What is it Worth? Older Leupold Mark 4 10x

[diggler1833]

NOT SELLING, JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY RUN THESE DAYS.

I have a ca. 2000 Leupold Mark 4, 10x with M3 dial (168gr only), that came with an old first gen FN SPR that I bought about a decade ago. The glass is as good as Leupold made back then, no scratches or issues. Honestly, the scope is in 95%+ condition. The only real drawback is that the elevation dial is mushy AF...but it is repeatable...I've killed 9 deer through this scope and each time the dial matched a dead animal.

I know that these have become a tad more desirable to collectors. I have a better one on my M24 (and maybe I should have posted this in the "vintage" sub-forum). I'm at a personal crossroads of either using this on an M14 build several years down the road, or moving it. The biggest downside is that if I decide that I need one again I don't want to be out $$$.

I can't find squat on the internet right now - other than a single Gunjoker listing for $2,100 (and I'm thinking that guy is smoking something).

Anybody have a clue on what the going rate is for these now?

 

[TurdFerguson]

All over the place. I sold a painted one (I painted it) for 750 and bought one locally for 500 with a sun shade/good tight turetts. It might sell better/more if it’s sent back to Leupold/reworked and has a clean bill of health.

One sold on here with M1 turrets for 900.

 

[diggler1833]

All over the place. I sold a painted one (I painted it) for 750 and bought one locally for 500 with a sun shade/good tight turetts. It might sell better/more if it’s sent back to Leupold/reworked and has a clean bill of health.

One sold on here with M1 turrets for 900.

View attachment 8661866

Yeah, I'd considered sending it in to Leupold to get some of the mush out. I didn't do it though, because I didn't want to mess with my primary deer rifle for several years because it just worked.

While it is off the rifle, now would be the perfect time. It probably won't go back on that one either.

Your input is appreciated.

 

[Basic user]

NOT SELLING, JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY RUN THESE DAYS.

I have a ca. 2000 Leupold Mark 4, 10x with M3 dial (168gr only), that came with an old first gen FN SPR that I bought about a decade ago. The glass is as good as Leupold made back then, no scratches or issues. Honestly, the scope is in 95%+ condition. The only real drawback is that the elevation dial is mushy AF...but it is repeatable...I've killed 9 deer through this scope and each time the dial matched a dead animal.

I know that these have become a tad more desirable to collectors. I have a better one on my M24 (and maybe I should have posted this in the "vintage" sub-forum). I'm at a personal crossroads of either using this on an M14 build several years down the road, or moving it. The biggest downside is that if I decide that I need one again I don't want to be out $$$.

I can't find squat on the internet right now - other than a single Gunjoker listing for $2,100 (and I'm thinking that guy is smoking something).

Anybody have a clue on what the going rate is for these now?

Honestly, the going rate is just that; whatever you see them for (that are actually selling, not listing) is what their rate is but that's not fully realistic I feel for guys like us that are knee deep in the shooting sports. I feel they're 500 dollar MAX scopes due to being of an obsolete design.
You can get more features/capability with a less expensive scope nowadays and are only 'valuable' for personal/nostalgic reasons ONLY. Just my opinion.
Leupold I feel bolstered their current reputation by getting early military contracts then boosted their prices on all their scopes just because of that, and I personally dont feel that was warranted. Only the guys that fell in love with the tactical stuff back in the 80s have a nostalgic place in their hearts for these older mil/police market scopes.
To sum up, they're worth whatever they're going for on ebay/gunbroker, but those are artificially inflated prices by guys that have more money than brains. Realistically, 500 bucks max to people in the know.

 

[hlee]

If you don’t need the money, and don’t need the small amount of space it takes up, keep it. Replacing it down the road will sting more if you pay more the second time around. And, it’s always nice to have a spare scope to drop onto a new acquisition…

 

[Basic user]

This is true, but only if he really wants a correct clone in the future. Otherwise, as much as I like the old mil/leo Leupolds, I'd sell it to some dude that has more money than brains or let those senile lottery winners on gunbroker battle it out over some old has been, and pay me 1800 dollars for it, then take that money and use it for something cool lol.

 

[diggler1833]

If you don’t need the money, and don’t need the small amount of space it takes up, keep it. Replacing it down the road will sting more if you pay more the second time around. And, it’s always nice to have a spare scope to drop onto a new acquisition…

I think I'm with you on this one man. I'm going to reach out to Leupold this week to see if they can service it and get the mush out (beyond the degreasing of two decades past troubleshooting). Much appreciated.

Honestly, the going rate is just that; whatever you see them for (that are actually selling, not listing) is what their rate is but that's not fully realistic I feel for guys like us that are knee deep in the shooting sports. I feel they're 500 dollar MAX scopes due to be of an obsolete design.
You can get more features/capability with a less expensive scope nowadays and are only 'valuable' for personal/nostalgic reasons ONLY. Just my opinion.
Leupold I feel bolstered their current reputation by getting early military contracts then boosted their prices on all their scopes just because of that, and I personally dont feel that was warranted. Only the guys that fell in love with the tactical stuff back in the 80s have a nostalgic place in their hearts for these mil/police market scopes.
To sum up, they're worth whatever they're going for on ebay/gunbroker, but those are artificially inflated prices by guys that have more money than brains. Realistically, 500 bucks max to people in the know.

Yeah, they were about the best thing commercially available 30 years ago, but Leupold sat on their thumbs for 15 years and let everyone catch up and surpass them.

I agree that they are only valuable as a collector item these days, which is why I will probably hang onto it. I still have that deep desire for an M14 build, but tht is a ~2027 project at best.

 

[Simonsza1]

I had a Remington 700p with that scope on it and sold it forever ago. Regret that sale often when I think of it.

 

[roostercogburn98]

I’ve hung onto mine just because. I have debated moving it to something more “correct”, but never have. Got the original box, and two elevation caps I believe still (308,300). Will probably stay where it is until I’m long gone

 

[Basic user]

I think I'm with you on this one man. I'm going to reach out to Leupold this week to see if they can service it and get the mush out (beyond the degreasing of two decades past troubleshooting). Much appreciated.



Yeah, they were about the best thing commercially available 30 years ago, but Leupold sat on their thumbs for 15 years and let everyone catch up and surpass them.

I agree that they are only valuable as a collector item these days, which is why I will probably hang onto it. I still have that deep desire for an M14 build, but tht is a ~2027 project at best.

You're not doing an ART II?

 

[Basic user]

Ok, then I'm guessing a GWOT M14 then.

 

[Ikeman83]

 

[diggler1833]

You're not doing an ART II?

No Sir. I'm not that much of a glutton for punishment. I really don't get into the clone thing too much. However, I do have an M24 rebuild off of old parts and an M40A1 clone in the works. This one will probably be much more of just an aesthetic look that I liked many years ago (McM M3A etc...).

 

[Basic user]

Gotcha

 

[diggler1833]

Ok, then I'm guessing a GWOT M14 then.

There was a time when I lusted after a lot of rifles during deployments about 20 years ago. It was something to make the days pass for me (besides gym time). Unfortunately back then I was married to a blood-sucking and bank-depleting leech. After my divorce and re-marriage to the right woman this time, I'm kind of compiling my old list of rifles that I always wanted.

I'm not really an M39 fan.

 

[Basic user]

Gotcha. Understand completely. I think most of us now that are older and have a little more disposable income are starting to acquire all the things that made our eyes widen as kids. I know I am at least lol. The older FN SPRs with the fluted barrels and the black A3 stock is one that comes to mind actually, amongst others.
Incidentally, I never wanted an M40A1, but about 5 months ago I got bit by the bug so now I'm after that shit too. Fuckin never seems to stop.

 

[diggler1833]

Gotcha. Understand completely. I think most of us now that are older and have a little more disposable income are starting to acquire all the things that made our eyes widen as kids. I know I am at least lol. The older FN SPRs with the fluted barrels and the black A3 stock is one that comes to mind actually, amongst others.
Incidentally, I never wanted an M40A1, but about 5 months ago I got bit by the bug so now I'm after that shit too. Fuckin never seems to stop.

I actually have 3 FN SPRs. Two of which have been rebarreled, and one of those is as close to looking like a GA Precision Crusader as I could make it (one of those wants from 20 years ago ).

When I was doing my tour at the Pentagon, I'd frequently make my way to the NRA museum to look at the guns for something free and interesting to do. In the GWOT case was an M40A1 among other rifles. I always had to stop and look at that M40A1. I've got the ca 2008 USO MST-100 in hand as well as the mount...I'm waiting on the rifle build. I know that guys go crazy over sourcing actual parts to put on these, and I think that is awesome. I'm just after the clone, and saving some money in the process if possible (if there is such a thing).

With the scope in question that started this thread...I will end up with (3) .308/7.62x51s that all have 10x fixed magnification optics. That is just a touch redundant to me.

I managed to acquire most of the rifles I wanted from a couple decades ago though (Surgeon, GAP [inbound], AI, and a TRG).

 

[Basic user]

Oh a green TRG 22/24/42 whatever they (the older original ones) are in 6.5creed would be nice.

 

[TurdFerguson]

I actually have 3 FN SPRs. Two of which have been rebarreled, and one of those is as close to looking like a GA Precision Crusader as I could make it (one of those wants from 20 years ago ).

When I was doing my tour at the Pentagon, I'd frequently make my way to the NRA museum to look at the guns for something free and interesting to do. In the GWOT case was an M40A1 among other rifles. I always had to stop and look at that M40A1. I've got the ca 2008 USO MST-100 in hand as well as the mount...I'm waiting on the rifle build. I know that guys go crazy over sourcing actual parts to put on these, and I think that is awesome. I'm just after the clone, and saving some money in the process if possible (if there is such a thing).

With the scope in question that started this thread...I will end up with (3) .308/7.62x51s that all have 10x fixed magnification optics. That is just a touch redundant to me.

I managed to acquire most of the rifles I wanted from a couple decades ago though (Surgeon, GAP [inbound], AI, and a TRG).

Build you a 24 clone to go along with the m40a1.

 

[diggler1833]

Build you a 24 clone to go along with the m40a1.

Yessir. I do already have one though, one of Remington's rebuilds on original parts that they did about a decade ago.

 

[RTH1800]

I will not comment regarding the value.
I would like to share my thoughts regarding the sell/keep line of thought.
At one time I was what would be called a hoarder by many I am sure. I had gun/shooting related gear stored in various locations and much of it was forgotten or out of mind. This was so bad that on more than one occasion I called friends to locate some obscure item and that would tell me "If I needed that I would call you" After a few people told me that I would go look and find what I was trying to buy.

I then built a house to store it all and display a lot of it. Once I got it into one place the total was stunning even to me. It was all quality stuff and in my areas of interest. I decided to sell it all except what I use of will use in the near future. As a tiny example, I had a drawer full of sights. Many in original boxes, rare and very old. Lyman etc. I took them to a gun show and sold 15K worth and the drawer was not empty. After 15 years I am getting close to where I want to be. In the event I need to replace something, I could easily do so with far less than the interest on the funds makes me. In the day of the Internet nothing is hard to find so no issue there.
I think most unused stuff should be sold. I have bought dozens of estates that thought otherwise. Don't want to be in that boat.
YMMV

 

[Coejro]

@diggler1833 from personal experience, Leupold doesn’t have the parts to repair the older Mk4 line anymore. I send a Mark 4 M3-6x in to them a few months ago as the parallax knob wasn’t adjusting the parallax any more. They came back with a “we can no longer repair these scopes” and offered a free replacement to the comparable Mk4HD line. So props to them they took care of me even on a 20+ year old scope, but it doesn’t have the same feel as the old fixed line.

 

[diggler1833]

@diggler1833 from personal experience, Leupold doesn’t have the parts to repair the older Mk4 line anymore. I send a Mark 4 M3-6x in to them a few months ago as the parallax knob wasn’t adjusting the parallax any more. They came back with a “we can no longer repair these scopes” and offered a free replacement to the comparable Mk4HD line. So props to them they took care of me even on a 20+ year old scope, but it doesn’t have the same feel as the old fixed line.

I really appreciate you telling me that Sir. That saves me a lot of time and frustration.

I'm sure that the current Mk4 HD line is leaps and bounds above what a 25 year old Mark 4 offers...but I can't see myself swapping out.

I'll just keep what I've got for now and understand that I have to put my face next to the scope to dial elevation (to hear the quiet detents) for the rest of my life .

 

[joe777]

Kinda cool it's got 9 deer kills on it