CMP just added it to their Auction sight this morning, opening bid was $1, its up over $2000 now.
Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!
Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!
- Thread starter kraigWY
- Start date
I wonder if the A3 it came off of will be auctioned off?
On that note. There's also a M40A1 return stock with a Hart barrel on Ebay right now if somebody REALLY has a burning hole in their pocket.
Im surprised these are not more available yet since the switch to the S&Bs.
Up to $4785.00 now ...
Cant believe how much people are willing to pay for M40 and M40A1 stuff.... 5000$ for a scope? I understand it's good stuff, and rare.. but come'on..
I've seen MST100 and green Redfields sell for 2000-ish. But now, its just unbelievable. In the end, its still cloned rifles.
And the thing is still missing the O-ring separating the main elevation and fine adjust, no surprise there. I loved that old scope and all, but I'll be damned if I would ever pay that much for one.
Hey, if I had known in 1981 when I fell in love with Marine Corps sniping and the M40A1 that they would ever be legally sold on the civilian market, I would have gladly donated ten bucks a week to the piggy bank. This is rarer than rare. Other than a few being presented to VIPs I have never heard of any sold legally on the open market until now. Whoever gets this will not have to be looking over his shoulder, or squirreling it away in some dark closet. He isn't just buying a scope, he'll be buying a real piece of Marine Corps sniping history, and the only part of the M40A1 that is unique to it and has been virtually (legally speaking) unobtainable. It's rarity and history will bring the big bucks, not to mention the legal and clear title. As far as legal ownership by civilians goes, even the ultra-rare B-model (10X Sniper) is not as rare as the Marine Corps model. Though that might change if more of these are sold.
I saw one sell at auction for $8100 seven years ago, howbeit in much better shape, but almost certainly illegally obtained.
Other than the windage knob, this one appears to be all original. Born 21 March 1980, very first contract run, 15th made (including the five prototypes). The original windage knob was changed out to the early production type, as all the first batch were as far as I know. It hasn't been monkeyed with by USO. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it may even still have the original reticle with the round 1/2MOA dots.
Wish I'd been saving. But if I had, I'd sure want to know ahead of time if one was going to be coming up in better shape than this one before buying.
I saw one sell at auction for $8100 seven years ago, howbeit in much better shape, but almost certainly illegally obtained.
Other than the windage knob, this one appears to be all original. Born 21 March 1980, very first contract run, 15th made (including the five prototypes). The original windage knob was changed out to the early production type, as all the first batch were as far as I know. It hasn't been monkeyed with by USO. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it may even still have the original reticle with the round 1/2MOA dots.
Wish I'd been saving. But if I had, I'd sure want to know ahead of time if one was going to be coming up in better shape than this one before buying.
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The original knob you are talking about was only on prototype scopes.
Reliable sources who where there from day one of the Unertl said there were no more than 5 with the football cut on the knob.
The knob on 1015 is likely original.
And it can be noted that that scope for sale has not been "Upgraded" to the coil spring for the erector tube.
Marty
Badger Ordnance
Reliable sources who where there from day one of the Unertl said there were no more than 5 with the football cut on the knob.
The knob on 1015 is likely original.
And it can be noted that that scope for sale has not been "Upgraded" to the coil spring for the erector tube.
Marty
Badger Ordnance
Dishonorably discharged Marines don't rate owning one of these scopes!
Being a sniper item, I fully expect a bunch of snipes on this auction ;-)
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This way cool...
Mike @ CST
Mike @ CST
When I said "original", I meant original to that scope (#1015), which would have had the "football cut" (good description) windage knob when first made. The five prototypes did NOT have football cut windage knobs.
Furthermore, when I said "early production type (knob)", I was refering to the regular, finger-grooved 4.5-MOA windage knob. What I would call the "later production type" would be the 8.5-MOA windage knob that replaced the 4.5-MOA knobs later on (maybe done during the USO refurbs).
This is what I understand from reference sources that are considered reliable, and period photographs and video seem to bear it out:
Peter Senich covered the transitional, "football cut" windage knob well in his book, "The One Round War" (as quoted below), as well as the prototype (of which there were five) and subsequent "production" windage knobs.
There were five prototype scopes built, serial #1001-1005. They had windage knobs that had no finger grooves as we are used to seeing now, and no "football cut", but, rather, a single finger tab as on the fine tune elevation ring. Prototype #1003 is illustrated in "The Long Range War", as well as in "Death From Afar, Vol.1", by Chandler. Unertl's patent #4,247,161, filed 9May79, also shows this first/prototype type of knob.
After these 5 prototypes were approved in 1979, the first lot of 25 contract scopes were shipped to the Marine Corps in March, 1980, serial #1006-1030. Those first 25 contract scopes were the ones that originally had the "transitional" windage knobs with the football cut. The second lot of scopes was not received until January, 1982. This is why you only see football-cut windage knobs in all of the original 1981 magazine articles, Marine Corps Manuals and training films.
"Interestingly, even though the telescope design had been finalized, the initial lot of Unertl scopes (25) furnished to the Marine Corps featured a windage adjustment knob that was still in a transitional state. The windage knob was different in appearance than the Unertl prototype models and was changed again on the production version that followed." -Peter Senich, "The One Round War"
"An illustration from the USMC operation and mainenance manual for the M40A1 sniper rifle and the Unertl scope (TM00539-13/1, 30 November 1981) provides a close view of a transitional model of the 10-power Unertl sniper scope. The telescope shown here was one of the original 25 furnished to the Marine Corps in early 1980. Note the configuration of the windage knob; compare this with the prototype model. The transitional model is also pictured in FMFM 1-3B, SNIPING (28 January 1981). The windage knob was changed on the production version (see next) of the Unertl sight. For the sake of clarification, there were three versions of the Unertl Sniper Scope: the prototype, transitional, and production models." -Peter Senich, "The One Round War"
"According to Marine Corps information, the second shipment of Unertl scopes did not occur until January 1982. The windage adjustment knob had taken its final form, and from that point forward the telescopic sights furnished to the Marine Corps were categorized as 'regular production'.
"In the absense of an official designation or reference in this case, the original Unertl sights (25) are collectively noted here as the 'transitional model'." -Peter Senich, "The One Round War"
(there's more, but this should suffice)
This scope being auctioned (#1015) falls within the first 25 scopes delivered, in 1980. It would have originally had the "transitional" knob with the football cut. Most, if not all of those knobs were apparently replaced with the finger-grooved "production" type knobs, my guess being probably right after the second lot was received (1982).
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This thread is one of the reasons why, IMHO, the Vintage section is one of the best on the 'Hide.
Thanks for keeping it interesting!
Cheers,
Sirhr
Thanks for keeping it interesting!
Cheers,
Sirhr
If only...
Out of curiosity, what did it close at? I can't find it now.
It closed at $6502.00, where it was at for the last half day or so. So no last minute super-ninja-auction-snippers on this one, it seems. A bit surprising, as I thought it would have gone for a bit more than that. Maybe some are waiting to see the other scopes they may offer down the line.
My thoughts exactly. I was looking more for 8k or so, which I'm sure it would have gone for, at least, had it been sold on the truly open market (i.e. no CMP account required). The ones with that much dough are probably smart enough to wait for one in better shape, since CMP let it out of the bag that there will be more. I feel unprepared ($$$) and left behind, but this is exciting just the same.
Anyone know how to pay for items you win on a cmp auction?
My guess was also $8-9k and I was surprised at the final price. The cosmetic shape reflects its use and gives it character for sure, the low serial number and related stories on SH made it more attractive to me, and any functional issues (like the O-ring) would have been handled by USO if I'd been the buyer. I planned to bid at the last minute, but I bought a restored '56 Chevy last week that depleted my fun money account for the next few years. I have a USO MST-100 in a real Unertl mount on my M40A1 with return stock, so I'm not unhappy with my past good fortune.
To the person who bought the CMP: You Lucky Guy! Want to drive my '56?
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A return stock and Unertl base were SCREAMING for that scope! But, yeah, a '56 Chevy is grand too! Congrats on that! Now that these will be on the market, maybe someday....just maybe!
It's a bit late to ask, doncha think? Congratulations! ;-)???
It's a bit late to ask, doncha think? Congratulations! ;-)???
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I didn't win it, my buddy did. He asked if I knew how to pay for it. I told him I'd try to find out! He has Aaron Davis from Unertl standing by to do the refurb.
Geez, just call CMP or e-mail them. I would have thought they'd e-mail you with instructions. I think your buddy has 30 days to pay, so no sweat on taking a few extra days.
Check out the CMP Auction tomorrow Consecutive numbered Scopes!
I've won a few CMP Auctions. It's rather easy. You'll get an e-mail telling you that you won and how to submit your payment. You fill out the paperwork like you would buy a rifle through the normal CMP process. If you haven't bought a rifle from them in three years the form has to be notarized. You have 30 days to pay after the auction closes. You can either pay by credit card, check or money order. There is NO shipping charges on Auction items. Also they process faster then normal gun sales.
The whole process is really goes pretty smoothly.
Cmp = gtg
What was the final price on the two MST-100 scopes? Missed the end.
Different thread for those:
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-marine-scopes-consecutive-serial-number.html
12k
Got many nice pieces from the CMP over the last 12 years or so. So nice when the Big White Truck showed up!!! Living in New York I have to now use a FFL for any future CMP purchases....grrrr Cant wait to move away...
I saw that. Thought sure it would get it's own thread ;-)
Now, will it go for more, since fewer were made, or less because it doesn't carry the romance of the original M40A1 model scopes? At least USO hasn't drilled it yet. A good thing, as long as it still tracks well.
BTW, anyone getting one of these original Unertls that is not drilled and plugged, if you have USO service it at any point, PLEASE talk them into retaining the leaf springs and not drilling it if at all possible.
Now, will it go for more, since fewer were made, or less because it doesn't carry the romance of the original M40A1 model scopes? At least USO hasn't drilled it yet. A good thing, as long as it still tracks well.
BTW, anyone getting one of these original Unertls that is not drilled and plugged, if you have USO service it at any point, PLEASE talk them into retaining the leaf springs and not drilling it if at all possible.
$12000! Sounds like a deal to me! I wouldnt even consider selling either of my USMC SNIPER marked Unertl's for $6000. Those 2 that sold for $12000 had gone through the US Optics upgrade. I think the remainder of the scopes that CMP has without the Upgrade will sell for more. Here are some pictures of mine. Still got Haji-dust on them.
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The 50 cal scope went for $5070.
Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!
BTW, Twoman, thanks for sharing your photos. That's the first overstamped (pre-5k series) for 50 cal Unertl I have seen. Very interesting.
Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!
BTW, Twoman, thanks for sharing your photos. That's the first overstamped (pre-5k series) for 50 cal Unertl I have seen. Very interesting.
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I actually own 2 Unertl MST-150s. That scope was modified for a SASR. We needed more SASR scopes and had an abundance of 30 cal. I am honored to have such a very storied cool peice. Besides that serial number 1666 makes it even cooler. Makes it even cooler. I know the operator who used that scope personally. 8541
"Worlds finest gun fighters".
"Worlds finest gun fighters".
Wonder if CMP has sold them all now? If SO that WAS a small quanity. They will still be very rare.
Know when they are going to start auctioning off the remainder?
I love these scopes. I'm looking forward to getting mine.
Mike @ CST
Mike @ CST
I'm pretty sure they have quite a few
They have an other USMC 10X Unertl Sniper Telescope 1162 .50 Cal
Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!
Mike @ CST
Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!
Mike @ CST
Wow, $2101 for a .50 cal Unertl? Nice snag to whoever got that one!
That's a steal...!
