This is probably not news to most of you but I'll share just in case I can save someone some heartache. I used to buy gloss finished Leupold scopes under the impression that I could just send them in for repairs or replacement at no charge. The rub is that Leupold no longer makes gloss scopes so any replacement is going to be a matt finish. Worse yet, Leupold claims they no longer have repair parts for "older models" so your gloss finished scope is unlikely to come back if you send it in for a tune up. I still like and use Leupold scopes but it's getting harder to find a scope that looks right on a high polished blued rifle. Their custom shop used to offer gloss finishes but they have been closed since covid with no indication from the reps when it might reopen. Anyone else have additional info?
Gloss Leupold scopes
- Thread starter barrowsr
- Start date
Best advice I can give is keep trying gunbroker, gunsinternational and ebay. Very few bargains on those sites.
freebird22/250
Silver $$ Contributor
I sent in an older VX 2 AO 3x9x40 gloss that had cracked lenses back in Nov. and they sent it back with a clean inspection report 100% good as new, you can't ask for better service than that!
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
Leupold gloss scopes are to find at a fair price, I usually try and buy one if it’s a fair deal but that’s pretty rare now days. It’s disappointing Leupold isn’t fixing the vintage scopes and just replacing them with new product, it’s nice of them to do something but if you really are attached to a scope because it has a family history or whatever and then you send it and and lose it that doesn’t really feel right either. There are companies that work on vintage scopes, I’ll post a link to one who has fixed some for me in the past, mostly Burris and Weaver. They don’t list Leupolds and I’ve never sent a Leupold there but you could call them if you have a vintage blue scope and see what they could do.
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Rifle Scope Repair Oklahoma USA | Ironsight, Inc.
Reach your full potential by purchasing a scope from Iron Sight, your foremost scope repair shop. For inquiries, call us now at (918) 445-2001.
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k80skeet
Silver $$ Contributor
As far as I can tell Leupold doesn't have any plans to reopen the Custom Shop or repair any scopes. Just replace scopes with current inventory. So, if you have a good one you probably want to send it elsewhere for repair. I learned this the hard way and sent a 6X18x42with A.O. that I had sent to the Custom Shop and M1 high target knobs and had a target dot installed back for repair and received note say they could not repair as the Custom Shop was closed and they sent me a 6X18x42 no target knobs and not dot. Just regular runof the mill hunting scope that I ended up selling for $350 so I lost over $400 in custom parts.
243Lapua
Silver $$ Contributor
That's why I dare not sale my converted Leupolds. I have a couple vintage polished Target knob conversations and a couple of M1 conversations on the 8.5-25 x 50 series scopes. I buy them quick when ever they show up here on the forum.
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k80skeet
Silver $$ Contributor
I believe all those great custom Leupolds will do nothing except increase in value and price. I have a lot of them and wouldn't sell a single one of them because there won't be any more around.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
Heck, back in the seventies when we all started buying the Leupold scopes, I never thought the gloss finish looked very good. I've always been suspicious of painted aluminum. 
They sure were good compared to anything else I'd had though. I've still got a few of them and they kinda look like a forty year old LA gang banger. jd
They sure were good compared to anything else I'd had though. I've still got a few of them and they kinda look like a forty year old LA gang banger. jd
I've always had an affinity for the older, gloss Vari-X III 6.5 x 20 variables. One of my older scopes developed some issues. I sent it in and they wouldn't repair it, just replaced it with a new Vari X 5HD which wasn't a bad deal, just that I kind of like the old gloss scopes.
Thauglor
Silver $$ Contributor
Can't blame them, I had a m8 12x with dot and target turrets fail 2 years ago and they sent me a 6.5x20 target turret instead since they couldn't repair it. If I owned a business I wouldn't want to be having to make parts for 40 year old products either. No one can keep repairing stuff from decades ago
k80skeet
Silver $$ Contributor
I Sure love my 36 power target scopes (last of the good ones) Target knobs, Target Dot and A.O. I have (5) of them, and they are far better the new ones.
freebird22/250
Silver $$ Contributor
I sent in an older VX 2 AO 3x9x40 gloss that had cracked lenses back in Nov. and they sent it back with a clean inspection report 100% good as new, you can't ask for better service than that!
I used them for repairing an old Fecker scope -didn't know they worked on Leupolds.Leupold gloss scopes are to find at a fair price, I usually try and buy one if it’s a fair deal but that’s pretty rare now days. It’s disappointing Leupold isn’t fixing the vintage scopes and just replacing them with new product, it’s nice of them to do something but if you really are attached to a scope because it has a family history or whatever and then you send it and and lose it that doesn’t really feel right either. There are companies that work on vintage scopes, I’ll post a link to one who has fixed some for me in the past, mostly Burris and Weaver. They don’t list Leupolds and I’ve never sent a Leupold there but you could call them if you have a vintage blue scope and see what they could do.
Rifle Scope Repair Oklahoma USA | Ironsight, Inc.
Reach your full potential by purchasing a scope from Iron Sight, your foremost scope repair shop. For inquiries, call us now at (918) 445-2001.
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
I’m not sure they do, Leupold is not listed on the scopes they don’t repair and it’s not listed on the scopes they do repair. It requires a phone call, I’m assuming they work on some of them but not all of them, but you know how assuming works. I may call them today and see. If i do I’ll report what they tell me.
Custom shop is closed but warranty and repair is still open.... The idea that they aren't repairing scopes just replacing them is B.S.
1raggedhole
Silver $$ Contributor
This should be moved to discussion forum, not classifieds
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