Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

[usmcchet9296]

A few years ago I got a M15 tripod for a great price and a few weeks ago I got a M49 spotting scope on GB for a reasonable price. Well the tripod was in good shape but the scope was fugly so I decided to strip them both and refinish them. Since I plan to keep this scope forever I didnt care removing the paint would ruin the price. Anyway here it is

IMG_0111 by usmcchet92_96, on Flickr

IMG_0109 by usmcchet92_96, on Flickr

IMG_0110 by usmcchet92_96, on Flickr

IMG_0112 by usmcchet92_96, on Flickr

IMG_0113 by usmcchet92_96, on Flickr
takes me back.
Even though 20X is really too little for long distance anymore and scopes made today are better in everyway this scope is made to last.

 

[Northland]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Very nice! I think you should put a boot band on it somewhere, because for some reason Marines have boot bands on EVERYTHING! haha Looking good, Semper Fi.

 

[usmcchet9296]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Northland</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice! I think you should put a boot band on it somewhere, because for some reason Marines have boot bands on EVERYTHING! haha Looking good, Semper Fi. </div></div>
Bootbands and ductape were Marines best friend. Oh and motrin LOL

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Very nice! Seeing that brings back memories...

 

[B3dlam]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCCHET9296</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Northland</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice! I think you should put a boot band on it somewhere, because for some reason Marines have boot bands on EVERYTHING! haha Looking good, Semper Fi. </div></div>
Bootbands and ductape were Marines best friend. Oh and motrin LOL</div></div>

HAHA Legs broke have some motrin, You got herpes and syphilis..have some motrin gotta love military docs.

 

[Northland]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Mortin and water go together like bootbands and duct tape!

 

[Chiller]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Nice piece of history

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

I've used one of those for years.

At a recent school, my partner and I cleaned up on the 'observation' exercise with it, finding all the hidden items very quickly.

You can buy some seriously nice spotting scopes these days for big bucks... and some really nice ones for lower dollars.

But these were the finest optics your grandfather's tax dollars could buy when they were new. They are a no-excuses piece of gear even today.

I recommend them all the time for people asking about 'budget' spotting scopes.

Nice job on the restoration and thanks for sharing! You just inspired me to go and clean mine up. Externally, it's pretty grotty at this point... yours is just beautiful.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Chiller]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've used one of those for years.

At a recent school, my partner and I cleaned up on the 'observation' exercise with it, finding all the hidden items very quickly.

You can buy some seriously nice spotting scopes these days for big bucks... and some really nice ones for lower dollars.

But these were the finest optics your grandfather's tax dollars could buy when they were new. They are a no-excuses piece of gear even today.

I recommend them all the time for people asking about 'budget' spotting scopes.

Nice job on the restoration and thanks for sharing! You just inspired me to go and clean mine up. Externally, it's pretty grotty at this point... yours is just beautiful.

Cheers,

Sirhr </div></div>

Next is where can they be found in reasonable shape?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Next is where can they be found in reasonable shape?</div></div>

Up until a couple of years ago, they were going begging on eBay. Now, they make about $200 - $300 or more. AM180 on Gunbroker asking $775 for one, but he always asks a lot and hopes for the best. And his unit is mint. But that's still way above market.

They are pretty rugged, so unless all dented up and with bad focus rings, I would expect the optics to be fine. Any binocular/scope rebuilder can also clean the optics and rebuild easily.

But IMHO eBay (or Gunbroker) is still the best bet! There are two there now, but don't all rush to bid. More will come up!

At one point, LE could get them basically free from USG. They were on the surplus equipment list.

The OP has got me thinking about restoring mine now... so if I do it, I'll post some pix.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[usmcchet9296]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've used one of those for years.

At a recent school, my partner and I cleaned up on the 'observation' exercise with it, finding all the hidden items very quickly.

You can buy some seriously nice spotting scopes these days for big bucks... and some really nice ones for lower dollars.

But these were the finest optics your grandfather's tax dollars could buy when they were new. They are a no-excuses piece of gear even today.

I recommend them all the time for people asking about 'budget' spotting scopes.

Nice job on the restoration and thanks for sharing! You just inspired me to go and clean mine up. Externally, it's pretty grotty at this point... yours is just beautiful.

Cheers,

Sirhr </div></div>

Next is where can they be found in reasonable shape? </div></div>

most I have seen on ebay and GB are in good shape but like mine the paint can be a mess since they have been painted over and over many different colors. Remember this scope is metal and thick bult like a tank unlike allot of the scope you see out there today

 

[TWOMANATTACK]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

bought one too! cant decide if i want to redo it or not!

 

[nobbie333actual]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

what kind of paint did you use?

 

[usmcchet9296]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobbie333actual</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what kind of paint did you use? </div></div>
Tamyia Nato Green

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Chet's restoration inspired me to redo my M49. Glad I did. It was grotty to say the least.

Here are some pictures:

Paint stripped. I opted to use 'mechanical' means to remove the old layers of paint. Files and razor blades. No bead blasting or chemicals. The old paint scraped off fine in a couple of hours. They are built like tanks.

Black etch primer and starting to paint the green on the tripod parts.

The blue lines are automotive pin striping tape. My scope originally had two black lines on the body and on each cap. It was painted (nicely done) on top of the original paint. My only assumption was that it was done by a rangemaster or someone who wanted to make sure his caps, scopes, etc. all stayed 'as a unit.' Of note, mine is engraved (electric pencil) with 04/11. Today, that's a Marine MOS for Maintenance. But who knows what it meant.

Finished. Black lines may not be original to the scope, but were on mine so I kept them. The data plate, too, was so corroded it was unreadable. So I just painted it. Paint is Krylon Olive from their 'camo' series.

Thanks to Chet for the inspiration to get the process started. These M49's are a lovely piece of kit... completely over-built and a first rate scope, even 50 years after they were made.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Cheers,

Sirhr</div></div> I have never seen a M15 tripod with a mounting bracket like that. Ours in the platoons were always like Chet's. Any idea where they come from or the difference in use?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Interesting question... and I had noticed the difference, but wrote it off to just changes over time. Then I went out to try and find a picture of a similar one... and it took forever and much Google to find even one that is the same.

I did find a picture of my scope 'before.' That isn't just one like it. It's mine. Was for sale on AR15.com in 2008. I bought it later that year from eBay. It's not similar. It's mine. The markings dings and damage on the case are identical to mine as are the stripes and the 'off color' feet. The guy apparently wanted $500 for it on AR15.com. I got it for $200 on eBay....

This is my scope before. Here's a link to the for sale ad on AR15.com from 2008. It's definitely the one I ended up owning.

http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=7&f=23&t=610076

This below vvv is the only similar tripod that I could find. It has a smaller power B&L military scope mounted in it. But it is the same configuration.

There must be a reason for the canted head. But searching on M15 and the earlier WW2-vintage M14 tripods... brought up nothing that explains the differences and just that one picture.

Maybe someone out there knows...

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Thanks Sirhr... I was thinking it might be something more for the shooting teams so maybe one of those guys will chime in. Very interesting though; I love the classic kit.

Maybe one for the Vintage Forum. ETA, did just that.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

I was looking at the pictures trying to figure out the advantage and it was quickly obvious that the side head gives a lot more up/down adjustment.

The knurled knob, if you look at it, has a set screw in it. You set 'drag' on the side knob one time and then lock the set screw. So you can rapidly adjust up and down and the 'drag' keeps the scope from moving. With the legs folded, you can even adjust the scope 180 degrees.

Once roughed in, the underside knob handles fine adjustments and the cradle is spring loaded.

Other than that, they are largely the same.

The top mounted version (like Chet's) is probably best suited for a range where you don't need to move it much. The side mount version gives you an ability to deal with dramatic elevation changes in the field. But that's just a guess on my part.

Thanks for posting in the other tread on Vintage, too. I am now really intrigued!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Check the other thread if you haven't already, Doc76251 ID'd it as a Freeland Spotting Scope Stand. Looks to me like the same.

Really interesting on the range of adjustment of it, and looks pretty nice. Whenever I wouldn't have enough travel I'd simply dig one of the legs further into the dirt! Thanks for the info.

 

[usmcchet9296]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Chet's restoration inspired me to redo my M49. Glad I did. It was grotty to say the least.

Here are some pictures:

Paint stripped. I opted to use 'mechanical' means to remove the old layers of paint. Files and razor blades. No bead blasting or chemicals. The old paint scraped off fine in a couple of hours. They are built like tanks.

Black etch primer and starting to paint the green on the tripod parts.

The blue lines are automotive pin striping tape. My scope originally had two black lines on the body and on each cap. It was painted (nicely done) on top of the original paint. My only assumption was that it was done by a rangemaster or someone who wanted to make sure his caps, scopes, etc. all stayed 'as a unit.' Of note, mine is engraved (electric pencil) with 04/11. Today, that's a Marine MOS for Maintenance. But who knows what it meant.

Finished. Black lines may not be original to the scope, but were on mine so I kept them. The data plate, too, was so corroded it was unreadable. So I just painted it. Paint is Krylon Olive from their 'camo' series.

Thanks to Chet for the inspiration to get the process started. These M49's are a lovely piece of kit... completely over-built and a first rate scope, even 50 years after they were made.

Cheers,

Sirhr </div></div>

Sirhr that looks great and your tri-pod is cool
BTW if you ever run into a spare front lens cap let me know
Mine didnt come with one

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

I have a part number and a manufacturers CAGE code, but no luck finding someone with them in stock.

I'll keep an eye out because another guy on here needs one, too.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[awp762]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

Finding parts for these scopes is very difficult. I've been looking for years to complete some of my M49 scope sets. I will sell most of my M49 sets (5-8 sets)as soon as i hear back from one guy who MAY be able to supply me with a few parts.

Anyway here are some unissued M164 cases i have for sale. It took many years just to find these in good condition.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3196727#Post3196727

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Gotta see what I shoot. M15/M49

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: awp762</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finding parts for these scopes is very difficult. I've been looking for years to complete some of my M49 scope sets. I will sell most of my M49 sets (5-8 sets)as soon as i hear back from one guy who MAY be able to supply me with a few parts.

Anyway here are some unissued M164 cases i have for sale. It took many years just to find these in good condition.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3196727#Post3196727 </div></div> Shoot me a PM when you get ready to sell them, I'll gladly take one off your hands!

For the OP, I'll check my stuff here in a few weeks when I get home, I might just have an objective lens cover. I've got a bag of tricks sitting in storage with a lot of leftover stuff I came across in my STA days...