An old photo I found today while digging through old crap. This is a US Optics 1.8-10x44 with prototype knobs as submitted for the USMC RFP for replacement of the Unertl MST100. I took this photo in about 2005. I later gave the scope away….
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They were awesome when you basically built them custom with their scope builder. Things changed when they relocated to NC.I remember when USO was considered the cat's ass here on the Hide
I built that scope with the very first dual detent elevation knob, which we patented. The dual detent, or Multiple Tactile Click (MTC), knobs were later seen on Schmidt Bender and Premier Reticles scopes used on the M40’s and other sniper weapons.
At that point, an EREK knob had never been put on a 1.8-10X. In order to get the click value to be .5MOA, I had to shorten the ocular end of the tube about .1” to get the erector fulcrum to knob spacing correct. You can see where I cut the forward edge of the magnification ring for fitment as evidenced by the raw aluminum. The elevation knob was simply marked with .5MOA tick marks and yardages out to 1000 yards. The BDC was the same as the Unertl values.
The Windage knob was also a first for USO. The clicks were .5MOA and the knob had a stop to limit travel in either direction. If I remember correctly, it went 10MOA in both directions. It was basically a Unertl windage knob made of modern materials, etc.
When the RFP finally came out, the Corps wanted more than 10X magnification, but not more than 15X. So, we adapted the elevation knob to the 3.2-17X44, laser engraved the scopes as 3.5-15X44 and sent them. It was kinda funny because the 3.2-17X was closer to 19X in reality….
Anyway, I had a good time at USO during that period.
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I remember when USO was considered the cat's ass here on the Hide
would love to see what that windage knob looks like
i guess it actually looked like this right?
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2002 serial number. ST-10, fixed 10X44mm with a custom BDC 1/4moa elevation knob.@Skunk any thoughts on this one listed on GB? No affiliation, it just reminded me of this thread when I saw it:
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This USO MST-100 that was sold on the CMP auction site back in 2018 fits the theme of this thread:
https://cmpauction.thecmp.org/detail.asp?id=4526&n=USMC-US-Optics-MST-100-Sniper-Telescope-3077
This scope is serial number 3077, which doesn't fit into the USMC 7.62x51mm 1xxx serial number range, the FBI/Navy 2xxx serial number range, and the USMC .50BMG 5xxx serial number range.
Here's photos of the military USO MST-100 serial number 3077, but the scope's serial number really can't be seen due to the thin layer of rattle-can tan paint obscuring it:
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@Skunk any thoughts on this one listed on GB? No affiliation, it just reminded me of this thread when I saw it:
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I appreciate the updated information! Seeing your username, I assume that you work at the CMP and probably have some inside information on these scopes. Were these 3 the only USO scopes that the CMP received from the Corps? Did the CMP ever receive MST-100's with Unertl mounts on them, or just the Badger rings? I'm sure that a bunch of us on here have many questions to ask, if you have access to CMP records. Thanks in advance, hopefully we can get some more information from the CMP!The CMP sold two of the USO 3xxx series scopes. The other was 3123.
Those two scopes, plus USO 3449 that has been posted here before, are the only three with USMC ownership that I have seen.
I had understood that when USO received a scope from the USMC that could not be repaired, they were authorized to replace it with a USO scope.
@sirhrmechanic I am not, all yours for the taking, and good luck on it!@Coejro Are you going to bid on this, sir? I'm interested if you are not going to pursue. But you posted here and I won't bid agains you if you want it. I have a rifle it would be perfect for!
Cheers,
Sirhr
I appreciate the updated information! Seeing your username, I assume that you work at the CMP and probably have some inside information on these scopes. Were these 3 the only USO scopes that the CMP received from the Corps? Did the CMP ever receive MST-100's with Unertl mounts on them, or just the Badger rings? I'm sure that a bunch of us on here have many questions to ask, if you have access to CMP records. Thanks in advance, hopefully we can get some more information from the CMP!
Regarding Unertl 10x scopes sold at auction by CMP, the advanced auction search will bring up every one the CMP sold best I can tell, select completed auctions..I have been waiting for some industrious collector to build such a data base...........in the past I have been contacted by users wanting to purchase specific serial number Unertl 10xs which I previously won at auction. First time I was contacted via the CMP auction system by another bidder I was surprised, don't know if that function still works...
@sirhrmechanic I am not, all yours for the taking, and good luck on it!
Do both knobs wobble when you turn them?I snagged it with a minimum bid. Buy it now was def. overpriced, but noone else bid and I got it for a decent price.
It's definitely a neat early one. There's some issue with the turret knobs. They are either bent or have warped. So have a 'wobble' on them. I'll get a vernier on it. Glass is great. Nice set of Badger-type rings, but not Badger, I don't think. The reticle is a dot (might be a football-dot. The 'dots' sure look elongated with careful scrutiny. I thought that was a USMC thing. ) Reticle also has ranging stadia. And fitted with a nice compensating knob for 175gr. M118, I assume. Someone knew what they wanted when they ordered this!
I'll write USO and see what they have on it. They are always great about looking up the old files!
Thanks for the lead. I have a really nice LWRC .308 match AR-10 that this is going on. Be perfect for it!
Cheers, Sirhr
I snagged it with a minimum bid. Buy it now was def. overpriced, but noone else bid and I got it for a decent price.
It's definitely a neat early one. There's some issue with the turret knobs. They are either bent or have warped. So have a 'wobble' on them. I'll get a vernier on it. Glass is great. Nice set of Badger-type rings, but not Badger, I don't think. The reticle is a dot (might be a football-dot. The 'dots' sure look elongated with careful scrutiny. I thought that was a USMC thing. ) Reticle also has ranging stadia. And fitted with a nice compensating knob for 175gr. M118, I assume. Someone knew what they wanted when they ordered this!
I'll write USO and see what they have on it. They are always great about looking up the old files!
Thanks for the lead. I have a really nice LWRC .308 match AR-10 that this is going on. Be perfect for it!
Cheers, Sirhr
Do both knobs wobble when you turn them?
If/when you remove the adjustment/float screw in each knob, the knob cover (marked portion with script) will come off the brass knob armature. Those are pretty stout and I would be exceedingly surprised if one or both of them are bent.
The knob covers are probably just on there a little cockeyed and not seated properly on the tapered portion of the brass armature.
I’ve got a shade/ARD I’ll send you, so don’t buy one. It’ll even be the correct vintage!Well, good news and bad news....
The knobs aren't warped. That's the good news. They are totally true. great shape. Measure out to tenths.
The bad news is that the brass erector posts are both bent. They have a wobble in them. Must be that someone used this scope to replicate the "We parked a HMMWV on it" test. Because both of the brass posts (arrows) wobble.
I also tested them by putting the knobs on 'loosely' so they would turn on the tapers. They were true. And removed the O-rings to see if they were causing hang-ups. Nope. Rings turned smoothly until tightened on the brass erector posts.
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This was my final test. Needed to create a 'knob' with no skirt. So screwed the top washers on the brass piece. When I rotated, they wobbled like plates on a stick during a juggling act. Bummer!
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But I e-mailed the mother ship and I'll send it in and have it fixed up. Probably get a couple of knob covers and a shade while I'm at it. And Clean/lube. It's a super cool scope so worth restoring right and I don't do optics!
Cheers and... Oh well! Whatsoever is rightly-done and all that...
Sirhr
I’ve got a shade/ARD I’ll send you, so don’t buy one. It’ll even be the correct vintage!
Bummer about the knobs. They would be pretty simple to replicate if USO says they can’t/won’t do it. And, I’m still in regular contact with JBW3 if it comes to that.
Honestly, I think you’d be better off sending it to Texas for JBW3 to work on… In any event, I’m sure we can find a solution.Thanks, across the board! If I have to, I can probably machine something up or at least true them. But reassembling and re-filling with Nitrogen may take at trip to NC. From what I understand, they are still capable of servicing the 'old stuff.' Hopefully!
And worst case, the 'wobble' doesn't seem to affect the tracking. It's just annoying to see the base of the knob wobble!
Cheers,
Sirhr
I actually didn't know he was still working on scopes! After the sale, I sort of lost touch! Let's see what the mothership says. But I am glad to send it to III! Hope he is doing well!Honestly, I think you’d be better off sending it to Texas for JBW3 to work on… In any event, I’m sure we can find a solution.
I had 224343 on the east coast mid 90s. I need to pull out the boxes with my old patrol logs/kill sheets to get my scope number off of it. I might even have some of my armory custody cards stashed away, I know I ran off with one set of cards, just can't remember which rifle I kept them from or if I even still have them or not after 10 moves since.If anyone knows where Unertl USMC SNIPER serial 1114 is, I’d like to have it. It was on M40A1 serial 224313 which I used to pull from the armory and shoot with at Camp Pendleton.
I have enough USO's that I know I have stuff they'll fit!!! Probably including ST10 Awesome!Think these will do? I don’t exactly remember if these are for a 44mm ERGO objective (like what you have) or a T-Pal, but I want to say the thread pitch/shades were the same. They show some use, but if you want them they’re yours.
I had 224343 on the east coast mid 90s. I need to pull out the boxes with my old patrol logs/kill sheets to get my scope number off of it. I might even have some of my armory custody cards stashed away, I know I ran off with one set of cards, just can't remember which rifle I kept them from or if I even still have them or not after 10 moves since.
I can dig through some shit soon and post it up. Going to be a bit redacted though, we didn’t even know what “PII” was back then and threw SSNs on everything.I'd love to see any information you have on rifle 224343! Your logs, notes, armory cards, etc. definitely deserve their own thread on that topic. Would you be willing to post a new thread with this information? I have some info that I can post there as well, and we won't have to derail this awesome thread. I also have rifle 224202, which is extremely close to the 2243xx rifles that you guys used!
I have a Spreadsheet of all of the CMP Issued Unertls and the (2)? CMP USO's. The totals I have are as follows: 614 total scopes; 62 converted to .50 Cal; 93 with 5XXX serial numbers. This is a working list.... If anybody is interested shoot me a PM. I can't post it here for some reason...Regarding Unertl 10x scopes sold at auction by CMP, the advanced auction search will bring up every one the CMP sold best I can tell, select completed auctions..I have been waiting for some industrious collector to build such a data base...........in the past I have been contacted by users wanting to purchase specific serial number Unertl 10xs which I previously won at auction. First time I was contacted via the CMP auction system by another bidder I was surprised, don't know if that function still works...
I have a Spreadsheet of all of the CMP Issued Unertls and the (2)? CMP USO's. The totals I have are as follows: 614 total scopes; 62 converted to .50 Cal; 93 with 5XXX serial numbers. This is a working list.... If anybody is interested shoot me a PM. I can't post it here for some reason...
Was able to post a PDF version. Orange are scopes that were converted to .50 Cal; yellow are 5XXX series scopes and Green are non CMP scopes. I can update the list with names if someone has them but not sure if folks would want that info posted.
...and last edit, Please forgive me for hijacking this thread...let me know if I need to relocate it.
No sweat. I'm still working on it, trying to add all of the cmp user Id's to the list. If someone has a cross-reference of cmp users to user ID we could probably locate most of the cmp Inertl and USO scopes... I have an excel copy of this. Let me know if anybody wants a copy. Feel free to send me updates and I can update the master list. ThanksWow, that's an amazing amount of work, thank you very much for sharing it with us!!!
I have a Spreadsheet of all of the CMP Issued Unertls and the (2)? CMP USO's. The totals I have are as follows: 614 total scopes; 62 converted to .50 Cal; 93 with 5XXX serial numbers. This is a working list.... If anybody is interested shoot me a PM. I can't post it here for some reason...
Was able to post a PDF version. Orange are scopes that were converted to .50 Cal; yellow are 5XXX series scopes and Green are non CMP scopes. I can update the list with names if someone has them but not sure if folks would want that info posted.
...and last edit, Please forgive me for hijacking this thread...let me know if I need to relocate it.
Date of auction would be nice but the info didn't transfer over in my cut and paste and will have to be entered manually. I am currently inputting the cmp user id's manually so it takes a minute. Will send this out tomorrow after the user Id's are updated. Fortunately 1 person bought almost 100 scopes so I'll have those assigned to him...lolExcellent work, thank you for compiling the list! I had started planning a format but hadn't done it yet.. The only format differences I had planned were columns for ".50 cal. conversion" and "date of auction" (so I could sort by those). I didn't have the number of bids and CMP user #.
I'll compare your numbers to my informal list and see if there are any differences.
Thanks.