Anybody know what I've got?

[shooterjim]

I recently acquired a scope from my wife's uncle but can't find very much info about it. I'm hoping someone in this forum will have some answers for me . I've been told it's a WWII German sniper scope. It is marked P. Kohler Berlin 6X59. I believe it requires 27MM rings and I understand that Redfield at one time made them but not so any more. If anyone has any info on this scope, I would appreciate hearing it. Thanks in advance.........shooterjim

Information

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[jmoore]

I PM'd gunner. Let's see if he knows!

[Patrick Chadwick]

This type of scope was common for hunting rifles before WWII. My local dealer has one on the shelf right now. So please do not assume it is a sniper scope without documentary evidence. The mounting was probably a quick-release hook type mounting, and the horizontal adjustment was probably on the rear mounting. 26 mm is more likely than 27, but anything is possible. If you are able to find such a mounting for the specific tube diameter, you may be surprised by the price. And what a gunsmith will charge for fitting it.

Patrick

---------- Post added at 12:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 AM ----------

Check this link

Hermann Historica - Internationales Auktionshaus für Antiken, Alte Waffen, Orden und Ehrenzeichen, Historische Sammlungsstücke

as you can see, it could be interesting for a collector.

Patrick

[gunner]

P.Köhler is an maker for quality scopes. he made a 4x scope for the german police at the Third Reich and that one you have too. Yours is the 6x59 Pecar scope its rare and has an value of around $200-$250.
I´m not sure but i think that it was in use on some Police sniper rifles after WW". The one that was in use during WW2 was the 4x fro mKöhler. Good find! Hope this helps a bit and maybe others like AlandeEnfield knows more about the Pecar

[smellie]

A good friend of mine had a Pecar that he picked up at a gun show, said it had some of the finest opics he had ever seen.

I have shot with it and he was right: jut wonderfully clean and clear image, not what you would have thought at all for a 60-year-old scope. They really knew what they were doing.
.

[shooterjim]

Gentlemen, thank you all for your responses.

Patrick: the only info I had was as I stated from a local gunshop/store. I posted this question because I assumed, and rightly so, that the people in this forum were pretty knowledgeable about these things more so than those I asked at the shop. Believe me, your answer was very helpful and many thanks.

Gunner: Your comments and info are much appreciated. As Patrick stated, it will probably be pricey if I could find rings/mounts for the scope so I will probably just hold on to it.

Smellie:You're right in stating the optics are very, very good. German engineering and craftsmanship has always been great in my experience.

Again, thank you all for your input. Now I just have to decide what I'm going to do with it. BTW, I also have the leather lense covers with strap to go with it. I'm not leaving it on the scope though so the tannic acid in the leather won't harm the finish. Thanks again........

[Gibbs505]

Great gift there from the in-laws!!

[smellie]

A friend of mine really needed a set of 27.5mm rings and, of course, there aren't any in this part of the world. He got a set of 26mm rings, which are not hard to find, and reamed them out with a piece of good emery cloth wrapped around a 7/8 dowel at the beginning, fnished off wih a finer grae mery paper and a 1-inch dowel. Took him some time while he was watching television, but it worked.

Might be worth giving it a try. Too nice a scope not to use.
.

[bearhunter]

The paralax in those old girls, can leave a lot to be desired. Nice old scope and it would certainly dress up a rifle from the pre WWII period.

[Valleysniper]

Gunner is right P Kohler produced scopes that were used by SS Police/Heer police during WW11. The scopes used, the alloy ocular bells seem be marked P. Kohler Berlin 4x and P. Kohler Berlin Pecar 4x. It may be that the 4x only marked scopes were purchased direct for military and the Pecar 4x marked commercial ones procured by other means or confiscated. The scopes during WW11 have distinct range dial markings and some have rifle serial numbers engraved on tube, others not. I am collating further information on these scopes if anyone has one used during WW11 and is willing to pass on details/pictures.

The tube size of scope is 27 mm and a friend of mine has just removed a set of Redfield rings from an original military scope if shooterjim is interested.

Any serial number on your 6 x 59 scope shooterjim?