Dismantling a ZF39 Zeiss to fit into closed scope rings

[69th_Venom]

Hi guys.

I'm making a poor mans sniper by adding some BNZ single claw mounts to my 41 BNZ k98. It's deact and just for display purposes. The dates are probably a little off (not sure) but for a bit more accuracy I thought I'd go for BNZ mounts.

The mounts are on their way being shipped from the US. Now the problem I'm forecasting is actually fitting the scope to the mounts. The rings are just one piece with a single gap at the top with a couple of tightening screws. So basically I have two options.

1) dismantle the scope, removing one end and elevation adjustments so I can slide the scope tube through the rings.

2) cut off the top half of the mount rings so I can drop the scope in without dismantling it, then fixing it with some adhesive or solder. But then again I might have to dismantle the scope to solder so the internals don't get damaged by the heat.

How easy are ZF39 Zeiss to dismantle? Is it a job for an expert or can an amateur tinkerer happily do it?

 

[Dave Roberts]

Ease of dismantling depends on Scope being used , do not cut the rings . Also no need to solder the Scope Tube to these Rings . They were made to just be tightened down . Any Pics of Scope Your using would be helpful . Best Regards

 

[69th_Venom]

Hi Dave,

I haven't bought it yet, but will hopefully get my mitts on this ZF39 4X Zeiss Zeileiver



And here's the mounts...



as you can see the scope won't just drop into them like modern mounts. I saw an original BNZ sniper (with the same mounts) where the rings had been halved and the scope soldered in... But others where they'd obviously dismantled the scope, such as:



Incidentally I've just noticed (when doing a google image search) that the German sniper in the the movie "Enemy At The Gates" is using a rifle with BNZ single claw mounts.

Any advice would be very gratefully received.

 

[Raupleminze]

Beware of that seller.

 

[69th_Venom]

Beware of that seller.

Which one? I just grabbed the image of the mounts from google and I didn't wake up in time to get that particular scope, to be honest I'm sort of glad, it looked a little too new.

My mounts came from Accumount in the US (Troy, Michigan), I heard all good things about them online.

I'm now looking at these two scopes...


ZF39 ZEISS ZIELVIER

or...


DIALYTAN 4X Schneider Kreuzn

Not really sure which would be more accurate to the period on a 1941 BNZ. Any recommendations on scopes to fit the rifle date / factory would be great.

 

[Raupleminze]

Which one? I just grabbed the image of the mounts from google and I didn't wake up in time to get that particular scope, to be honest I'm sort of glad, it looked a little too new.

My mounts came from Accumount in the US (Troy, Michigan), I heard all good things about them online.

I'm now looking at these two scopes...

View attachment 111734
ZF39 ZEISS ZIELVIER

or...

View attachment 111735
DIALYTAN 4X Schneider Kreuzn

Not really sure which would be more accurate to the period on a 1941 BNZ. Any recommendations on scopes to fit the rifle date / factory would be great.

I was referring to the seller of the scope you originally posted. Others along with myself have been burned by him. He is known for misrepresenting items.

 

[69th_Venom]

I was referring to the seller of the scope you originally posted. Others along with myself have been burned by him. He is known for misrepresenting items.

That's very interesting. I was worried the scope was a repro with a little wire wool work to age it a little, so I'm glad I didn't go ahead with that purchase as he was asking $550 for that particular one! Phew!

 

[Dave Roberts]

You should be able to find a Zeiss Zielvier fairly easily they show up on Ebay frequently wait for one without any rings . If You want I can see if I have a Zeiss Zielvier Scope , I would be willing to part with . Let me know .

 

[Southwest]

First, I am not a scope expert by any stretch of the imagination! But have worked on several of my zf39 scopes.

This is my system for disassembling a zf39 scope:

Rear bell should just unscrew from the tube.

First turn the elevation knob clockwise until it stops. Then carefully remove the four screws
that hold the unit to the scope tube. When it is free, turn the elevation knob counter clockwise and the
unit should "lift" itself off the tube. You may have to do some minor wiggling to get it out.

Below in pic#1 is what you will have.

Pick #2 shows the scope internals. The small clip like protrusion on the left side is attached to the reticle frame
that is raised and lowered when turning the knob.

The round disc on pic#3 has a slot cut in it where the tab fits. The disc has a channel that is cut on the side, in a spiral, that the tab moves in.
The pin fits in the spiral slot on the face of the disc and rotates the drum in the scope for focus.

The opening for the reticle tab and channel for the pin have to be aligned for assembly as in pic #3. It was best for me not to
move the dials after removing and only doing minimal movement to align for replacement.

Now that I have confused everyone and "butchered" the actual part names, I will stop!

I would go for the zf39 because they were originally used on SC rifles. Mine is in the final pic below.

Regards, Al

 

[69th_Venom]

Ah ha!

Thanks for the help guys, That doesn't seem too hard of a job Southwest.

@Dave Roberts YES PLEASE. If you could dig something out and post some photos with a price that'd be great. I had mentioned in another thread that I might opt for a Dialytan 4x if given the chance. Do you have one of those? If not I'd still be very interested in a Zeiss, thank you.

 

[mountainman]

Two questions on taking one of these zf39s apart

I have a repro one of these and have never taken a scope apart. The locking screw base for the elevation knob is loose on this. ( the small square metal block with the pointer painted on it through which the locking screw passes. I can't quite see how its held onto the curved base plate in the photos. Is it held in place with a screw or stacked in or? I would like to get an idea before I take the thing apart if its fixable even.

Secondly, once taken apart what do you do to reassemble as far as atmosphere is concerned to prevent fogging? A squirt of nitrogen or argon through the hole or just call it good with air?

 

[agalland]

My mounts came from Accumount in the US (Troy, Michigan), I heard all good things about them online.

Yah...well dont beleive everything you read....I own some of their LSR stuff.....not too proud of it ,but then again pickins are limited...so you take what you can get.

Since you are just building a wall hanger I am sure you will be fine...if you were going to put the gun through its paces and have to deal with wear and tear plus precision machining...that would be a different thing.

Lets face it ..for the most part it is either them ,or chinese crap.
Good luck with your project.

 

[1 KP GD]

First, I am not a scope expert by any stretch of the imagination! But have worked on several of my zf39 scopes.

This is my system for disassembling a zf39 scope:

Rear bell should just unscrew from the tube.

First turn the elevation knob clockwise until it stops. Then carefully remove the four screws
that hold the unit to the scope tube. When it is free, turn the elevation knob counter clockwise and the
unit should "lift" itself off the tube. You may have to do some minor wiggling to get it out.

Below in pic#1 is what you will have.

Pick #2 shows the scope internals. The small clip like protrusion on the left side is attached to the reticle frame
that is raised and lowered when turning the knob.

The round disc on pic#3 has a slot cut in it where the tab fits. The disc has a channel that is cut on the side, in a spiral, that the tab moves in.
The pin fits in the spiral slot on the face of the disc and rotates the drum in the scope for focus.

The opening for the reticle tab and channel for the pin have to be aligned for assembly as in pic #3. It was best for me not to
move the dials after removing and only doing minimal movement to align for replacement.

Now that I have confused everyone and "butchered" the actual part names, I will stop!

I would go for the zf39 because they were originally used on SC rifles. Mine is in the final pic below.

Regards, Al

I just disassembled a Zielvier to replace the small elevation locking screw on the top, and a half crescent piece with 4 small screw slots came out when I was shaking the top assembly off. I have no idea where it is supposed to go and was wondering if you do, as well as have photos of its location, or approximate location? I tried attaching photos of the part specifically, but they were unable to be attached.