Third Party Press

Otto Bock WWI Sniper Scope

Absolut

Absolut

Senior Member
Recently ran into this Otto Bock scope with rings and couldn't pass it since it was so nice and untouched. So thought I would share it here too. Hard to take pictures of it with this high quality glossy blueing, despite of the 100+ years since it was made.

Anyone an idea which company was using the "S & H" initials at the rear scope ring? Front scope ring is unmarked.
 

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WW1 is outside my knowledge or real interest . I am curious is the bluing really Original its hard to tell from the Pics???. I do know from past conversations with Amberg/Wolfgang that the Otto Bock Scopes are pretty rare scopes and hard to come by looks like a great Example . As for the S&H marking I would ask or wait for Amberg to reply .
 
Yes it is the original blueing. I oil clothing wiped the scope prior to taking the pictures and not sure I used the 100% correct white balance with my camera (have 6000K light colour in the large light box and 5500K in the small one - not sure if I swapped over to the 5500K when taking these pics). I've sent Amberg the pics of the scope which I had seen when buying it, but wanted to share with you in here the better ones which I had taken personally.
 
Otto Bock never made scopes by himself, it was usual to sign scopes by the retailer, or the firm who mounted it. "S&H" could be the sign of Schmidt&Habermann in Suhl, but also it is possible that it is the sign of an unknown firm that was specialised in mounting parts.
 
Hello,

Very nice piece, I have found several examples where Otto Bock scopes also have Ajack marking present, Ajack might of been Otto's subcontractor. Just a thought since the very early Ajack 3x scope are IDENTICAL to the Otto scopes AND the stamp manufacturing markings are the same to the Ajack ones.

Later
Vaughn
 
I agree with you in that Otto Bock was famous for making rifles, not for making scopes. They surely were supplied scopes which later had their name on it. I however can‘t outrule that they once made scopes themselves. Wolfgang might know more.
 
Maybe we have different interpretations of what "make scope" means. I personally would not outrule they did the assembly of scopes bought on purchased items such as tubes, lenses, objectives, ocular housings, etc. since they anyway had to dissassemble them once they were mounted to rifles (soldering scope rings) and during this process engraved the scope tubes themselves. Therefore they still can be considered the "manufacturer", but based on assembly only.
 
The firms that builded scopes at this time did not sell construction kits. It was basic work for gunsmiths at this time to disassemble scopes, set them up and rebuild them.
Do you think gunsmiths bought steel tubes, mechanics, lenses to build scopes on theyre own? I have several paperwork from Gerard, Zeiss and other scope makers, in this papers
gunsmith ordering scopes with engraved firm name of their firms. That was usual, also on hunting rifles. I have never seen any ordering papers with parts, even repair was done in the factory.
 
Mikegermany said:
The firms that builded scopes at this time did not sell construction kits. It was basic work for gunsmiths at this time to disassemble scopes, set them up and rebuild them.
Do you think gunsmiths bought steel tubes, mechanics, lenses to build scopes on theyre own? I have several paperwork from Gerard, Zeiss and other scope makers, in this papers
gunsmith ordering scopes with engraved firm name of their firms. That was usual, also on hunting rifles. I have never seen any ordering papers with parts, even repair was done in the factory.
Click to expand...

Do you have any documents about the Bock company ordering scopes from another company?
What company do you think produced the Bock marked scopes?
Thanks
 
Amberg said:
Do you have any documents about the Bock company ordering scopes from another company?
Click to expand...

Yes, also from Bock ordering from different firms. In this papers Bock ordered only scopes, without engraving.
I cant give them online, because they belong to an archive and are not given free to share without permission.
 
Would you at least mind unveiling at which companies they ordered and with which dates? And did they order scopes only, or complete with scope rings?
 
Mikegermany said:
Yes, also from Bock ordering from different firms. In this papers Bock ordered only scopes, without engraving.
I cant give them online, because they belong to an archive and are not given free to share without permission.
Click to expand...

Why don't you simply enlighten us and tell us, what company the Otto Bock scopes produced?
 
I havent said that this papers give info on "who ""Bock scopes"" made".
Bock ordered from Zeiss, Voigtländer and Busch wellknown scope models, like other gunsmiths and firms did. This is hard to understand if you dont want to.
 
Then, please tell me, who made the "Otto Bock" marked military contract scopes, if not the "Otto Bock" company?
Mikegermany said:
Otto Bock never made scopes by himself, it was usual to sign scopes by the retailer, or the firm who mounted it.
Click to expand...

Mikegermany said:
After over 30 years of collecting pre 1945 civil german scopes and pre 1945 german made hunting rifles i can say this for sure.
Click to expand...

Hope you understand what I'm asking.
Here, we are not talking about one Zeiss or another Hensoldt made scope with Otto Bock engraving for hunting/sporting rifles. We are talking about the "Otto Bock" marked military contract scopes!
Thanks
 
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vaughn99 said:
Hello,

Very nice piece, I have found several examples where Otto Bock scopes also have Ajack marking present, Ajack might of been Otto's subcontractor. Just a thought since the very early Ajack 3x scope are IDENTICAL to the Otto scopes AND the stamp manufacturing markings are the same to the Ajack ones.

Later
Vaughn
Click to expand...

I think Ajack took over the "Otto Bock" production facilities. !?
 
Amberg said:
I think Ajack took over the "Otto Bock" production facilities. !?
Click to expand...

Spielauer had an Ajack scope pictured in his WWI section of the book which he described as identical to Otto Bock scopes, AFAIK. Not sure if Otto Bock back then made scopes for Ajack or opposite..
 
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