Vintage Ray Ban shooting glasses w/optical attachment

digi-shots · #1 07-07-2022, 07:28 PM

Is anyone familiar with vintage shooting glasses? I have no idea how old these are and hoped someone here might know.

There’s also an optical attachment that appears to be similar to some of the newer ones on the market.

Thanks for the comments!

.38SuperMan · #2 07-07-2022, 07:45 PM

About 25 years ago a local sporting goods store was closing out their shooting glasses. They had Bushnell shooting glasses for $3 a pair so I bought the last 4 pair they had. I believe Bushnell and Rayban were owned by Bausch and Lomb at the time. All are pretty much the same.

I’m not sure you can put an accurate date on these since the same design has been around since the 40’s. Also other companies have made the same design. My dad had a pair of Wilson from the 50’s.

2wheels · #3 07-07-2022, 08:34 PM

The attachment looks like a sun shield for the nose. Similar to glacier glasses for climbing. These are definitely shooting glasses, due to the nose pads being low, allowing the glasses to sit high as your head is dipped down a bit.

Protocall_Design · #4 07-07-2022, 08:44 PM

The attachment has different size holes (apertures) to look through at the sights to make the sight picture more clearly defined. Depending on the brightness level of the ambient light, one of the holes will work better than the others.

tndrfttom · #5 07-07-2022, 09:08 PM

I bought a pair just like them from Gil Hebard in the late 1970's. At that time they were around $40-50 (a lot to pay for 'sunglasses' back then). The attached scan is from the Gil Hebard Guns catalog No. 24 (about 1975 I believe). The wire loop earpieces were preferred over the paddle earpieces because they worked better under your ear muffs.
There were several versions of clip-on apertures available but I've never seen that one before.

digi-shots · #6 07-07-2022, 09:13 PM

Here’s info on a modern attachment

w18764560 · #7 07-07-2022, 10:12 PM

If they are Ray Ban the should have a BL somewhere on the frame, also possibly offset BL on the glass.
I have my Dads from early 60's, very high quality specs.
I would be interested in the eye piece if you ever go to sell it
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tndrfttom · #8 07-07-2022, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digi-shots

Here’s info on a modern attachment

Thanks for posting this.
The Merit Iris eyepieces have been around a long time but they disappeared for a while and people stopped using them when the suction cup got old and hard and replacements couldn't be found. Merit also made a popular rear sight aperture for target rifles.

diyj98 · #9 07-07-2022, 10:52 PM

Those were quality shooting glasses. I still have a pair of the yellow lens and green lens B&L shooting glasses.

LPD256 · #10 07-08-2022, 12:00 AM

I had a display of my Dad’s target shooting equipment at the 2022 Symposium in Concord, NC. Included were his glasses. I believe my Uncle in the Navy got them for my Dad. Two sets of lenses. Leather blinders riveted to the frame. Green metal case. From B&L as I recall. Only pair I’ve ever seen.

digi-shots · #11 07-08-2022, 06:53 AM

Thanks for posting a picture of your dad’s set-up. I wondered if they were for both rifles and handguns.

The glasses would look good displayed with a Target gun and ammo.

The glasses I first posted are Ray Ban, the lenses themselves are unmarked. I think Ray Ban/Bausch & Lomb started putting BL on the lenses in the late 1970’s. It’s almost invisible.. lightly engraved on the glass right next to the hinge. You have to hold it up to the light to see it.

I have two pair of these yellow lens shooting glasses..
- Ray Ban “Shooters” Model
- American Optical “Ful-Vue”

robvious · #12 07-08-2022, 09:23 AM

In th 1980's, when I got my Ray-Ban shooters.. the glasses were referred to as G15 Shooters.. lens were available in 2 different sizes... I don't believe they are cataloged anymore..
oops.. just checked.. they are cataloged.

elpac3 · #13 07-08-2022, 11:36 AM

B&L used to make their shooting glasses in yellow, for overcast days, green and later they came out with gray. Used to wear the grays for everyday wear and used them while on duty.

They eye piece was used by many bullseye shooters who had some vision issues (as I now do) so you focus through a pin hole to get a sharp front sight focus. I have a Merrit optical pinhole as well as one I made from a $5 jewler's loupe and the bottom of a plastic 35mm film can with a 1/16" hole drilled in it.

Works great.

tndrfttom · #14 07-08-2022, 02:12 PM

I used this setup for years. (I'm left eye dominant). A flip-up occluder covering the right lens and a 'Clearsight' on the left lens. The Clearsight was made by a local shooter using a jewelers loupe that came with 3 lenses; +0,50, +0.75 and +1.00 sph. You used the lens that gave you the sharpest appearing front sight. These were popular in the south Florida area and I believe they were sold from ads in the American Rifleman.

jjrr · #15 07-08-2022, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tndrfttom

I used this setup for years. (I'm left eye dominant). A flip-up occluder covering the right lens and a 'Clearsight' on the left lens. The Clearsight was made by a local shooter using a jewelers loupe that came with 3 lenses; +0,50, +0.75 and +1.00 sph. You used the lens that gave you the sharpest appearing front sight. These were popular in the south Florida area and I believe they were sold from ads in the American Rifleman.

I have the exact set up and they work very well, I don’t remember where i got them but they were readily available and I still have them.

CALREB · #16 07-09-2022, 12:37 AM

OH yes as a young cop in 1977, I wore the too cool "Electra Glide in Blue" Kalichrome shooters glasses. Hey at least they were not mirrored. Figured out later they really didnt work so good for sunglasses. Years later when I needed glasses for shooting I just went with Decot.

boykinlp · #17 07-09-2022, 03:30 AM

If I remember correctly, back in the mid 80's when I was shooting skeet at a local gun club, I had a pair of Ray Ban shooting glasses that had pink lenses.

I think they made whatever color clay pigeons we were shooting stand out much better. I probably still have them somewhere around here.
Larry

Ruger 1,3 · #18 07-09-2022, 06:27 AM

My dad had a pair like that sans the optical device back in the 60’s!

Narragansett · #19 07-09-2022, 06:30 AM

My guess is that the little device where placed is an aid for a right hand, left eye dominant shooter. This forces the non dominant eye to become more dominant.

The frames are probably gold filled, and not plated

loc n load · #20 07-09-2022, 09:16 AM

Here are two pair of my shooting glasses that I have owned and worn on the range for 40 plus years. These are the “ambermatic”
lens that will turn to a dark bronze in direct sunlight.
The pair with the wrap around shafts are dedicated shooting glasses and sit higher up on your face to clear rifle or shotgun stocks.
As you can see one has the brand etching on the lens and one does not.
I would say your glasses are certainly in the same age range as mine, plus or minus.
The “bullseye” attachment that went over the lens was a popular shooting aid for those of us in bullseye competition. That mount could have been used for a “blackout” lens or an aperture attachment. I have seen rifle & pistol shooters use them along with an eye patch over the non shooting eye and side screens over the shafts to block out peripheral distractions.
I am also a pilot and have a couple pair of the dark green lens glasses that I bought in the late 60’s.

Narragansett · #21 07-09-2022, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loc n load

Here are two pair of my shooting glasses that I have owned and worn on the range for 40 plus years. These are the “ambermatic”
lens that will turn to a dark bronze in direct sunlight.
The pair with the wrap around shafts are dedicated shooting glasses and sit higher up on your face to clear rifle or shotgun stocks.
As you can see one has the brand etching on the lens and one does not.
I would say your glasses are certainly in the same age range as mine, plus or minus.
The “bullseye” attachment that went over the lens was a popular shooting aid for those of us in bullseye competition. That mount could have been used for a “blackout” lens or an aperture attachment. I have seen rifle & pistol shooters use them along with an eye patch over the non shooting eye and side screens over the shafts to block out peripheral distractions.
I am also a pilot and have a couple pair of the dark green lens glasses that I bought in the late 60’s.

I have a pair of Aviators that I bought in 1969, while working on the water

digi-shots · #22 07-09-2022, 02:30 PM

Loc n Load, great looking glasses, thanks for posting! I had never heard of “ambermatic” before.

In addition to the white Ray Ban logo on the right lens, are there any other letters or etchings on the glass? My yellow ones are unmarked but the green ones have a BL etched on each lens (right next to where the hinge attaches). It’s hard to see unless the lighting is right.

PALADIN85020 · #23 07-09-2022, 02:39 PM

I had a pair of those yellow Ray Ban shooting glasses in the early and middle 60s when I was actively shooting Bullseye. As I recall, they were designed to sit higher up on the nose. The attachable aperture gimmicks actually worked to make both the target and the sights sharper.

John

LPD256 · #24 07-09-2022, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digi-shots

Thanks for posting a picture of your dad’s set-up. I wondered if they were for both rifles and handguns.

The glasses would look good displayed with a Target gun and ammo.

The glasses I first posted are Ray Ban, the lenses themselves are unmarked. I think Ray Ban/Bausch & Lomb started putting BL on the lenses in the late 1970’s. It’s almost invisible.. lightly engraved on the glass right next to the hinge. You have to hold it up to the light to see it.

I have two pair of these yellow lens shooting glasses..
- Ray Ban “Shooters” Model
- American Optical “Ful-Vue”

Just saw this which prompted me to do some close-ups. The shades are 1974 vintage when I rode a Police Motorcycle. My Dads shooting glasses have leather blinders riveted to the frame. I’ve never seen another pair. B&L logo on the metal case. Two sets of lenses. Enjoy.

digi-shots · #25 07-09-2022, 06:50 PM

LPD256.. those riveted leather gliders are really nice!

The green Ray Bans look like one of mine, but yours has the wrap around ear pieces.

rvolvr · #26 07-10-2022, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tndrfttom

The Merit Iris eyepieces have been around a long time but they disappeared for a while and people stopped using them when the suction cup got old and hard and replacements couldn't be found. Merit also made a popular rear sight aperture for target rifles.

I'm still using a Merit adjustable iris I purchased in the early 80s. Yes, long ago the rubber suction cup stiffened up and would not stay attached to the lens using the recommended soapy water. For at least the past 25 years, I've used a light smear of 90 weight gear oil instead. That lasts for months at a time before the cup pops free. Too much oil can get a bit messy around the edges. There's a learning curve.

Merit still makes the thread-in rear apertures for target sights - Redfield, Lyman, etc. There was an ad in a recent gun mag. I haven't contacted them yet, but most likely they sell replacement suction cups. But then I wouldn't smell the gear oil anymore. Nostalgia!

VIA for AR-15/A2

loc n load · #27 07-10-2022, 01:27 PM

Yes, the pair that has the etching also has a tiny B with an L overlaid on a portion of the B. On the left lens (in photo) at 9 o’clock and the right lens at 3 o’clock. And you are correct, they are tiny and almost invisible.
It was raining yesterday, so I could not show you what the darkened lens looks like.
Got plenty of sun today, you can see the difference. I am a big fan of the B/L aviator style glasses.

gmborkovic · #28 07-11-2022, 04:17 PM

Back in the 60s I bought and sold at the shop Bud Decot shooting glasses.
Bud use to work all the skeet and trap shoots. Selling his Hy-Wide glasses.
He was a character. He use to say when it comes to shooting, one bird was the difference between a chimp, a champ or a chump.

Nevada Ed · #29 07-13-2022, 07:35 PM

All my shooting glasses had the wire ear loop, so they would stay in place
and it also kept them from falling into the lake when I went out fishing in my boat
and had to lean over to net or get a fish or mess with a down rigger.

I lost a good pair of "Regular frame" glasses on a early fishing trip and learned my lesson, the hard way.

Here in Nevada we also use rose or purple lenses, due to the background and lighting, that we have.

Those are great glasses, even if you don't shoot !!
You might also try them after the sun goes down and see if they help out
while driving. (yellow )

Enjoy

digi-shots · #30 07-14-2022, 09:46 AM

Thanks for all the good info. I don't shoot that much but I do like vintage guns and accessories.

I was going to part with the yellow ones but will keep at least the Ray Ban to go with the green lens Ray Bans. The yellow "American Optical" are really big.

The Ray Ban green "aviators" kinda "fell off the truck" so I don't have any money into them (long story)... and are in excellent shape.

digi-shots · #31 07-14-2022, 11:29 AM

As a follow up to my last post…. the glasses didn’t actually fall off a “truck” but were lost and never claimed. They did belong to a F-14 pilot.