clarence said;  

Several months ago, I created a “Winchester 8x scope” saved search on ebay, out of curiosity to see what would turn up.  I included a long list of “nots” in the hope of excluding extraneous items, but so far, it’s ONLY extraneous items I’ve seen.  

Clarence,

It is indeed a tricky search, one just sold last week on evilbay for $50 (minus the mounts).  https://www.ebay.com/itm/224978826480

As you can see, it did not have “Winchester” nor “8X” in the title.  I was also happy to see it didn’t sucker-in anyone with the “sniper” in the title.  A good deal nonetheless though.

Best Regards,

clarence said

Most on-line sellers of A5s & even 5As include “sniper” is a routine part of the description, to catch the attention of all the sniper-fanatics building fake ’03 sniper-rifles.  I well remember when (to my dismay) this crazy phenomenon began about 20 yrs ago, & it shows no sign of slackening.
    

Yep, I have noticed that as well but this wasn’t an A5, the seller didn’t know they had an 8X for the Model 75 but advertised it as the best quality scope Winchester produced (the A5) and then upped the hype by calling it a sniper scope for the 1903 Springfield.

I understand trying to sell your stuff on eBay instead of a garage sale but if you don’t know what you have then state that, don’t make sh*t up.  The Winchester 8X was never used on the Springfield 1903, it can’t handle the recoil of the .30-06.

I am glad that the bidding reflected the intelligence of the buyers, it doesn’t always work that way….

And no, I didn’t bid on that one.

Best Regards,

clarence said

JWA said I am glad that the bidding reflected the intelligence of the buyers, it doesn’t always work that way…

With a multitude of sniper-related publications to inform them, the sniper wanna-bees certainly know the difference.  I’d guess that one went for so little because, how would anyone ever find the mounts separately?

  

And, again, because they are unmarked, they turn up just as frequently as the tubes without mounts.  Surprisingly, I have more extra mounts than unmounted 8X scopes.  Again, it is all about the search process and knowing what you are looking for.  They are NOTORISOUSLY mis-identified, both the scopes and the loose mounts.  Sometimes I even find the mounts with the #8 bases still clamped in them.  I search every week.

Bought a 52 pre-A slow lock last week in PA for $700, no “crack of doom” and with a Winchester 8X attached on #8 bases.  Kind of an odd gun and of course pulled off the incorrect 8X and bases and added the proper Winchester combination bases but I thought the wood looked nice so I am keeping it for awhile.  A bit above average for a 52, the lighting does not do it justice, the fiddleback is iridescent.

Deals are out there still, you just have to search them out.  It is an exhausting effort but worth the reward when you are on a poor man’s budget like myself.

Best Regards,

clarence said

I look at countless 52s on GB, but have never seen another 52 stock to match this one.  

  

I know I am preaching to the choir when I say that Gunbroker is “buyer beware”.  The best deals are still to be had at the local gun shops.  You have to go to a LOT of them (and keep returning) but eventually good things happen, whereas not much good ever happens on GB….at least not in my price range!

AND, to get back on topic, this one did NOT get away 😉

Best Regards,