• The ZF41 sight

    Carrying cans :

    ZF41 carrying cans can be divided into several categories, distinguished by technical developments throughout the course of WWII. Here, we will discuss four main categories, although these are sometimes further subdivided based on minor differences.

    The carrying cans were manufactured by the firm Wessel & Müller, Beschlagfabrik, Luckenwalde (wartime code “jvb”). The can typically bears the matching rifle number stamped on one side of the lid, opposed to the hinge.

    • Type 1a : Early can, painted in “feldgrau” (or dark blue for the Luftwaffe). The belt strap is made of leather. The side of the case features the Wessel u. Mueller, Luckenwalde manufacturer’s “M&W” logo (see below). The WaA14 can be at the back of the lid. The hinge weld is internal. The lid of the compartment containing the Klarinol cloth is flat.
    ZF41 Wessel & Müller, Beschlagfabrik, Luckenwalde logo
    • Type 1b : The belt strap is now made of webbing. The “jvb” code replaces the manufacturer’s logo, located at the rear of the lid, next to the WaA14 stamp.
    • Type 2a : The lid of the Klarinol cloth compartment is reinforced. The hinge attachments on the lid are now external.
    ZF41 can lid evolution
    • Type 2b : The felt covering the internal wooden base no longer surrounds the hole designed to hold the ZF41 in place. At the back of the lid, the WaA14 is replaced by WaA542. The metal tube previously used to hold the cleaning brush is replaced by a simple hole in the wooden base.
    ZF41 can jvb WaA evolution
    • Type 3 : From 1943/44, the color changes from green to tan beige (Dunkelgelb RAL 7028). The machining of the hole in the lid locking part is simplified.
    ZF41 carrying can strap evolution
    • Type 4 : The web strap used to lock the lid is replaced by a D-ring metal piece

    NB : Some later cans have been observed with leather straps, possibly as replacements for the original web strap. 

    ZF41 can lid strap evolution
    Accessories

    Cardboard box in which the ZF41 scopes were packaged at the factory. The box bears the logo of the company Ruka in Rathenow :

  • SSR mount with type II base

    Short Side Rail (SSR) mount with type 2 base. These mounts were used by German army, police and waffen ss sharpshooters. 

  • Last prototype version of the PE scope

    This is the last prototype version of the PE scope which was only different from the later serial production model by a different elevation adjustment. It comes with the original mount (very first mounts only had numbers on them, no letters). Scopes with this type of elevation adjustment were made in 1932 and 1933. The original manufacturer markings were scrubbed by a previous owner, most possibly already when brought back as war trophy.

  • Ajack 4×90 scope on Finnish M39/43 sniper rifle

    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”.

  • US M84 sniper scope with M1D Garand mount

    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.

  •  1939 Progress PEM scope & Tula lateral mount

    This PEM scope was one of the few PEM scopes made in 1939 at the Kharkov Machine-Building Plant (FED), while most of them were made at the Progress plant. The front part of a lateral mount is still present.

  • P. Köhler Berlin sniper/police scope on SSR mount

    Here is a 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.

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