AJACK scope update
Spent some time with my Dad Sunday. Learned more about the scope. Removed from a German rifle in January of 1944. Sent home to his mom. Had the recticle changed when mounted on the Model 70. Mounts were cut off and the scope was reblued at that time. Serial number fits in the military range of numbers. So.... were might the estimated value be now that more is known?
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Collector value is zilch due to the lack of originality. I would be more interested in the story of your father and how he "liberated" the scope. If you need a price to sell....I think the idea of $300-$500 might be too strong...if it was mine and I wanted to sell it, the first $300 would take it IMO. 0 -
Might not even make that? Old European scopes that require windage adjustable mounts, aren't particularly sought after. Just adds needless complexity, to mounting a scope.
I would put it on fleabay, with the windage adjustable mount. Don't mention what your dad had done to it. As the original mounts were likely soldered on. Everything that had been done to it, ( changing out the reticule/reblueing ). Would be a negative for a scope collector.0 -
"Capture" of AJACK Scope S/N 46527
The "capture" of German AJACK Scope S/N 46527 as told to son, Kenneth W. Goodman, by Robert L. "Tex" Goodman, 14th Armored Division, 45th Infantry.
Drafted out of Texas A & M University in 1943, which at that time was a Military Academy. Anyone with an IQ of over 125 was drafted and sent to The University of Cincinnati to study Physics in preparation of going to the Pacific theater. Sometime along the way things changed.
Robert "Tex" Goodman landed in Marseilles, France, on the 29th of October 1944 with the 45th Infantry Division, attached to the 14th Armored Division.
In Jan of 1945, as the 14th pushed through France towards the German border, they met heavy resistance near the German border around the town of Rittershoffen, France.
Near Rittershoffen he was involved in one of the bloodiest tank battles of the war.
It was during this time the scope was "captured".
He had been trained in demolition so he and his group were tasked with blowing holes through the "Dragon's Teeth" that the Germans had built to stop the advancement of vehicles, primarily tanks.
There were wide cleared areas before and after the "Dragon's Teeth". This left anyone crossing the area in full view of the German snipers. After loosing some of their buddies to sniper fire the group decided something had to be done.
"Tex" being a tall lanky boy from Texas and apparently the fastest running of the group, volunteered for the task. Sneak across open fields at night and ambush the snipers.
He crawled across approximately 200 meters of open ground a few hours before dawn and concealed himself in the brush about 10 meters inside the German brush line.
There he waited.
Near dawn the German snipers would position themselves in the trees and wait for a target.
As he lay there waiting he heard two snipers walk within a few meters of his hiding place. He waited as one sniper moved on and the other climbed a tree not far from where he was hiding.
As the German sniper climbed the tree and before he could get settled in, "Tex" pointed his M1 Garand in the direction of the noise he had been hearing and squeezed the trigger.
The muzzle flash from the first round illuminated his target. The second round put the German sniper on the ground.
He grabbed the German rifle, believed it to be a 98 Mauser, and it high tailed it back towards the American lines. By then all hell broke loose and he had to dodge fire from both sides. He arrived back on the American side safe and unharmed, but a little un-nerved.
He removed the scope from the rifle and managed to `smuggle" it home as a war trophy.
The fate of the rifle is unknown.
As a member of the 45th Infantry attached to the 14th Armored Division they became know as the "Liberators". Having liberated thousands of Allies from concentration camps, primarily Stalag XIII and Oflag XIII (officer POW camp).
Of the face to face confrontations he had, he most regrets having to shoot a big black German Shepard, that one of the German guards at Stalag XIII turned loose on him, shortly before he shot the guard who would not surrender even though most of the other guards were long gone.
At the end of the war he returned to Texas A&M to complete his degree in civil engineering in 1948. Because of the two year lapse while in the military even though he graduated in '48 his group is considered the Class of '46. Don't mess with any of the Class of '46. They have been there, done that and won't take crap off of anyone.
In 1952 the scope was sent to a gunsmith where it had the reticle changed, the mounts removed, reblued and then mounted on a 1948 Winchester Model 70 30/06.
I do not know how many deer have made it to the table while my dad was using the scope. I do know I shot my first deer and many more after that with that scope.
The scope was refurbished a few years back, but due to failing eyesight he put a newer scope on the Model 70.
Even though he is still with us at 89 he is one of the few remaining members of the "Greatest Generation". I will miss him when that time comes.0 -
Thanks to those that replied. I had the original date of Capture off by a year. I have sold the scope to a fellow in England that plans to return the scope to its original configuration on a German rifle he is restoring. 0 -
Thanks for that story and thanks to your Dad for his service. 0
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