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Fake Leupolds — How to Recognize

Bugs

Mike Bonchack
Gold $$ Contributor
Follows is a link to a thread that appeared on 24hourcampfire.com RE fake Leupold scopes. I can't vouch for the veracity of this specific information but be forewarned, the fakes are out there.

"New" Fake Leupold's

All the other Leupold "fakes" that I have ever seen, the serial number is all numbers, no letters. It appears there is a fresh counterfeit out there or at least new to me. I got screwed on a pair of them and both have the same serial number. I am only posting this in hope...
www.24hourcampfire.com
 
I ran across one of these fakes the other day at my range... To look at it it looked fine but to use the adjustment and try and get and keep it on target it was clearly a cheap POS scope.... It ran out of adjustment when it did adjust and was even purchased off optics planet the guy said.... I didn't realize until I saw this post it was a problem.... Unfortunately everything even semi good now has cheap china knockoffs.... They look just like whatever it's supposed to be but definitely doesn't perform.... With microtec knives there's even specific serial numbers to watch for to try and find the fakes... They have all the correct looks and laser etching even the serial numbers etched on but the insides are garbage....
 
A friend ended up buying a fake bushnell. He only found out after sending it in for repair. Bushnell gave him a deep discount on a few options to replace his. They destroyed the imposter.
 
I bought an Athlon off Ebay and when the side focus adjuster came apart I sent it in for repair, only then did I find out it was counterfeit, their solution was a genuine replacement !!
They said the knockoff could be a teaching tool.
Lucky for me and great cistomer service!
 
pilediver said:
I bought an Athlon off Ebay and when the side focus adjuster came apart I sent it in for repair, only then did I find out it was counterfeit, their solution was a genuine replacement !!
They said the knockoff could be a teaching tool.
Lucky for me and great cistomer service!
Click to expand...
Can't beat that!
 
I got took on a Zeiss rifle scope that was a fake. It was on a used rifle that I had bought. I sent it in to Zeiss for repair because it would fog up. They shipped it back and said it was counterfeit.
 
Rsadams said:
I ran across one of these fakes the other day at my range... To look at it it looked fine but to use the adjustment and try and get and keep it on target it was clearly a cheap POS scope.... It ran out of adjustment when it did adjust and was even purchased off optics planet the guy said.... I didn't realize until I saw this post it was a problem.... Unfortunately everything even semi good now has cheap china knockoffs.... They look just like whatever it's supposed to be but definitely doesn't perform.... With microtec knives there's even specific serial numbers to watch for to try and find the fakes... They have all the correct looks and laser etching even the serial numbers etched on but the insides are garbage....
Click to expand...
Always worth checking with Leupold though. I had a VX-II 6x18 last year with issues that could fall under your desc and they repaired it to factory new. I should post a pic of the repair sheet, the adjustment found when I sent it in vs when repaired was night and day different. This one I bought new so I knew it was legit but still good to make sure a copy is fake before tossing or returning. If it's legit they will repair it (if they have parts).
 
Last edited:
dryhumor said:
A call to Leupold, with a serial number. They will tell you if it is genuine.
Click to expand...
I’m not disputing that it’s a good idea to call Leupold.

It seems like the counterfeiters could get access to some real serial numbers and put those on fakes?

I know that some companies have had serial number lookups so you could see when something was made.

I think I like the “buy only from reputable dealers” idea the best.
 
Some of the fake Leupolds have the same serial number. You can google the number .
One one of the newer fake Leupolds, maybe 4x12 ?, the writing on the gold band
is not centered, it's positioned low on the band.

Hal
 
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