25 November 2014, 05:07
StoneybrokeAre these scopes collecter items
Recently, I found a pre-war model 70, with Stith mounts and a K-2.5, 1" steel tube Weaver. Well, the rifle and BRASS ring around the front lens and adjustment turrets are also BRASS with no provision for covers. Tube is stamped WEAVER K2.5 PATENTED EL PASO TEXAS About half of the finish is gone, and the optics are dim by today's standards. However the crosshair reticle is fine and the adjustments actually work. I'm always hesitant to refinish something this old, since I once made that mistake with a oak table, circa 1850! Question: Does this scope have any collector's value or can I just cold blue the tube and mount it on a old 22?
25 November 2014, 05:15
Stoneybrokequote:
Recently, I found a pre-war model 70, with Stith mounts and a K-2.5, 1" steel tube Weaver. Well, the rifle and mounts are long gone. Scope has BRASS ring around the objective lens and adjustment turrets are also BRASS with no provision for covers. Tube is stamped WEAVER K2.5 PATENTED EL PASO TEXAS About half of the finish is gone, and the optics are dim by today's standards. However the crosshair reticle is fine and the adjustments actually work. I'm always hesitant to refinish something this old, since I once made that mistake with a oak table, circa 1850! Question: Does this scope have any collector's value or can I just cold blue the tube and mount it on a old 22?
FIXED IT25 November 2014, 19:59
Pa.FrankYou can check in Stroebel's Book, "Old Scopes" but I doubt it. There are lots of old Weaver scopes around, (check eBay) and the only Weaver model that comes to mind that has any real collector value is the Weaver 330 and only because it was used by the military on the 1903A4 sniper rifle.
My opinion is... Go ahead and cold blue the tube and mount it on a 22 of the appropriate vintage.
26 November 2014, 05:25
sambarman338Stroebel's 2008 edition of 'Old Gunsights and Rifle Scopes' values the K2.5 (1947-1984) as follows: "$75-150; add $40 for early exposed adjustment model".
Yours sounds like it might be at the lower end of that but collectability can be in the eye of the beholder. Were I in America and able to buy without them being exported, I would love to buy post-war, pre-image-movement scopes for my collection.
26 November 2014, 19:10
Pa.Frankquote:
Originally posted by sambarman338:
Stroebel's 2008 edition of 'Old Gunsights and Rifle Scopes' values the K2.5 (1947-1984) as follows: "$75-150; add $40 for early exposed adjustment model".
Yours sounds like it might be at the lower end of that but collectability can be in the eye of the beholder. Were I in America and able to buy without them being exported, I would love to buy post-war, pre-image-movement scopes for my collection.
I just checked eBay and there are several listed.. most are in the $20 price range with current bids.. Even the older models with exposed adjustments...
I also checked completed auctions and they are going for between $60 and $97 depending on condition and the reticle. The post reticle seems to command a higher price.
I hope this helps.