I purchased a box of scopes from the estate of a big hunter. Most were Redfield, but in a Weaver box was a Kollmorgen Bear Cub 2 3/4X Scope. I’m not a scope guy at all, so after research, I’m still in the dark. A few sights describe Kollmorgen Scopes as late 1950’s vintage, highly desirable and quality ahead of their time. Looking on eBay to get some sort of value, they seem to go from $35-$500. Any help would be appreciated. It appears to be a very clear and quality made scope but I haven’t hunted in 30 years so I’m totally out of touch with scopes.
Any knowledge of Kollmorgen Scopes out there?
- Thread starter Eddietruett
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Knollmorgen Optical Corp. made excellent products and supplied periscopes for the Navy. They were also involved in the Norden bomb sight. The wanted to keep their skilled workforce after WWII, so they entered the rifle scope business. These Bear Cubs have 26mm main tubes, so don’t try to put them in 1” rings (25.4mm) or you’ll damage the tube. 26mm rings are a bit difficult to find, but they are out there. The optics on these scopes are excellent and mine are still clear and bright after 60 years or more. I think the lenses are better than the later Redfield’s, which had an issue with the adhesive that held the lens halves together drying out and clouding.
Redfield bought out Kollmorgen, which explains the striking resemblance. I currently have 3 variations of Bear Cub scopes. I may have another mounted on a gun, but I’d have to look.
The top is a 2-3/4X marked Kollmorgen.
The middle one is a 4X “Double” marked Kollmorgen - Stith Mounts.
The bottom is an early Redfield 4X Bear Cub.
The value depends on the condition. A really nice Bear Cub can bring $200-$300 to someone who knows what they’re looking at. Kollmorgen also produced a 4X with larger click knobs for windage and elevation that was used on the M1C sniper rifles. These are quite scarce and can bring thousands of dollars.
Redfield bought out Kollmorgen, which explains the striking resemblance. I currently have 3 variations of Bear Cub scopes. I may have another mounted on a gun, but I’d have to look.
The top is a 2-3/4X marked Kollmorgen.
The middle one is a 4X “Double” marked Kollmorgen - Stith Mounts.
The bottom is an early Redfield 4X Bear Cub.
The value depends on the condition. A really nice Bear Cub can bring $200-$300 to someone who knows what they’re looking at. Kollmorgen also produced a 4X with larger click knobs for windage and elevation that was used on the M1C sniper rifles. These are quite scarce and can bring thousands of dollars.
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OP
I can but the identical scope was posted in post #3. The top one
What type of reticle does your scope have? I have a Bear Cub in 2 3/4X and it is post and crosshair
I like mine and it is on a contender rifle barrel. Makes for a nice compact package with excellent glass
Kelly
I like mine and it is on a contender rifle barrel. Makes for a nice compact package with excellent glass
Kelly
OP
Standard crosshair. Has one tiny spot on a lens but is on the outer edge and would not affect the performance one bit.
Eddie Southgate
Member
You can buy spacers to go in 1" rings or find some 26mm rings . I use the spacers. You can find them on Amazon. As far as price I buy them at $125-$200 but I have never given more. They are great scopes but for more than that I can buy a new scope that will be brighter and easier to have repaired if I ever have an issue. I use them mostly on pre 1960 rifles.
If the spot on the outer edge turns out to be the start of a separation it will get bigger over time and eventually be a big problem. I have an Alaskan that started as a small grayish black smudge on the edge and now covers half of the lens. Hopefully yours is just a piece of trash and will not change.
If the spot on the outer edge turns out to be the start of a separation it will get bigger over time and eventually be a big problem. I have an Alaskan that started as a small grayish black smudge on the edge and now covers half of the lens. Hopefully yours is just a piece of trash and will not change.
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My dad bought the Bear Cub 2 3/4x in the late 50s and had it mounted on a Remington 740.
I used the rifle for hunting back then and for several years. It always worked well. I still have the rifle with the scope. The reticle is a post with 2 circles above the post. Very unusual reticle.
I used the rifle for hunting back then and for several years. It always worked well. I still have the rifle with the scope. The reticle is a post with 2 circles above the post. Very unusual reticle.
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DWalt
Member
The old editions of Gun Digest have lots of information about them in the catalog sections.
I bought a 3-digit serial # Sako L-57 .243 with a Kollmorgen 4X Bear Cub with what appear to be Buhler style mounts. I am pretty sure that the rig would date to 1957.
The scope is in great shape and I would never think of changing it. The crosshair reticle is very thick - at least 2 MOA. I didn't have a chance to work up a reload, so I just shot some Rem corelocks. At 100 yards the group was under 1" and was smaller than the crosshairs.
It is a handy lightweight rifle, so I made it my go-to deer rifle. I worked great - the zero has never changed. I have loaned it to a couple of first-time youth hunters who took their first deer with it.
The scope is in great shape and I would never think of changing it. The crosshair reticle is very thick - at least 2 MOA. I didn't have a chance to work up a reload, so I just shot some Rem corelocks. At 100 yards the group was under 1" and was smaller than the crosshairs.
It is a handy lightweight rifle, so I made it my go-to deer rifle. I worked great - the zero has never changed. I have loaned it to a couple of first-time youth hunters who took their first deer with it.
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