[SquirrelNuts]

I have seen Art advocate one to find a "Weaver K4" scope at a gun show for one-hell-uva great scope at one-hell-uva great price. From what I can find, the K4 can be had for $100-is this too high/too low/or just right?

Also, it seems that the K4 is a series of scopes similar to Leupold's VX-I, VX-II, Vari-X, etc, is that correct? Or is a K4 a K4 across the board?

I am not really sure what I need it for, but I am trying out a new principle. I bought a box of .45ACP, a box of .308, and one round of .50BMG so that I would then have to get a handgun/rifle to match. If I purchase enough pieces, then I will hve to get the gun, right? Is this a good theory? This K4 being the next piece of the puzzle...

-SquirrelNuts

[cheygriz]

Squirrel,

You're right that the K4 was one of a series. The "K" series was 2.5, 4, 6, 8, and 12 that I remember. There may have been more.

I still have a 50 year old K4 on an old 03A3 Springfiled and it still shoots 1.5 inch groups with my handloads.

As for the price of a used one? Sorry, my friend, but I can't help you there

[JohnBT]

FWIW...the 1967 Shooter's Bible also lists a K1, K3 and a K10.
No 12 in this book for this year.

JT

[Badger Arms]

That price sounds about right for a newly manufactured one. I've got about half a dozen of the K series in various forms. The older scopes were steel tubed and the newer ones are aluminum. I see no major difference in performance but the blued steel on the older tubes matches gun finishes much better. I've also got a stainless steel tubed K-4 on my Stainless Mini-14. Makes quite the good-looking setup.

[Art Eatman]

I dunno. Been a while since I paid much attention, but $35 to $60 seems like a working range. Used to be, $25 to $40 was common. I guess all I ever had were the old steel tube versions...

Any used scope, look through it the wrong way. That will let you see if there are any chipped lenses due to terminal clumsy.

Art

[cheygriz]

JohnBT,

Perhaps what I remembered was indeed the K10 rather than the K12. I haven't looked at new Weaver scopes for about 30 years, and the memory is starting to fade a bit.

[burrhead]

I have a steel tubed K12 with AO. It's something over 30 years old, can't really remember.

[JohnBT]

I saw an extremely nice old blue K2.5 at the gun show today.

$125.

John

[Britt]

The last time I checked a new K4, assuming they're still making one was running in the neighborhood of $150, although this could certainly be off some. As to used models, $100 seems pretty high unless it's pristine in every way. The last one I bought was a few months ago at a gun show. It was a steel tubed model without so much as a noticable ding other than marks from scope rings and cost $35. For all but my varmint rifles where I am spoiled and use Zeiss scopes, a K4 or K6 work great. BD

[telewinz]

25 years ago I had a great many Weaver scopes but over a period of time I upgraded to redfields. K-4' K-6's were decent about like a Tasco or Simmons. Certainly would not pay $100 for one, new or used.

[Art Eatman]

telewinz, I don't think the old Weavers were as bright as Tascos, but they were sure as heck rugged! They'd take a lot of bashing, before losing zero. I've always thought of them as a "set it and forget it" scope, regardless of bangs and bumps.

:), Art

[Gordon]

OK Weaver scopes: I own close to a dozen old weavers. The 330 was a great piece of hand made work for a 3/4" scope AMAZING I have one on an old hornet and an 03A4 Springfield. The later 50's and 60's K series were great and plenty bright and very stout. I like post reticule K3's and K-4's. Micro Tract scopes were even better, maybe one of the best scopes ever made. No their light transmission is not up to High buck German or 2003 Leupold or Burris standards, but good clear non multicoated optics. My favorites were the 856 with european picket reticule and the K-2.5 with duplex. I left out the interesting J series but I don't think anybody would be interested in a 7/8" tube vintage scope.:D

[DMK]

The Marines sure thought highly of the old Weaver K series. They chose the K10 over the Redfield on their '03 sniper rifles. I don't think Weaver makes a K10 anymore though. It looks like it goes 2x, 4x, 6x then jumps right to the 15x K15.

It appears to me however, that the strength of this old design over modern optics is it's fixed power. Personally I like fixed power scopes, and they are not so common anymore.