Identify a 10X Unertl scope ?

[TRECustom]

I have located a Unertl scope with the sliding external windage and elevation adjustments, but it has no model or serial # on it that I can find. It has a ring at the back of the tube that has screws in it at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and the number 10 stamped on a flat on top of it, and an eyepiece locking ring just behind that one. It has a 2" O.D. objective in an aluminum bell, a 1" steel tube, and a 1.4" aluminum eyepiece. It is 16 1/4" oal where the eyepiece is adjusted to. OAL range is probably 16" to about 16 3/8". The parallax ring is graduated from 50 to 200. Yards? There is no provision for screw-in lense covers. It has a fixed fine crosshair reticle with no dot. It has the Unertl symbol with J Unertl in it on the back of the steel tube at 9 o'clock, and the rear mount with the windage and elevation adjustments has J Unertl stamped on it. This is one of those times I wish I could post pictures.

Any help identifying this scope will be appreciated. Also a guess as to a fair price to pay for it. It is in very good condition overall. I'll probably buy it anyway. I always liked the Unertl target scopes.

Thanks, Tom

 

[NateHaler]

Google for Unertl riflescopes, and you'll find at least one guy who specializes in them. His name is Dewey, but I don't remember the name of his website. Google is your friend.

 

[GerryM]

I believe what you have is the standard 2 inch moodel.
Is there a recoil spring on the scope?

 

[fdshuster]

TRECustom: Both my Unertl scopes have the serial #s' below the Unertl logo on the left side of the tube, directly in front of the cross-hair retnetion ring, held on with 3 small screws. My 10x Varmint is # 36627, mfg. in 1952. All serial numbers ran consecutively. Also have a copy of the original factory owners manual, for the entire line of scopes. Feel free to e-mail & I'll be glad to pass-on whatever info I can. fdshuster@hotmail.com

 

[Dirtball]

Every Unertl scope I have ever seen had a serial # inscribed in the main tube. The entire unit is steel, the overall length of a 2" Unertl scope is 26 1/4". Either this is a "copy" or someone shortened the scope by 10" for some strange reason. Got any Pics?
Dave

 

[TRECustom]

Nate, I'm not good with computers, and only found places selling Unertl, and a link to Unertl that my computer couldn't find the server. I did email Sinclair. They may repair Unertl scopes? Haven't heard back from them.

Gerry, yes. It has a locking stop collar in front, a large spring and a spring tensioning collar behind that. There is an alignment rib running lengthwise on top of the barrel that indexes the collars and the sliding front mount.

fd, looked very carefully. No apparent serial #. The Unertl prism symbol with J Unertl in the top bar and Opt. Co. in the legs of the prism are on the back of the steel tube at between 9 and 10 o'clock. I can't post pictures yet, but I have been able to email some. If it's O.K. with you, I'll take a few and email them to you.

Dave, this one definitely has aluminum ocular and objective bells. I would email pictures to you also if I have an address.

I went ahead and got the scope, and intend to put it on a .220 Swift project. I have already reworked some old Redfield bases and fitted them to the commercial Mauser receiver.

Thanks very much to all of you for the info, etc.

Good shooting, Tom

 

[Dirtball]

Tom
This link will provide some info and pics about Unertl scopes

http://www.alexweb.net/unertl/
Dave

 

[fdshuster]

TRECustom: As mentioned by dirtball, your o.a.l. dimension got my attention. Shortest length in the Unertl catalog is 18" and that's for a "rimfire" scope. My 10x Varmint is 19 3/4" o.a.l. My 12x 1 1/4" Target is a loooong 24+"-- on some of my rifles cannot use the storage rack: won't fit. It's got to have a serial#, and it's always,?) below the logo ident. Anyway, yes, send me an e-mail w/ pics & I can do the same. If interested I can "snail-mail" you a copy of the original Unertl catalog. My HP PSC will not scan. P.S. You are correct: there are 2 screws,not 3) holding the cross-hair retention ring in place, 3 & 9:00. NRA Life since 1965, Distinguished Pistol 1982

 

[EAtts]

I use Unertl scopes a lot for varmint hunting years ago and I owned many of them. How I now wish I would have kept all of them.

Unertl made a 10X varmint scope about the length you stated but it only had an 1 1/4 inch objective. They also made a BV 20 scope that was about that length and and it did have a 2 inch objective but I believe the factory only offered it in 20 power. Several different people could increase their power to 30X and I had Wally Siebert do that to one of mine.

I lived about 50 miles from the Unertl factory when it was in the Pittsburgh area and I got there frequently. Unertl did make prototypes from time to time for testing but which never came on the market. Perhaps your scope is one of them that never got returned to the factory after it was loanded out for testing.

 

[TRECustom]

Dave, thanks for the link. I will check it out.

Fd, will get some pictures to you. Yes, a copy of the catalogue would be invaluable to me. I would like to pay you for it.

EAtts, thanks for the insight. It is possible, if not probable. I had a 2" Ultra Varmint in the early 70's on a custom .300 Win Mag that I shot at a 1000 yds at Camp Bullis in San Antonio. I also wish I still had it.

Thanks again to all, Tom

 

[TRECustom]

An update. Off the link that Dave furnished, my scope looks like a Vulture model with external adjustments and the optional recoil spring. There aren't enough details in the description to be positive, but it matches what I can see. The Vulture prices that he has are in the $450 - $525 range, which is less than I expected.

Any of you guys interested in a Unertl, Lyman, or Redfield 3200 target/varmint scope should definitely check out this site. His prices appear to me to be very competitive. I'll call or email him about service and repair. I would like to have mine cleaned and re-gassed just to be sure it's O.K.

FD, if you look at this site and click on any of the Vulture scopes listed, the dimensions match, and the picture will look exactly like mine except mine has the recoil spring.

I think we have a winner! Tom

 

[fdshuster]

TRECustom: Found it in the catalog: dimensions just as you described. It was one of their "newer" scopes. 43mm,1.7") field approx. 10.9' exit pupil 4.3 lum. 18.5 eye relief 3-4" length 16 1/4" obj. cell 2" tube 1" eyepiece 1.395" approx. weight 15 1/2 oz. Sounds like you got a very good one. The offer for the free copy of the catalog still stands.

 

[TRECustom]

fd, pushing technology to its limits; Emailing text, followed by pictures.

Thanks, Tom

 

[xpfuzz]

TREcustom,,I believe if you call him you`ll find that his prices haven`t been updated for about 2-3 yrs.....I believe what you have is a Vulture,,they made them 2 ways,,with internal and external adjustments....

 

[bwgdog]

Search Parsons Scope Service -Gil Parsons-513-867-0820-Ross Ohio-He can service your Vulture for you-Have had him service 6+ scopes over the years-reasonable=good turn around. A nice clean serviced Vulture is in the $400-$500 range. Merry Xmas barry

 

[fdshuster]

Barry: Good info on "Parsons". I have the ad, but was hoping for some favorable references. Have an older redfield,Denver) 12x, side focus that seems to have windage adjustment retaining problems, so will have them check. Another 'scope service, is offering a turn-around time of 5 to 6 months. Thought since Leupold took over Redfield, they would repair: they said "no".

 

[daveb]

Hi everybody,
Anybody out there that can ship an Unertl scope to Belgium ?
Would love to mount one on my Winchester 1885.
The vulture with the external mount is just what I am looking for.
Thanks,
David

 

[Chef3381]

David,
I could ship a Unertl Vulture to Belgium.
e-mail me brunoise01@yahoo.com and we can set it up.

Chef