What's this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=008&ss...0107115782&rd=1&rd=1

Sorry make that GECO?

It would appear to be a scope manufactured by S&B for a company called GECO.

Here is some info, and a link:

http://www.riflescopes.com/departments.asp?dept=18


The company of Schmidt & Bender was founded in 1957 by the precision mechanic Helmut Schmidt and the master precision mechanic Helmut Bender. Under the so-called house brands of GECO, HORRIDO, AKAH they manufactured scopes for German wholesalers, which are often still in use by hunters many years later.

It was only at the beginning of the seventies when a refined line of scopes was launched on the market under the own brand of Schmidt & Bender. Ten years later, the series of scopes with centered reticles made the decisive breakthrough toward a permanently successful market position.

Owing to active marketing during the following years, it was possible to develop Schmidt & Bender into an independent brand appreciated by hunters all over the world.

I've seen pistol ammo here under the Geco brand, this was 3 or 4 years a go. Maybe a German marketing company?

Geco is the low cost ammo brand of RWS. They produce very reasonable stuff.

Occasionally you'll see guns and optics branded with names of well known companies. E.g. I have seen RWS rifles and scopes, although not manufactured by RWS. It must be an attempt at marketing stuff by name regocgnition.

Nice explanation Irish Paul.

- mike

Thanks a ton mate!

An older generation S&B scope these tend to be heavier & longer than those manufactured today but that's simply due to the good old fashioned, German quality materials & workmanship used throughout. It'll make someone a good, solid scope, especially if the price stays reasonable. My expereince with S&B's factory service has been very positive and a simple post package to Wetzlar would probably get it back to 100% posthaste except for the holes in the rail which can be "doctered" with some black hot glue. My only watch-out for this one would be the rail mount which can be difficult to support outside the Teutonic countries.

Further states, the rail has several holes drilled in it due to previous mounting and that there is some "milkiness" in the 2nd objective lens (the exact determination of which lens is another question altogether).

Albrecht Kind (AKAH) is a German Mail Order company who provides to the German gunmaker's & gunseller's trade, Horrido, a shot gunshell maunfacturer and Geco (like Mike said) RWS's generic trade label (good quality inexpensive ammo and very good brass for reloading!) are all examples of marketing agreements.

Gerry,

Thanks if I win it for the under $150 I'd be happy, but if I don't win it I'll live?

You guys still contemplating a move to the States?

I have until Nov 2008 on Silly Island.