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10 yrs ago, they never sold for under about 1 G if in nice shape. But recently I’ve noticed that several have brought considerably less, which prompted me to place what I thought was a low-ball bid on this one, because it had the very rare aperture reticle; the company thought it so unique that it was written into the original patent specifications. Maybe the price was suppressed because other bidders thought this reticle wasn’t factory.
Wonder of wonders, this seller is one of the few on ebay not charging 2, 3, or 4 times actual shipping costs, in addition to a return privilege, also scarce on ebay. But actually, I need this like a hole in the head, as I have another A5 & a B4 that I never expect to use on anything.
Great find. Price is great too. I like the aperture reticle as well… with everything coming together like that you should go buy a couple lottery tickets…
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clarence said
10 yrs ago, they never sold for under about 1 G if in nice shape. But recently I’ve noticed that several have brought considerably less, which prompted me to place what I thought was a low-ball bid on this one, because it had the very rare aperture reticle; the company thought it so unique that it was written into the original patent specifications. Maybe the price was suppressed because other bidders thought this reticle wasn’t factory.Wonder of wonders, this seller is one of the few on ebay not charging 2, 3, or 4 times actual shipping costs, in addition to a return privilege, also scarce on ebay. But actually, I need this like a hole in the head, as I have another A5 & a B4 that I never expect to use on anything.
Clarence – this is the nature of collecting. This is what we do!
steve004 said Clarence – this is the nature of collecting. This is what we do!
Up to a point, Steve. But at 79, I’ve passed that point. Larry knows what I’m talking about.
clarence said
steve004 said Clarence – this is the nature of collecting. This is what we do!
Up to a point, Steve. But at 79, I’ve passed that point. Larry knows what I’m talking about.
Clarence – yes – from a rational point of view. But you have decades (scores?) of years of momentum behind you. Putting the brakes on is not so easy, no?
[email protected] said
Great find. Price is great too. I like the aperture reticle as well… with everything coming together like that you should go buy a couple lottery tickets…
I began using these scopes on some of my single shots probably about 50 yrs ago, because they were the most plentiful kind of “antique” scope still to be found at gun shows. But after ebay came along, it became evident that a great surge in prices was taking place, inexplicable to me until I found out through military collector friends that they were being bought up by those building fake ’03 sniper rifles, & those guys didn’t care what they spent. Hence the seller’s “sniper-scope” hype. It’s true that USMC bought about 500 of them, but the war was over before more than a handful were deployed in Europe; that was enough, however, to establish the “sniper-scope” image, greatly exaggerated though it is. What puzzles me now is why the demand seems to have slackened.
clarence said
[email protected] said
Great find. Price is great too. I like the aperture reticle as well… with everything coming together like that you should go buy a couple lottery tickets…
I began using these scopes on some of my single shots probably about 50 yrs ago, because they were the most plentiful kind of “antique” scope still to be found at gun shows. But after ebay came along, it became evident that a great surge in prices was taking place, inexplicable to me until I found out through military collector friends that they were being bought up by those building fake ’03 sniper rifles, & those guys didn’t care what they spent. Hence the seller’s “sniper-scope” hype. It’s true that USMC bought about 500 of them, but the war was over before more than a handful were deployed in Europe; that was enough, however, to establish the “sniper-scope” image, greatly exaggerated though it is. What puzzles me now is why the demand seems to have slackened.
Time marches on – less of us old guys around. Lots of guys who are around are no longer collecting. Also, these are not items you can take into the nursing home with you.
steve004 said
Clarence – yes – from a rational point of view. But you have decades (scores?) of years of momentum behind you. Putting the brakes on is not so easy, no?
That’s it exactly, Steve! That irresistible momentum! If only I could summon up the will-power to stop viewing these ebay listings, but it’s SO effortless when you create “saved searches”! Actually, I still do it mainly out of curiosity to see what kind of strange modifications may show up, like Litschert power boosters, or the set of customized mounts I bought some time ago.
steve004 said Also, these are not items you can take into the nursing home with you
And my house is already filled to the brim with such items!
I have a very scarce Fecker, ser.#619. It is so old, it has Winchester Grasshopper mounts. About 98% and perfect optics. The late Mr. Parson of Parson Optical, has #333, the only one I ever heard of with a number lower than mine. He stated to me that all the low number scopes were custom made. I have never seen another like mine. Time to sell?? Have no idea what it is worth. Big Larry
I have a Fecker serial #573. It has no center focus adjustment. It looks like a small game scope. It’s marked in 3 lines
J.W. FECKER / CLEVELAND-O / 8 573. The both rings are marked as follows; on one flat J. W. FECKER, on the other flat PAT. PEND’G.
It came mounted on a winchester model 52 serial# 12242.
Big Larry said
I have a very scarce Fecker, ser.#619. It is so old, it has Winchester Grasshopper mounts. About 98% and perfect optics. The late Mr. Parson of Parson Optical, has #333, the only one I ever heard of with a number lower than mine. He stated to me that all the low number scopes were custom made. I have never seen another like mine. Time to sell?? Have no idea what it is worth. Big Larry
Though Fecker always advertised that he’d make custom scopes to the buyer’s specs, the earliest standard model in 1922 was the scope you have, with the choice of Winchester or Stevens mounts, until he began making his own mounts in 1925. I had one (#745) exactly like this one, but sold it yrs ago, & still have one (#825) in Stevens mounts.
tom in michigan said
I have a Fecker serial #573. It has no center focus adjustment. It looks like a small game scope. It’s marked in 3 linesJ.W. FECKER / CLEVELAND-O / 8 573. The both rings are marked as follows; on one flat J. W. FECKER, on the other flat PAT. PEND’G.
It came mounted on a winchester model 52 serial# 12242.
Yes, it’s his Small Game model, made in 3 powers & 2 or 3 lengths. The Fecker rings must have been added later, as they were not in production when #573 was built.
When did Fecker move from Cleveland to Pittsburgh? I have a small fold out Fecker brochure from Cleveland
that describes his scopes as being available with Fecker micrometer mounts, or with any other commercially available mount.
I all so have a brochure from him that appears to be the same, except with a
Pittsburgh address.
tom in michigan said
When did Fecker move from Cleveland to Pittsburgh?
Fecker purchased the Brashear Optics Co. in Pittsburgh (a major producer of astronomical telescopes) in June, 1926. Would assume he had transferred his equipment from Cleveland within a few months to be able to resume production as quickly as possible.
Does your Fecker brochure show a M1922 Springfield on the cover, with 8 fold-out pages? If so, I have a slightly later ed. with the Pittsburgh add. He began making his own mounts in 1925, before that using Winchester or Stevens mounts.
clarence,
I have both a Cleveland and a Pittsburgh brochure. They have the same Springfield model 1922 on the cover.
The Cleveland brochure is 8 pages same as the Pittsburgh. In both brochures pages 1 thru 5 are essentially the same.
Pages 6 thru 8 are similar, but the Pittsburgh catalog has a greater variety of items and prices are higher. The print size is a bit different
between the two as well. The Cleveland catalog also has a two page insert titled; The Combination Rifle Sight And Spotting Scope.
tom in michigan said The Cleveland catalog also has a two page insert titled; The Combination Rifle Sight And Spotting Scope.
Similar statement also included in his Rifeman ads, which were plentiful. He also wrote half a doz or more short articles on optics for the mag.
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