Leupold Warns: Beware of Fake Scopes!

Optics manufacturer Leupold has issued a customer alert to purchasers of its products, particularly via Internet sales, regarding bogus Leupold products that are apparently being illegally imported from the People’s Republic of China.

According to a corporate press release, “Counterfeited Leupold Mark 4 riflescopes and more recently, counterfeited Leupold Prismatic riflescopes have begun to arrive with increasing regularity at the firm’s Beaverton, Oregon, headquarters for service.

These products are not manufactured by Leupold and are not covered by the Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee.”

Counterfeited Leupold Mark 4 riflescopes: “In general, most of the scopes appear to originate from Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China), and have ‘Leupold Mark 4’ laser engraved on the bottom of the turret in a silver etch, while the black ring on the objective is etched in white and does not include the name ‘Leupold.’ The scopes also do not bear the Leupold medallion, a mark all Leupold scopes will always possess. An authentic Mark 4 riflescope will always be engraved black on black and have the name ‘Leupold’ engraved on the black ring.”

Counterfeited Leupold Prismatic riflescopes: “The absence of a serial number and barcode on the bottom of the scope is the easiest way to identify these counterfeits. A brass ring may be visible when looking into the objective and screws can be seen on the top of the finger click adjustments under the caps. The product name is not engraved on the black ring.”

Anyone finding a scope that is suspect should write down the serial number and call 1-800-LEUPOLD to confirm if it is or is not authentic.

SOURCE: Leupold

The prevalence of chinese fake optics and mounts has almost turned me off of buying them used anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:
Optics manufacturer Leupold has issued a customer alert...
Counterfeited Leupold Prismatic riflescopes: “The absence of a serial number and barcode on the bottom of the scope is the easiest way to identify these counterfeits....
Anyone finding a scope that is suspect should write down the serial number and call 1-800-LEUPOLD to confirm if it is or is not authentic.

SOURCE: Leupold

Thanks for the head's up. This is the first I've heard of this particular scam. The text in red above seems a bit confusing though. That below is PERFECTLY understandable!

"...being illegally imported from the People’s Republic of China." Gee imagine that!

I posted on this a few days ago, see "conterfeits".

Well, I must have gotten three of them in the past 8 months. All of them from a shooters supply out of Phoenix. I posted how I had a VX- III and now two VX-IIs that have too much eye relief. I took the VX-III 4.5-14 down to south Texas on a coyote hunt this weekend. It was like looking through a 1" pipe that was 4' long. No matter where I was looking, it seemed like I constantly had to mess with the AO. I am very dis-satisfied with it and the other two.

Funny thing about it, none of the Leupold boxes say made in USA.