doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Vintage Optics.

I have several older bolt rifles I would like to mount period vintage scopes on. Current projects are a model 722 Remington with Stith, Master Mounts. I do not have a Kollmorgen scope but do have a B&L BALvar 8 & an 8A. I located a 1" Stith Ring assy but the flat spring is too long to let the ring set between the two mounts/bases. Were there different length springs for the ring? These scopes have no internal adjustments.

The other projects are Mauser 98 actions and will use B&L/Kuharsky bases. There are two types of ring sets. One uses a set of rings on a flat rail that attached to one base with a star/thumb screw. The other is a set of rings made as a single unit with a spring loaded plunger that holds the scope down to the bases but provides quick release and a good return to zero. What are the pros and cons to each type?

I recently learned that the Tasco model 703 was made under a US Government contract in the mid 1970's. It is a 10x38 scope with no internal adjustments. Has anyone here had any experience with this scope or information on the REALTRAIN program it was ordered and used for.

Thank you.

I'm pretty sure usual mounts for the Balvar were very specific to the gun type.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/226937057364

Don't know about the Stilth or how it would work for a scope with no internal adjustments.

These early Balvar scopes work well with older guns and Kuharski/B&L bases. Once adjusted, they stay on point very well…

Shrapnel,

Your B&L/Kuharsky topped rifles are the vintage look I am after.

The Stith Master bases are near the same as the B&L bases. They space a bit farther apart than the B&L and are designed for a 26mm tube but the 1" tube sits in them just a tad lower. I will need to make a new flat spring for the ring to let the assy fit together. I may find a. Stith/Kollmorgen scope also so the whole assembly matches.

Thanks, John

I like the look of vintage scopes on older rifles, too. This is my 1947 Husqvarna .220 Swift with vintage Weaver 10X.

I love vintage scopes, but my collection is aimed towards old external adjustment target scopes. Scopes like Fecker, Lyman Targetspot, Unertl, Stevens, Winchester, Souther, Sidle, AWW Peterson, etc. Many of my old single shot rifles have these mounted on them, and I love the way the work, and look on old scheutzen rifles.

I wanted an external adjustment classic scope for the Swift at first. But, I was offered the Weaver which was within a year or two of the same vintage as the rifle and decided to go with it. It has a clean "look" and is in mint condition.

It's a truck gun that I carry for crows, mostly. Big fun to knock over a crow at 200-300 yards.

I've got a Lyman LWBR 25X with tall turrets that I had on it for awhile, but it's just a little much for the Swift sporter.

I was able to locate a Stith/Kollmorgen 6X scope with the proper ring assembly and the wear bands. Just got it set into the mounts. Very clear optics and fine cross hairs. Hope I can get it dialed in soon.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures
Please.

I still use a Balvar 8 on one of my coyote hunting 22-250s, for a cleaner look I mounted mine in a one piece Leupold standard mount and can adjust windage with the mount screws and elevation I shim the base for major changes and greases hard paper in the ring. I've even used it in an Egg Shoot, I didn't win but made it to the final round.

I call it the "Turret Twisters Nightmare", most guys at the range have never seen a scope with out adjustments built in.

Not sure if these will show up but here goes.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Leh3JLSPWY616Wu97

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RtnTp1ARJyTdTdfR6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xHht4umHDwtaKTYE7

John

I especially like that third picture, with the big Spanish Moss covered oak in the background.

Got a full sized pic of the pickup?

The tree is a Pecan. The truck is a '69 F100, 240 I-6, 3spd. It is not pretty but is mechanically sound. My daily driver for the past 10 months. Everything works except for the dash speaker. Need to rebuild the steering column as shifting is a bit of a battle. Body is sorry looking and cancerous. I love it.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UZ942hGSYzH4cUxcA


https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZuUifgWYXvw2wLRv5

The selection of old projects sounds exciting! Indeed, the spring lengths of Stith rings varied according to the size and spacing of the scope tubes; it is usual practice to shorten or fabricate a new one. The plunger type allows faster detachment with a little more movement over time, while the rail type provides good repeatability but slower removal for B&L/Kuharsky setups. Once you have the 722 or Mauser constructions mounted, I would really like to see pictures!

I have a 2.5 X B&L Balvar-type with fine Lee dot.

Might be available.

Have another one also that sits an a custom Mauser in 30-06 Ackley Imp. That rifle is convinced that it is chambered in 300 H&H, based on ballistic results
from handloaded cartridges.

Balvar mounts WERE designed for the rifle make like Mauser or pre-64 Model 70s.


My Lyman and Leupold Alaskans have a permanent home on old pre-war Model 70s.

Down south you see a lot of old Fords sitting around under trees. A guy once told me that he always bought Fords because no matter where it broke down there was always a Ford shop to fix it;-)
I once had a beautiful Lyman Alaskan in its factory box. In the box was a receipt from Lee who had added a dot. I put it on a rifle that I carried hunting for a few years, It was an Abesser & Merkel break open in 9.3x72R, deeply engraved and gold inlaid. When I sold it the buyer insisted that he have the scope too. It looked really nice on that rifle.

I was able to find a one piece scope marked with the same name of the rifle I intend to mount it on. The downside is that I'll need to add a 1/4" rib to the existing barrel to have it completed. Being the serial piddler and tinker i am. I have become very curious about changing out the lenses for a wider field of view

I have just put a 3-10x Nickel ‘scope (circa 1960?) on my .250/3000 99EG.With a 26mm tube I had to use somewhat higher mounts than I would have liked but still have adequate cheek contact.

Zeroed at 100 yards I find the cross hairs to be laterally offset at high magnification, but fortunately the Redfield bases give me the option of shifting the back of the scope and re-zeroing to produce a less irritating sight picture.