help needed with a Unertl scope

[epoletna]

I recently bought a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .243 with a 12 power Unertl scope, serial number 59381. I have two questions;

Any idea on the year of manufacture?

Can you tell me how to change crosshairs? These appear too thick. A guy I met at a recent gun show told me it was easy to change the crosshairs, but I didn't see how to do it. He said I'd have to remove the ocular lens, so I tried that and can see where the crosshairs are mounted. What next? Where do I get replacement crosshairs?

Thanks. Fred

 

[SBS]

Back when Unertl was in business, you could order any reticule, mounted in a reticule cell and shipped in a plastic tube. You could change it out, being be careful not to touch the reticule wire or subject it to any excess vibration during the installation. It involves removing the screws that are threaded into the cell, and removing the cell from the tube. Quite often the cell is stuck to the tube and can be broken loose by slightly loosening the screws holding it, rotating the cell slightly by twisting the ring with the screws in it. Since we don't have Unertl to just ship us the correct reticule already mounted in a cell, you have to find someone who does reticule replacement on your cell. Back before surveyors went to lasers. it was quite easy to find a place that did reticule replacement for surveyors and they would usually do it for you. I think your next step it to find someone in telescope repair and ship the scope to them as is and let them do the whole job. It is so easy to break one of these reticules, speaking from several past experiences.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Or even better, maybe do a trade w someone for close to even?? There is a guy who trades in used Unertls and other high end vintage scopes. I don't know his name. I would find him on the interweb and ask him. google 'used unertl scope' etc. he normally has 10 or so vintage U, Redf or other old german scopes for sale. he also has scope info and specs on a lot of unertl scopes!!

http://unertl.alexweb.net/for_sale.htm.

 

[lawman29]

Vintage Gun Scopes — Unertl Target Scopes Optical Refurbishment with Original Glass (60 day turnaround)

Internal cleaning, function check, re grease, seal and nitrogen processing. (processing on sealed scopes only). Current turnaround time is 60 days. Replacement parts, if needed, are an additional charge. We currently only have parts support for El Paso Weaver scopes. You will be contacted ahead of

www.vintagegunscopes.com

 

[c3d4b2]

I recently bought a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .243 with a 12 power Unertl scope, serial number 59381. I have two questions;

Any idea on the year of manufacture?

Can you tell me how to change crosshairs? These appear too thick. A guy I met at a recent gun show told me it was easy to change the crosshairs, but I didn't see how to do it. He said I'd have to remove the ocular lens, so I tried that and can see where the crosshairs are mounted. What next? Where do I get replacement crosshairs?

Thanks. Fred

If you remove the eye piece you can see how the crosshairs are mounted. The ones I have replaced had the crosshairs attached to a washer that was held in place with screws. WARNING.....The screws are hard to work with because they are really small. If you drop one they are hard to locate.

I have seen the crosshairs connected to the washer either with screws or with glue.

 

[Webster]

I recently bought a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .243 with a 12 power Unertl scope, serial number 59381. I have two questions;

Any idea on the year of manufacture?

Can you tell me how to change crosshairs? These appear too thick. A guy I met at a recent gun show told me it was easy to change the crosshairs, but I didn't see how to do it. He said I'd have to remove the ocular lens, so I tried that and can see where the crosshairs are mounted. What next? Where do I get replacement crosshairs?

Thanks. Fred

I have an Unertl Ultra Varmint 15X scope I bought about 1975. SN 63660.
It's been about 38 years since I replaced the ridicule my self. Not sure of the details. I remember it as being easy. I read an article somewhere on how to do it. Basically there are 4 screws holding the two wires in place. Two for verticle and two horizontal. As per instructions I took a fiber glass fiber from house wall insulation for the cross hairs. I thought they would easily break. Thought tightening the screws would break the fibers but they didn't break. If they do start over with a new fiber. The cross hairs have to exit the screws one in the clockwise side and the other end on the counter clockwise side. This makes the cross hairs intersect in the center of the lens, If both ends of the wire were on the same side of the screw they would not intersect in the center of the lens axis. They look perfectly centered and vertical and horizonal thu the scope. Don't remember how much thinner they looked. They are not super fine. May not be worth tinkering with. I have been shooting with my installed cross hairs since about 1975 without trouble or failure. I think I just removed the ocular and the screws were near the opening and exposed. Have patience and be gentile. I am mechanically inclined. Don't remember if I took the cross hair mounting washer out of the scope to work on it. It would make the job easier.

I just junked the wood box in was in when purchased. Probably destroyed it's value as a collector item. I have seen them for sale for as much as $600 in good shape.

 

[epoletna]

Thank you, gentlemen. Good information here. Fred

 

[ShowMe]

I've had the reticles replaced in several of these type scopes over the years. Bob Seipp is the man who does this type work, he does excellent work. I tried to do it myself one time and found it hard to work with wire thinner than you see. I'll PM his phone number to you.
Phil

 

[dellet]

It’s a bit of a learning curve replacing the cross hairs, if you tie flies it’s probably easy for you.

Tungsten wire works well and is readily available, .0005” would be considered ultra fine. Numerous sellers on EBay sell it by the foot, instead of having to buy a roll.

Using a jewelers lighted magnifying glass mounted to the work surface or a visor type is a must. Setting the tension on the wire and not over tightening the screws is the trick and you will probably break a couple wires developing a feel. It’s worth buying a couple sizes of the wire, in case you get tired of breaking the really fine wire and move to the next size up.

“Simply” loop the wire about 3/4 way around the screw clockwise and tighten the screw.

I lay the wire across the reticle and rotate the reticle cell to wrap the wire, just seemed to work better for me. It can be frustrating an you wonder if you will run out of wire before you get it right, a foot seems to get too short to work with pretty quick.

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[Infrequent Shooter]

I have an Unertl Ultra Varmint 15X scope I bought about 1975. SN 63660.
It's been about 38 years since I replaced the ridicule my self. Not sure of the details. I remember it as being easy. I read an article somewhere on how to do it. Basically there are 4 screws holding the two wires in place. Two for verticle and two horizontal. As per instructions I took a fiber glass fiber from house wall insulation for the cross hairs. I thought they would easily break. Thought tightening the screws would break the fibers but they didn't break. If they do start over with a new fiber. The cross hairs have to exit the screws one in the clockwise side and the other end on the counter clockwise side. This makes the cross hairs intersect in the center of the lens, If both ends of the wire were on the same side of the screw they would not intersect in the center of the lens axis. They look perfectly centered and vertical and horizonal thu the scope. Don't remember how much thinner they looked. They are not super fine. May not be worth tinkering with. I have been shooting with my installed cross hairs since about 1975 without trouble or failure. I think I just removed the ocular and the screws were near the opening and exposed. Have patience and be gentile. I am mechanically inclined. Don't remember if I took the cross hair mounting washer out of the scope to work on it. It would make the job easier.

I just junked the wood box in was in when purchased. Probably destroyed it's value as a collector item. I have seen them for sale for as much as $600 in good shape.

You must be a heck of a craftsman!