corrosion on the eyepiece but it was with the Winchester 52 I bought and I didn't want to split them up. I also got the Lyman peeps. I use them mostly and the Unertal stays in the safe.