Any Bullseye Shooters Here? Estate Sale Find

[Dashriprock]

I was at an estate sale Friday. The person who’d lived in the home was clearly a serious shooter. There were two eight-foot tables laden with all sorts of equipment. Shotgun, reloading, casting, this guy was a shooter.

I picked up 1970’s era RCBS Rockchucker press, some Redding dies, a very clean wooden Remington shotgun shell shipping crate, a vintage clay thrower, some S&W SATs, a Winchester mirror – you get the idea. The place was loaded with nice finds. Had I been the only one there I would have bought everything I could get my hands on. Missed out on two vintage framed bullet displays, but so it goes.

Anyway, I also got this here Pachmayr shooting box. It is designed to hold three guns, and I suspect it is from the iron sights era as it is not tall enough to accommodate modern red dot sights. The scope is a J. Unertl 20x54. I pulled it out and there is no mounting area or threads for a tripod, so I suspect it would have been designed for this application.

This thing is super clean. It’s like it was never used. The feet on the case have no wear from being slid around on a floor or bench.

If anyone on here can shed some light on what I have here, it would be much appreciated. I’ve searched some completed auctions at the usual sites, but I have made no exact matches. Trying to determine date/era and rough value.

Thanks in advance, o wise folks of the forum.

 

[4barrel]

I have a super deluxe that holds 4 and weighs 17 pounds in that condition I bought in the 70s. I gave $100 for it used and never used it. Mine has a scope mount and a timer for slow and rapid fire and a rear compartment for ammo.

 

[Dashriprock]

Thank you!

 

[tndrfttom]

I've got a similar 4-gun Pachmayr box but it has a back compartment and door. I think it was called a "Deluxe". I got it used in the late 1970s for $75. If you can find someone who has some old Gil Hebard shooting equipment catalogs you can probably run down the correct model name for your box. The prize in that set-up you got is the Unertl spotting scope! Nice!

 

[glenwolde]

I too had the four gun model but it was the same construction material as yours. I bought it used in the early 80's and I gave $100 for it. I think you're looking at a 70's vintage box. The way the scope is mounted is not "proper". There's a scope mount that's missing. The mount allowed more height adjustment. I would think you could get $200 for it maybe more, but the stickers might be an issue for the buyer. That's for the box only, no scope. Not sure what that scope is worth.

The scope mount looks like this:

Added: The metal U-shaped thing inside your box @right can be slipped over the bolt and secured by the hand tightened clamp nut (for storage). When removed it can be clipped over the hinge with the door open to keep the wind from blowing the door closed.

 

[rockquarry]

Some will claim old technology, and that may be true, but everything made by Unertl was very high quality and state-of-the-art when made. Probably few of today's younger shooters have ever heard of Unertl. I don't know about their spotting scopes, but their riflescopes were made in Pennsylvania. I've used Unertl scopes for many years and continue to use them today. I'll bet that's a good spotting scope you have and for pistol shooting will likely work at least as well as anything else.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

On your spotting scope; If you wish to use it on a stand for rifle shooting, many shooting supplies carry the stands. The type of mounts are either a 1/4" threaded stud or a "Saddle" mount with the coated strap clamp. (I use a saddle mount, on a scope that had the 1/4" stud adapter broken off!)

On the pistol shelf, you can lower the "drawer" by putting a wooden strip on each end of the box right below the new drawer position. (I see it all the time!)

That scope would cost you $300-500 to replace with new Chinese glass and a hundred more for new Japanese glass!

Ivan

 

[Old_Cop]

I have the same three gun box, bought new around 1980. Since it travelled in several commercial cargo holds, it's not as unblemished!

 

[glenwolde]

Some will claim old technology, and that may be true, but everything made by Unertl was very high quality and state-of-the-art when made. Probably few of today's younger shooters have ever heard of Unertl. I don't know about their spotting scopes, but their riflescopes were made in Pennsylvania. I've used Unertl scopes for many years and continue to use them today. I'll bet that's a good spotting scope you have and for pistol shooting will likely work at least as well as anything else.

I had the feeling that the scope might be worth more than the box. But not my area of expertise.

 

[s&wchad]

Great find!
Ivan is correct, those scopes used a saddle mount that had two gear clamps inside of clear plastic tubing. Freeland made excellent stands and mounts that were very popular back in the day.

I sold that same scope with a stand earlier this year for about $500. I don’t know what you paid, but that scope is a quality piece of gear!

 

[H Richard]

I still have my Gun-Ho box, a 4 gun that loaded is very heavy. I put a 20X Bushnell spotting scope in it on a Gil Hibbard scope mount. The only place you will see any of these any more is at a dedicated Bullseye match, such as Camp Perry.

 

[Bob L]

They are a great well constructed shooting box. I also have the Deluxe model with the small back door. As it has already been pointed out, a lot of these were modified by lowering the drawer slides down enough to accept the scope pistols. Later ones came that way. Pack it up with 3 guns, 300+ rounds of ammu, 22 87 and 45 along with all of the accessories, it was a heavy box but it kept everything in one place. When I use mine, i put everything into it except for the ammo and that I carry in a seperate bag to even out the load. There was someone here looking for one just a couple of weeks ago. They are a nice shooting box. Evwr thought about taking up Bullseye shooting?

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Man O man , you brought back some memories ! My dad was stationed at Lowry AFB at the end of his career , 1968-71 . I was in the Boy Scouts at the time . The NRA came in and taught us gun safety and safe shooting practices . Where was it at ? Look at the bottom patch ..... Cherry Creek Gun Club . That was the place !

 

[Dashriprock]

Thanks very much, gents!

I've got a buddy and fellow club member who shoots Bullseye comps and is keen on the box. I believe I will keep the scope and use it at the range. Now, off to find a saddle clamp and stand.

Since it came up, while I'm still a bit agog over this whole affair: everything was priced as if the estate sale company couldn't have cared less about accurate appraisal: This whole setup was just $16. I was afraid they'd tell me a zero was missing when I got to the payment table. Guys were grabbing Dewey cleaning rods for $4 each and the MEC shotshell reloaders -- three of 'em -were $35 each. Soooo much good stuff. It were a ponderous, pinch-me-if-it's-real sort of event. Keep your eyes open for estate sales is my advice.

Cherrypointmarine: The Cherry Creek Club is still going today.

Thanks again all!

 

[Dashriprock]

I too had the four gun model but it was the same construction material as yours. I bought it used in the early 80's and I gave $100 for it. I think you're looking at a 70's vintage box. The way the scope is mounted is not "proper". There's a scope mount that's missing. The mount allowed more height adjustment. I would think you could get $200 for it maybe more, but the stickers might be an issue for the buyer. That's for the box only, no scope. Not sure what that scope is worth.

The scope mount looks like this:

Added: The metal U-shaped thing inside your box @right can be slipped over the bolt and secured by the hand tightened clamp nut (for storage). When removed it can be clipped over the hinge with the door open to keep the wind from blowing the door closed.

Yeah, my buddy showed me how the u-shaped thing works. Cool. This mount looks like it was designed this way. It matches the screw mount for the lock plate. The hose clamp thing kinda threw me off, seems homemade. But there are little support fixtures in it that match the curve of the scope body perfectly.

 

[Golddollar]

Anyway, I also got this here Pachmayr shooting box. It is designed to hold three guns, and I suspect it is from the iron sights era as it is not tall enough to accommodate modern red dot sights. The scope is a J. Unertl 20x54. I pulled it out and there is no mounting area or threads for a tripod, so I suspect it would have been designed for this application.

This thing is super clean. It’s like it was never used. The feet on the case have no wear from being slid around on a floor or bench.

If anyone on here can shed some light on what I have here, it would be much appreciated. I’ve searched some completed auctions at the usual sites, but I have made no exact matches. Trying to determine date/era and rough value.

Thanks in advance, o wise folks of the forum.

I have a pistol box that I acquired most likely from Gil Hebard Guns probably around 30 years ago that holds 5 handguns. I have two target pistols with small Bushnell optical sights that will fit in the box when the drawer is between the rails. The box probably has the lifespan and durability of a Griswold skillet, but it sure seems to have gotten heavier over the years.

 

[Golddollar]

Thanks very much, gents!

Since it came up, while I'm still a bit agog over this whole affair: everything was priced as if the estate sale company couldn't have cared less about accurate appraisal: This whole setup was just $16. I was afraid they'd tell me a zero was missing when I got to the payment table. Guys were grabbing Dewey cleaning rods for $4 each and the MEC shotshell reloaders -- three of 'em -were $35 each. Soooo much good stuff. It were a ponderous, pinch-me-if-it's-real sort of event. Keep your eyes open for estate sales is my advice.

You got a fantastic deal. I bought a couple of shooting boxes for my brother at the local auction house and they sure didn't go for $16. Our local auction house is known for having firearms auctions so they know how to market things like this.

 

[Engineer1911]

Ebay is your friend. That box as it sits without the scope is $200 to $300 depending on the buyer. Those type of boxes are not made any more and ones in excellent condition are hard to find. Your Unertl spotting scope is $350 to $500 as it sits. Excellent condition and not made any more.

I'm guessing your box dates from the early-1980's. I bought my box about 1995 and it has the plastic tray, is a little taller for optic sights, and has the same bottom space for ammo and stuff. My wife has a similar box that I bought new for her in 2006 for $200 (??), but hers has a second door on the other side.

Your spotting scope adjusts for elevation by twisting the mount up or down. Windage is twist the entire box right or left on the bench. I would nominate you for the "Bargain of the Month" to get that box for $16.

 

[chief38]

I inherited a Pachmeyer Shooting box from my Dad but use it as a storage unit for extra cleaning supplies only. I simply find the damned thing way to heavy and bulky to drag to the Range on any regular basis. Not only that - but it SCREAMS "gun inside" and these days that's the last thing we need. A common unobtrusive "gym bag made of canvas or similar serves as my Range bag and it is ultra light weight too. I made sure not to get a camo version and did not attach any patches or stickers to draw attention.

 

[s&wchad]

Thanks very much, gents!

I believe I will keep the scope and use it at the range. Now, off to find a saddle clamp and stand.

You might want to consider selling the Unertl and buying a newer scope. Vintage stands aren't cheap and they're nowhere near as stable as a tripod. The money you'd get for the scope would probably set you up with a nice used Kowa and a Bogen tripod.

This is a typical scope stand and saddle mount for bench shooting. The one I sold with my Unertl was a Davidson, which was the predecessor to Freeland.

I would have kept the Unertl, but I picked up a used Kowa TSN-821 and compared them. I also sold a Leupold 20-60x80 Gold Ring that I had. No contest; the Kowa has better resolution and is noticeably brighter.