Vintage Kowa Spotting Scope...What Have I Got?

[offrdmania]

I picked up one of those Pachmayr boxes many moons ago but it didnt have the spotting scope with it since it was an option. Good to know what it may have originally came with.

 

[Krogen]

Took the Kowa to the range this morning. Very clear and bright both at 50 yards and 100 yards. Works as advertised. I did find that I do not like the angled eye piece. It is great if you are standing up, but when used in benchrest it is a pain. I have to stand up each and every shot to look in the scope. I found that very distracting.

Long ago I went to angled eyepieces and never looked back. (cough...., pun intended).

In my Bullseye box the eyepiece is pointed laterally, so I just turn my head left and look. It's at eye level from a standing position. Same approach works prone except I tilt the eyepiece up a bit. Look left and down. From the bench, I put the scope low on my left (not on the bench) and point the eyepiece upward. I just lean over and look down.

Some folks have trouble aligning an angled scope with the target. I can see that (oops did it again; puns are the lowest form of humor). A straight eyepiece aligns more naturally with what you want to look at. I've gotten used to doing it with angled ones, but some people struggle.

 

[AJ]

I don't struggle with the angled eye piece, just do not really care for it. If I had had one of them years ago I may be more amenable to the use of the angled eye piece. So this one will sit in my collection of spotting scopes (21 at last count).

 

[dogmaw]

Kowa didn't put model numbers on their scopes like my TS-9 from the 1980's. But they were great performers for the price, so I think you did real good for $150. Mine got blown over recently at the range and knocked the lenses loose. Haven't found a repair place and Kowa didn't have much for support after a Google search. Still kind of a quirky company I guess.

 

[growr]

All of my optics repair has been handled by Suddarth Optics Repair.
Corey is fabulous to work with and does premium work.

Randy

 

[Oldsalt66]

Picked up a vintage Kowa spotting scope. Just the name Kowa on it, no model numbers. It has a 25X eyepiece on it. It is clear and works as advertised. Any info will be appreciated. Price was $100 OTD. Value?

Kowa Prominar.

I'd place it's value at 50-75 dollars.

 

[BE Mike]

I'm not familiar with your spotting scope, but Kowa makes great optics. You'll see number of them at Camp Perry.

I sold a Unertl and a Leupold spotting scope after I bought this Kowa TSN-821 with a 20-60X eyepiece. I also have an early Kowa 4X rifle scope with fluoride lenses that's incredibly clear.

These are mostly gone...

Unertl

Leupold - I still have the Swarovski collapsible spotter...

I still have a Unertl that looks just like the one in your photo. It is very clear and gathers a lot of light, but is heavy. I've had it since the early 70's. I have a Kowa TS 501 mounted in my bullseye pistol case. It is 20X, very clear and lightweight.

 

[AJ]

Kowa Prominar.

I'd place it's value at 50-75 dollars.

When you find some at that price let me know.

 

[Yendor357]

$50-$75 for my Kowa?

You’d better put a zero behind those numbers.

Actually, I wouldn’t sell mine at any price. To me it’s invaluable.

 

[BE Mike]

Picked up a vintage Kowa spotting scope. Just the name Kowa on it, no model numbers. It has a 25X eyepiece on it. It is clear and works as advertised. Any info will be appreciated. Price was $100 OTD. Value?

You got a bargain. You'd never come close to getting glass these days for that price.