This rare rifle is one of the only 500 Finnish M39/43 sniper rifles ever made. Note the “combination” of the German scope with the “German style SSR lever and pin” on the base with the “Russian style middle mount”.
Author: Laurent Bernard
Here is a pretty rare French manufactured Lebel model 1886 M93 fitted with an original A.P.X. 1916 scope. The Lebel M93 used to be the French main sniper rifle during World War I. The APX scopes evoluted from APX 1915 to APX 1917.
Below are three black & white pictures, taken in the trenches, showing French snipers using Lebel M93 rifles mounted with APX scopes.
.
Skoparette 4x scope, made by Voigtländer in Braunschweig, was one of the main models used by Bavarian snipers during WW1. The rear mount bears the logo of the Gebruder Merkel manufacturer in Suhl, Germany.
Here is a WWI Enfield SMLE rifle fitted with the scarce Whitehead mount and a Winchester A5 scope. A one of a kind configuration in the collection world but not the best sniper setup of its time, from an engineering point of view.
1915 Periscopic Prism Company Ltd. Sniper scope, used on Enfield SMLE (serial n° 6133 Y) during WW1. Even if several scope models were used by the United Kingdom during WWI, the 1915 P.P.Co was the most used by British snipers.
Below : a black & white picture showing snipers of the King’s Own Regiment in Salonika, possibly June 1916.
This Dr. W. Gérard B3x sniper scope has an uncommon transitional straight lined mount. These mounts didn’t allow to aim with the rifle regular sighting organs. That’s why they were replaced by deported mounts on most of sniper scopes pretty early in the war.
–
1937 PEM sniper scope with straight top mount for Mosin Nagant 91/30
–
–
M84 sniper scope with its original mount for the M1D Garand. These scopes were used on M1D, M1C or 1903A4 rifles. The first M84’s were produced at the very end of the WWII but the M84 probably didn’t see combat until the Korean war.
–
PEM scope made at the Progress plant in 1939 and mounted on a Tula made side rail mount for Mosin Nagant 91/30.
Here is a very rare P. Köhler scope on short side rail (SSR) mount. This civilian scope was “militarized” by adding the rifle serial on the scope and on the mount. This set was most likely used by military police before the World War II or by the SS.
–
This ZF39 type scope was made by K. Kahles in Wien. These 4×60 sniper scopes were given the code “cad” during WWII. They were used on SSR, LSR and high turret mounts (like this one).
This is a Bavarian sniper scope made by Otto Bock K. & K. Hofl. in Berlin. Note the odd-looking single claw mount and the typical (1)-2-3-4 Bavarian-style meter dial.
–
For once, this is not a WW1 or WW2 sniper scope. This K.Kahles H/4×60 scope with side mount was part of a Nicaracuan Contract and mounted on Hämmerli K.31 sniper rifles (only 100 were ordered).
–
Aldis 1915 sniper scope with J. Purdey and Sons mount for SMLE
To this civilian Optikotechna Lovec 4x rifle scope was added a 100-800m meter dial and a sunshade (missing here) to make it usable by the military. This one is mounted on a SSR mount
Skoparette 4x scope, made by Voigtländer in Braunschweig, was one of the main models used by Bavarian snipers during WW1. The rear mount bears the logo of the Gebruder Merkel manufacturer in Suhl, Germany.
This 3x sniper scope was made by Voigtländer in Braunschweig. A lot of these were used during WWI. This one is bearing the rifle serial number 1139 cc but its mounts bears a different number. Below you can see a b&w picture showing a German sniper using this scope in the trenches during winter 1916.
Opticotechna Dialytan 4x dow
Hensoldt Wetzlar Dialytan 4x “bmj” , used with single claw mount
Oigee Berlin Luxor 3x – Gewehr Nr. 1378 i
German sniper with C.P. Goerz 3x scope and carrying case
Dr.W.Gerard M4x scope with unit markings still engraved
Emil Busch Rathenow Visar 2,75x – Gewehr Nr. 4700 cc
Voigtlander Braunschweig 3x – Gewehr Nr. 6091 bb
Ground dug ZF4 (ddx) scope and mount
Snipers training at a sniper school in a French village, using P14 rifles with Periscopic Prim Co. Ltd Mod.1918 scopes (27 July 1944).
Lance Corporal A P Proctor, 56th Division, cleaning his rifle, 24 November 1943.
ZF41 coded “ddv” (Oculus, Spezialfabrik Ophthalmologischer Instrumente, Berlin)
1937 (Progress) PEM scope
Ground dug Russian PEM sniper scope with its mount. Adjustement turrets still work, view through the scope is still possible and reticle remains perfect.
Here is a complete set used by a German sniper during WWI. The scope was made by Oigee in Berlin, model Luxor 3x. The scope, mounts and carrying case bear the G98 serial number 7368 bb. The case also comes with its little cleaning brush and mount adjustement key.
The well-known picture below shows a German sniper aiming through a similar scope from its trench during WWI. Note the carrying case attached to its belt.
C.P. Goerz Berlin 3x scope an carrying case
Dr. Walter Gerard Mod. G 4x – Gewehr Nr. 7790 c
ZF41/1 coded “kov” (Etablissement Barbier, Bénard et Turenne, Paris)
ZF41 Carrying case with WaA542
C.P. Goerz 3x – Gewehr Nr. 5542
PU cover variants, by Alexander Yuschenko
The “G” 4x scope, made by Dr.W.Gerard in Charlottenburg, used by Bavarian snipers during WWI, was slightly modified from a civilian hunting scope. Only two modifications were made: the rifle number was engraved on the scope and the 2-4-6 meter dial was added.
During WWII, British snipers used the No.32 as main scope on the Lee Enfield rifle. Variations from MKI to MK IV were made and used even after 1945. This late one was manufactured by Alex Kershaw & Son in 1945.–
–
This scope was made by Carl Zeiss in Jena. The Zielvier 4×81 model characteristics were used as a standard for the “ZF39” denomination. Following its meter dial and serial number, this scope was probably used by the Reichswehr in the late 20’s or early 30’s.
Below you can see two pictures both showing German snipers using K98k mounted with Zeiss Zielvier scopes on turret mount.
I.O.R. 4,25 X 28 scope with its original mount, used on VZ24 rifle during WWII era.
This ZF.41 complete set was dug out in Russia, where it was used on the easter front. Some markings are still visible on the mount and carrying can. Interesting fact is that it came with its original knarinol cloth and dust brush (not pictured).
Another type III ZF41/1. This one is coded “dow”, related to Opticotechna G.m.b.H., in Prerau, Czech.
Here is a type III ZF41/1 coded “gkp” (Rufs & Co manufacturer in Kassel)
–
For comparison wit the ZF.41 below, this ZF41/1, also coded “cxn” (Emil Busch A.-G., Optische Industrie, Rathenow), is a later type II sight. This model doesn’t use flat rollers anymore.
Here is an early Z.F.41 made by Emil Busch A-G in Rathenow (code cxn). The “K.F.” marking (Kältefest) indicates that the scope was lubricated with cold-resistant grease “Invarol”. Early ZF41 sights used flat rollers mounts.
The Oigee Berlin Luxor 3x scope was used in large number during WWI. This kind of deported mount was also widespread, allowing to aim with the regular sighting parts of the rifle without taking off the scope. This scope cames with its matching carrying case (rifle n° 2543 cc)
Romanian I.O.R. scope mounted on a Czech VZ.24 sniper rifle. Below is a rare picture of a sniper holding a VZ.24 with an I.O.R. scope. The soldier behind is holding an Orita 1941 smg.
