04-01-2015, 09:09 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-01-2015, 02:13 AM by Bob Prudhomme.)
I found something interesting about the Ordnance Optics 4 x 18 scope that was mounted on the Carcano found on the 6th floor of the TSBD.
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slam-fire
Okay guys, here's the complete story (as best I know) on the Ordnance Optics Scopes.
When Ordnance Optics went out of business, we (Martin B. Retting, Inc.) bought their remaining inventory of 4x scopes. From what I hear...it was a pretty big lot and the scopes were such poor quality that Jim Thompson (who was the mgr. at the time and responsible for the purchase) never heard the end of it.
For while the scopes were sold on the floor for use with .22 rifles, I think they were under $10.00 in the late 70's. I remember buying one as a kid for my 10/22.
Their more infamous role came when one of the scopes that we sold Kline's ended up on a certain Carcano.
Here are the fact as I know them to be:
a) there was only one lot of scopes sold off by Ordnance Optics....but there were two slight variations within it. The one on Oswald's rifle had a knurled ocular lens bell housing. The remaining scopes have smooth ocular bell housings. Otherwise the markings are the same.
b) there is only one type of mount, both the 3 hole and 4 hole started out the same. some mounts were ground to fit 95 mausers (in order to clear the bolt stop). the carcano should have had a four hole mount, with no need for grinding...but Kline's had both styles and simply installed the wrong one.
c) the best photo of the rifle, for reference of the scope and mount, appears in the November, 1983 issue of Life Magazine. A photographer was allowed access to the Oswald rifle...the resulting photos show much more detail than the Warren commission pics.
d) the scopes themselves are horrible....very poor optically....very frail crosshairs! In addition, the crosshairs are not self centering, so depending on the rifle, the sight picture may be a little annoying. The mounts are also prone to bending. If I had to vote, I go along with the school of thought that argues that Oswald either used the iron sights or simply pointed the rifle by looking over the scope.
that being said, I have a few left...the price is $250.00 with mounts, plus $20.00 if you want Keith (the guy who as a kid, ground them originally) to grind the mount like the 95 mount. the actual availability issue isn't the scopes, it's the mounts..... which will run out before the scopes.
I used to advertise them occasionally, with a brief history and a certificate of authenticity, but I got tired of all of the hate mail that I would get... never ceases to amaze me how mean supposedly "enlightened" liberals can be if you're what they consider "politically incorrect"
anyhow.... if anyone ever has any question, you can call me at the shop. 310-***-****....ask for Alex
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slam-fire
11-13-2008, 02:12 AM
Okay guys, here's the complete story (as best I know) on the Ordnance Optics Scopes.
When Ordnance Optics went out of business, we (Martin B. Retting, Inc.) bought their remaining inventory of 4x scopes. From what I hear...it was a pretty big lot and the scopes were such poor quality that Jim Thompson (who was the mgr. at the time and responsible for the purchase) never heard the end of it.
For while the scopes were sold on the floor for use with .22 rifles, I think they were under $10.00 in the late 70's. I remember buying one as a kid for my 10/22.
Their more infamous role came when one of the scopes that we sold Kline's ended up on a certain Carcano.
Here are the fact as I know them to be:
a) there was only one lot of scopes sold off by Ordnance Optics....but there were two slight variations within it. The one on Oswald's rifle had a knurled ocular lens bell housing. The remaining scopes have smooth ocular bell housings. Otherwise the markings are the same.
b) there is only one type of mount, both the 3 hole and 4 hole started out the same. some mounts were ground to fit 95 mausers (in order to clear the bolt stop). the carcano should have had a four hole mount, with no need for grinding...but Kline's had both styles and simply installed the wrong one.
c) the best photo of the rifle, for reference of the scope and mount, appears in the November, 1983 issue of Life Magazine. A photographer was allowed access to the Oswald rifle...the resulting photos show much more detail than the Warren commission pics.
d) the scopes themselves are horrible....very poor optically....very frail crosshairs! In addition, the crosshairs are not self centering, so depending on the rifle, the sight picture may be a little annoying. The mounts are also prone to bending. If I had to vote, I go along with the school of thought that argues that Oswald either used the iron sights or simply pointed the rifle by looking over the scope.
that being said, I have a few left...the price is $250.00 with mounts, plus $20.00 if you want Keith (the guy who as a kid, ground them originally) to grind the mount like the 95 mount. the actual availability issue isn't the scopes, it's the mounts..... which will run out before the scopes.
I used to advertise them occasionally, with a brief history and a certificate of authenticity, but I got tired of all of the hate mail that I would get... never ceases to amaze me how mean supposedly "enlightened" liberals can be if you're what they consider "politically incorrect"
anyhow.... if anyone ever has any question, you can call me at the shop. 310-***-****....ask for Alex
Mr. HILL. The right rear portion of his head was missing. It was lying in the rear seat of the car. His brain was exposed. There was blood and bits of brain all over the entire rear portion of the car. Mrs. Kennedy was completely covered with blood. There was so much blood you could not tell if there had been any other wound or not, except for the one large gaping wound in the right rear portion of the head.
Warren Commission testimony of Secret Service Agent Clinton J. Hill, 1964
Warren Commission testimony of Secret Service Agent Clinton J. Hill, 1964