Do vintage air rifle users also use vintage scopes?

chrisjonesbath

chrisjonesbath

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All,

Affordable telescopic sights have come a long way in the last 50 odd years. I can understand why people love their vintage iron sighted air rifles, but do you also suffer with vintage telescopic sights or fit a more modern one? I ask because I found my old BSA Mark IV 4x20 in its box the other day whilst rummaging in the garage for an even older air pistol. It looks in good nick but the view through it is quite frankly terrible compared to a modern sight. As a kid I remember feeling like a sniper shooting at Airfix soldiers and toy cars at about 10m, so looking through it now was a bit of a shock compared to more modern gear.

If people are keen to match this kind of thing to their vintage rifle I'll offer it in the Free Section otherwise I'll bin it.

Chris
 
Chris, some of the scopes from 50 years ago were great - particularly vintage 4 x 32, 4 x 40 with Japanese optics etc. in fact most of my collect have old scopes on them - ASI, Tasco, Optima, Rhino etc
Im sure yours, although not in the same league perhaps, maybe of interest to someone ?
 
Yep, all mine have period scopes on the apart from the Fwb which has a big Hawke scope on it for bench rest targets.
I personally think as you can buy older scopes which are just as good as new ones (price bracket dependant) that are well good enough to use.
I’m sure someone would give it a good home to sit on an early Webley or BSA……..dom
 
Many older scopes are great to use. I use vintage American Weaver scopes, from El Paso in texas. In good condition, steel scopes such as B4's and B6's have the vintage look and can hold their accuracy well ( having been designed for full bore centrefire firearms). Parker Hale also marketed German scopes, which can be good. They did a scope called the Hawketa, which looks great on a vintage air rifle. These scopes are a world away in terms of quality from the 1960's and 1970's 4 x 20 offerings.
 
I was brought up in the 70s. For me, mine and all my mates scopes were absolute pants compared to ones I've looked though over the last 10/15 years. They are at the very least half decent nowadays compared to the ones I looked through.

I've an Optisan on my MK1 Vulcan.

Great gesture though @chrisjonesbath 👍
 
I've just got a "new" West German BSF B55 and I've put a 1980s 4 x 32 Tasco on it along with blued-steel Aussie Hillver two-piece mounts. I also have a period 4 x 35 Pecar Champion which, being German, might be more appropriate, but is actually too long and heavy for what it still a lightish carbine (size-wise, think BSA Supersport or the old Sako Finnfire .22 rimfire).
 
I have a 1962 BSA Merlin underlever rifle which still has its original 1962 BSA 4x15 scope on it. . They are both still working well.

Obviously the scope is nowhere close to the quality of modern optics, but somehow the gun and the scope just seem to go together, and they are in keeping with their period in history.
 
chrisjonesbath said:
All,

Affordable telescopic sights have come a long way in the last 50 odd years. I can understand why people love their vintage iron sighted air rifles, but do you also suffer with vintage telescopic sights or fit a more modern one? I ask because I found my old BSA Mark IV 4x20 in its box the other day whilst rummaging in the garage for an even older air pistol. It looks in good nick but the view through it is quite frankly terrible compared to a modern sight. As a kid I remember feeling like a sniper shooting at Airfix soldiers and toy cars at about 10m, so looking through it now was a bit of a shock compared to more modern gear.

If people are keen to match this kind of thing to their vintage rifle I'll offer it in the Free Section otherwise I'll bin it.

Chris
Click to expand...
I always try to find older scopes, in many cases they are better quality glass, ( especially if Japanese ). I have old Tasco, Viking, Simmons etc. most cases no mildots or graduations, its enjoyable learning the hold over without the markings .... and the best thing people was snazzy expensive scopes, leaving a great source of older scopes at great prices 😊👍
 
Not sure any or mine are true 'vintage' but do like a period scope/rifle.

Original 45. Optima 3-9x40
BSA Superstar. Tasco gold antler 3-9x32
ASI Sniper. Bokson 4x32

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IMG_20260405_163140.webp
IMG_20260322_143547.webp
 
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