Hello:

A friend recently purchased a Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70.

The scope that was on it was put on the gun at the time of its purchase when new. The gunsmith who did some work on the rifle for my friend, including replacing the scope, claims the old scope might have some value.

I told him I doubted it but freely acknowledged I'm far from an expert on older optics.

Its a Bausch & Lomb Balvar 5 2.5-5x model with a very unique and industrial stength mount the likes of which I've never seen before. Its surprisingly bright for its age and appears to be built like a tank.

Anyone know anything about it? Its sitting here next to me if anyone needs a photo for ID help.

Thanks for your time-

Brent

Hello:

A friend recently purchased a Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70.

The scope that was on it was put on the gun at the time of its purchase when new. The gunsmith who did some work on the rifle for my friend, including replacing the scope, claims the old scope might have some value.

I told him I doubted it but freely acknowledged I'm far from an expert on older optics.

Its a Bausch & Lomb Balvar 5 2.5-5x model with a very unique and industrial stength mount the likes of which I've never seen before. Its surprisingly bright for its age and appears to be built like a tank.

Anyone know anything about it? Its sitting here next to me if anyone needs a photo for ID help.

Thanks for your time-

Brent

Brent these old Balvar's were good scopes. They had no internal adjustments and were very sturdy for their day. Some of them used a tapered crosshair, the forerunner to the duplex of today.

The mount your looking at is probably a Stith adustable mount and they do have some collector value. I believe I saw one at the last gun show I visited for around a hundred dollars. I can't give you a value on the scope, but There's not a lot of them rattling around anymore. They were made in a 2.5 or 3 to 8 also. Those were more common than the 2.5 to 5.

Brent these old Balvar's were good scopes. They had no internal adjustments and were very sturdy for their day. Some of them used a tapered crosshair, the forerunner to the duplex of today.

The mount your looking at is probably a Stith adustable mount and they do have some collector value. I believe I saw one at the last gun show I visited for around a hundred dollars. I can't give you a value on the scope, but There's not a lot of them rattling around anymore. They were made in a 2.5 or 3 to 8 also. Those were more common than the 2.5 to 5.


Might be the "cradel" mount balVar sold for their scopes...kind of a "v" bloc arrange emnt adjustble for windage and elevation...was a bit like a ping-pong game to get them sighted in.

BUT they were of the best optic quality for their time and wihtouth any adjustments, were about as sealed as you can make a scope.

Thanks a lot you two.

The mount clearly is the point of adjustment on the scope- like I said I wasn't familiar with the concept.

The next natural question is how does he go about selling it. Probably eBay and I'm guessing he should sell them together?

Thanks again-

Brent

Thanks a lot you two.

The mount clearly is the point of adjustment on the scope- like I said I wasn't familiar with the concept.

The next natural question is how does he go about selling it. Probably eBay and I'm guessing he should sell them together?

Thanks again-

Brent

think the bad news is:
1. The mount is specific to that rifle...it will fit others of that type.
2. few people care for old scopes...I'd say too few, but that seems to be thw eay of things. The old target scopes command a good price, as do a few select models, but as far as I know, the BalVar isn't one to command a real high price.


Consider...the people who would want that scope would mount it on a rifle like yours, trying to create what you have already: a rifle and scope that match their time frame and useage.