A mystery pre-war 30-06 JP Sauer came home today

[buckstix]

Hello Axel,

Thank you for the info. I will be replacing that broken scope with another period scope that works, so I can use the rifle for hunting.

[buckstix]

Well, I installed an Ajack 2.5x52, Berlin so.33 WWI Sniper scope. Although very old, this has optics that are clear enough for shooting.

Next stop will be the range to test it out. ...... which I just did ......


http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/sauer8X57-scope.jpg



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/8x57sauer-targ.jpg

[buckstix]

Questions about this scope .... does anyone have any information about this Ajack 2.5x52, Berlin so.33 scope that I mounted on this rifle? Does the knurled ring nearest the objective adjust the focus? I ask because the scope is somewhat out of focus. Any info would be appreciated ... thanks

[Axel E]

Yes, that knurled ring is the handle of the focusing adjustment. A screw connects the the ring to an inner sleeve holding the erector lens through a slanted slit in the outer scope tube. This slit allows some fore-aft movement of the inner tube by slight turning of the outer ring. As the screw clamps ring, inner and outer tube, you have to loosen it for adjustment. On such old scopes the inner tube is often frozen to the outer one by gummed lube, dirt or rust. Solution: remove the screw and slide the knurled ring out of the way to expose the slit and screw hole. As the rear mount may be in the way on your Ajack, you will have to unscrew the ocular bell by hand. Now you can use a fitting pin punch through the screw hole to start the inner tube moving. A bit of warming the rear of the scope with a hair dryer may help. With a sort of hook you may pull out the inner tube to the rear to clean and relubricate it with Vaseline.

[buckstix]

Hello Axel,

thank you so much for that info ... can you tell me anything about the scope manufacturer and the period of production?

*** UPDATE ***

I followed Axel's detail instructions above, and I was able to loosen the focusing ring and adjust the focus to make it much clearer than when it arrived. Its really nice to bring these old rifles back to life.

[Axel E]

Ajack is an acronym for Adolph Jackenkroll Optische Anstalt, Taborstr., Berlin, founded 1894. Existed until the end of WW2. I did not find much info on the Ajack company. They started making rifle scopes during WW1. Your scope was probably made in the 1920s. Ajack scopes most often featured larger objective lenses than the competition for more light gathering. In 1940 to 41 they exported many 4x scopes to neutral Sweden, who mounted them on their Mauser M96 sniper rifles. But soon after the invasion of the Soviet Union such exports were stopped and all production went to the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-ss.