Scope serial #'s

[mike radford]

Is it know if the M-8 marked scopes were used before the end of the war or were they produced too late? One of my A-4's has a minty M-8 but I hate the reticle. Thanks.

[JGaynor]

Is it know if the M-8 marked scopes were used before the end of the war or were they produced too late? One of my A-4's has a minty M-8 but I hate the reticle. Thanks.

As far as I know the only thing in print on the genesis of the "330 Scope - M.8" consists of a reference in Senich where he cites a letter from Weaver and a statement In Campbell's 2003 book where he states the earliest A4's were equipped with "commercial scopes either 330C's having Crosswire reticles or 330 Scope -M.8's having tapered post reticles". I have heard that Bruce Canfield also referenced the 330 Scope - M.8 but that he in turn cited the Senich/Weaver letter.

Other than that not a lot is known about the M.8 - why it exists and what makes it (or them) different from regular 330C's?

If I had a nice one I wouldn't change the reticle pattern as there is IMO good reason to believe at least some found there way on to early A4's equiped with tapered posts.

Regards,

Jim

[Jim Tarleton]

Or even regular crosshairs.

I can find no evidence that Weaver ever advertised the M8 for sale commercially. Weaver was known for their extensive advertising, particularly of new models. Just take a tour of the old AR's and AofM and you will find ads for every commercial scope ever offered by Weaver, but not the M8.

I suggest that the "M" in M8 just might stand for "Military", and all the M8's were made for military use. Please understand that I have no knowledge that anyone else doesn't have, it is just a SWAG based on the fact Weaver never advertised a new model that they obviously made in substantial quantity. I also find it curious that Weaver Co. never laid this dog to rest.

Jim

[mike radford]

Thanks Jim and Jim. Yea, Canfield pictures an M-8 and talks about it briefly in his Jan. 2002 article in the Am. Rifleman. He mentions the tapered post reticle and that limited amounts of these scopes were procured for the A4. I was just unsure if we even know if they were used on early, mid or late in A4 production or merely field replacements.