Bought an old Redfield today

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rcmodel

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Redfield 5-star 3x-9x40.

Came with CAA Picitenny mount, and Redfield flip-up lens covers.

For $40 bucks!!!

image.jpg

rc
 
I'm gonna guess 20-25 years.

Redfield went out of business in Denver in 1998.

This scope is listed in the 1992 Gun Digest at $297.95 MSRP.
That's $500+ in today's funny money!

It's appears to be a very good scope, as Redfields always were.

Very bright, no edge distortion, etc.

I was tickled pink to get it for $40 bucks!!!

(The CAA AR-15 mount sells for $40 new right now!)

rc
 
I have looked at several lately...had to pass on all of them because they were too dark.

If I am buying a scope, it will have to be one of current vintage as they are a lot brighter than the old scopes... at least, to my eye.

If yours is bright...you did very well.
 
nice grab. would like to have that for a mauser sporter im working on. went with a cheapo fixed 6 power for now. going for the 50's sporter look.
 
I'm generally wary of older scopes because they are usually not as good optically as newer models. Plus, you can't get them fixed if something shakes loose.

But for $40 that seems like a pretty good gamble. I would take it over a $40 new Chinese model, that's for sure.
 
I have that same scope on a M70 Featherweight in 7mm Mauser. Love that scope. I got mine new around '86.
 
I had a Redfield Widefield 3-9 on a Rem 700 in 6 MM
When it started to shoot without pulling the trigger I got mad & sold the whole package to a gunsmith
BAD BAD MISTAKE
 
nice grab. would like to have that for a mauser sporter im working on. went with a cheapo fixed 6 power for now. going for the 50's sporter look.
@Bigbore..
I'm sitting here with a steel tube weaver V9-1 3-9. Says microtrak on the turret. Some blue worn off the turret caps. Dad brought it over for me to put on eBay, but I haven't made the time. That of any interest to you?
 
Vintage Redfields made before 2010

RC, great buy. I have old Redfields in 2x7 and 6x18. Both work. The 2x7 was serviced by the old Redfield years ago. The current Redfield no longer repairs them.
REDFIELD PRODUCTS MADE BEFORE 2010

When Leupold & Stevens, Inc.® purchased Redfield in April 2008, it did not acquire the capability to repair Redfield products manufactured prior to this purchase. The repair tooling and parts were purchased years ago by other repair services. Leupold & Stevens, Inc. will service its manufactured Redfield product (manufactured from 2010 forward) in accordance with its published warranty.

At this time, should a non-Leupold & Stevens, Inc. Redfield product require service, we suggest contacting Iron Sight, Inc. (918) 445-2001. This contact is provided for information purposes only, as Iron Sight Inc. is not affiliated with Leupold & Stevens Inc. They should be contacted directly for all information regarding repair, service and associated charges
 
Turned out maybe not so great a deal after all.

I got into it this evening, and it turns out the CAA Picitenny mount is for a 30mm scope.

Bottom half has 1" plastic spacers in it.
Top half of rings don't.

So, Bubba mounted it with JB Weld to take up the extra room!!

Top rings are sprung beyond use on a 30mm scope.
So the $40 mount is trashed.

And it took a lot of the anodizing off the scope tube getting them off with a plastic mallet & heat gun!!

Plus, the mismatched rings dented the scope tube under both of them!

It's still clear as a bell, and doesn't rattle.

So I guess I will put it on a .22 springer air-rifle and see if I can shake the guts out of it now.

rc
 
Sorry to hear all those problems rc! I've bought 2 old Redfields in the last 2 years, both excellent and very cheap. I was lucky and able to examine before the sale. Good luck with yours.
 
I actually got all the old JB Weld off of it with a heat gun and sharp knife, colored the missing anodizing with a black magic marker.

Then mounted on the .22 Beeman with new 'old' air rifle rings, sighted it in, and probably shot another 100 shots or so.

It is adjusting properly, and holding zero so far.

Most I can ask out of an old $40 scope!!

rc
 
I like the older Redfields a bunch. I have a 4x 3/4" tube on my Marlin bolt .22 and it has been an excellent optic.

Just be aware that spring type air rifles are really hard on conventional rifle scopes and I'd hate to see you crater that scope that you got such a good deal on!
 
RC...I have the Redfield Golden 5 Star 3 X 9 X 40. Bought in 1992 and it's been mounted on a Browning .30-06 A-Bolt for the last 23 years. Zeroed it once in 1992 and a few minor adjustments for my [getting] older eyes. Excellent scope.
 
Some coincidence. I just went through the "assorted stuff" -shelf of my gun cabinet a few days ago and came across a Golden Five Star 3-9x40 I bought in late 80's and retired only a few years later. It has been gathering dust ever since and it's like new. I did a quick comparison with similar Zeiss Conquest and Nikon Monarch scopes and while it isn't quite as bright as either, it's amazingly close. Especially for a scope of that vintage.

$40 is a real bargain for one of those. I was about to throw it on a .22 but I might reconsider using it on a Sako L579 instead.
 
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