Remember These Optics?

[BigDMT]

Was cleaning out the garage and found this on a shelf below my bench. Had forgotten all about it. Was mounted on a 22lr benchrest rifle built in 1940 that was passed down to me. Pretty cool. It's a Tasco (Japan made) 6-18x40 AO serial #705 with "External" windage and elevation adjustment rear ring, and adjustable recoil spring and ring in the front. That old Japanese glass is very nice and clear. This behemoth is over 24" long too! Just think it's kind of cool to see the old technology.

Not sure if it's worth anything, wouldn't sell it if it was. Just though I'd share it. Pic of the rifle it was mounted to as well. I'm sure it will bring back some memories for some of the long time competition shooters










Here's a picture of the rifle it was mounted on. Have since modified the scope mounts to utilize EER scopes like a scout rifle.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Pretty good shape though! What are those behemoth cases in the back ground?

 

[BigDMT]

Pretty good shape though! What are those behemoth cases in the back ground?

Yeah it's in excellent shape. Just not very practical on a 22lr rifle for every day shooting. The cases in the back are 338-375 Ruger.

 

[ShootDots]

Way back in the "mid-70's" a friend of mine came across a Bausch and Lomb "Bolivar 6-24" that was a scope looking very much like that. He had NO IDEA what it was worth so he took it to our local gun store and the guy behind the counter (one of the owners) told him to "Pick out any rifle on the shelf and it's an even trade"! He picked out a Belgian made Browning "Grade I" in .264 Win Mag.. That rifle was one of the most beautiful works of art in a rifle I had ever seen. However, it never lived up to it's looks in the accuracy department! That scope may be worth a tidy sum>>>you never know!!

 

[Raythemanroe]

They would be a fun optic to build a nice looking classic, especially the condition it's in! I wonder if adjustments like that wouldn't be better?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1970-3413-Ad-for-Tasco-705-Target-Scope-18TAZ-Zoom-Spotting-Scope-/370845506653?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56581d5c5d

 

[dickn52]

Not sure of the value, but it could be higher than you think. The TASCO was a Unertl wannabe, and was actually pretty good at doing what a scope should do. The external spring for recoil etc...all J Unertl designs I'm thinking. Gun auction sells them (Tasco #705 scope) at the $450.00 range or so when they come up. And yours looks to be in excellent shape.

 

[BigDMT]

They would be a fun optic to build a nice looking classic, especially the condition it's in! I wonder if adjustments like that wouldn't be better?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1970-3413-Ad-for-Tasco-705-Target-Scope-18TAZ-Zoom-Spotting-Scope-/370845506653?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56581d5c5d

Thanks for the link. I just purchased one of those ads from 1970 to add to it. Not the one you showed, but an ad that only listed the Tasco BR scopes specifically. Should be a nice touch. Maybe put it all together in a glass case and hang it on the gun room wall. Nice to see it was the top of the line Tasco model at the time, I did not know that Here's the link to the ad I just bought...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360680678184?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Not sure of the value, but it could be higher than you think. The TASCO was a Unertl wannabe, and was actually pretty good at doing what a scope should do. The external spring for recoil etc...all J Unertl designs I'm thinking. Gun auction sells them (Tasco #705 scope) at the $450.00 range or so when they come up. And yours looks to be in excellent shape.

I see now that the #705 is the model number, not the serial number. I tried briefly to find info on it in the past, but I had no idea what year it was manufactured or what model it was. That ebay ad raythemanroe provided clears up a lot of questions I had. Could never find any auctions selling one either. Every time I searched for vintage benchrest scope, Unertl's seemed to come up. Of course those go for a premium. Nice to know it may be worth something, but I'll never sell it because it's a very interesting piece of history when optics makers first started pushing the boundaries of the norm with new designs. Probably just pass it down to my son one day, then maybe he his son. Who knows what it might be worth by then

 

[Raythemanroe]

I see that a couple have sold between $400 to 450 but I would keep it! I have a question for ya, I see your trickler is pointed toward the Gempro and not the RCBS scale! What one do you think is better?

 

[dickn52]

Awww, but in 1970 when they pushed them so hard in advertisement, they sold for a hefty $99.00. That is 1970 dollars which I am sure was a big hit at the time.

 

[gotcha]

Enjoyable post BigD, Funny that when we're young we can't wait to get the newest hi-tech devise. When we get older we reminisce. I'm speaking for myself, of course.

 

[ginnz]

Hi,

I realise this post is very old, but I could not PM BigDMT as it says he cannot receive PM's...?? Im looking for one of these Tasco 705's, to mount on my Ruger#1V in 220 Swift! Anyone have one they would part with? Or know of one kicking around? ;-)

BigDMT, can you please E-Mail me?

TIA, ginnz

 

[riverwolf1]

Is that rifle a BRNO #3?

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Never mind the rifle and scope, what's the story on the ratty tape measure.. I've refused to steal better ones than that.

 

[Tzed250]

My Unertl 1.5 20X on my .223 XR-100


image by zweitakt250, on Flickr

 

[butchlambert]

Check this out. It didn't sell at the opening price of $550.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=425465619

 

[LarryDScott]

I remember the first Unertl that I saw(mid 70s) To me it was the
wildest looking scope imaginable. As soon as I could scrape the
money together, I bought a NIB 2"ultra varmint 16pwr for
$155.00 plus tax. Still love the look, although they are just not
practical. LDS

www.greatscottshooters.com

 

[ginnz]

Check this out. It didn't sell at the opening price of $550.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=425465619

wow... thanks for the tip. 550.00 though.. :-( You know, I had one in my sights up north here, just as I was buying my #1, the guy was asking 300.00. I was trying to get the owner of the #1 to tell me if it was ready for mounts for the 705, and it took him a couple days to tell it was. In that time the scope sold! Damn! I almost had it at the same time I would have received the #1. it would have been perfect. I'm still seriously looking for one but don't want to get skinned on the deal!

 

[ginnz]

Im still, really, really, really wanting one of these.... ;-)


Doug (ginnz)
zeuss@mymts.net