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Kollmorgen Bear Cub Scope Military?

Uintah
I have a Kollmorgen Optical Company Bear Cub 4X scope with standaard crosshairs that appears to have the olive/green parkerized military finish on it. Finish appears original to scope. Hoping to learn if at any time did the US Military utilize the Kollmorgen Optical Company for military use, specifically in a Bear Cub 4X? Scope has a 1" tube is marked on the center side bell: 4X 12233. Marked on objective bell: BEAR CUB MADE IN USA KOLLMORGEN OPTICAL CORP. NORTHHAMPTON, MASS. PAT PENDING. There is also a small emblem on the objective bell that looks like a circle with crosshairs in the center. Scope appears to be in very good condition with excellent optics. Any info about this scope and ball park value would be appreciated.
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Date Votes
  • kimi
    The Marines used the Kollmorgen 4X scope. Do some research on your scope, you might have a real keeper there.

    Here's some info on it:

    M1C Sniper Rifle 1952 USMC Version
    Early in World War II, the Marine Corps adopted the USMC Model 1941 Sniper Rifle based on the M1903A1 with Unertl scope. The performance of the Model 1941 was excellent except for problems with the Unertl in humid climates such as the Pacific Theater. Basic satisfaction with the performance of that rifle and a shortage of the M1C, kept the Model 1941 in use during World War II and the early days of the Korean War.

    Initially the USMC used M1C rifles transferred from the Army in Korea. In 1952, the Marines replaced the Model 1941 with modified M1C rifles mounting a Stith-Kollmorgen telescopic sight. That rifle was called the "USMC 1952" or "MC-52", although collectors sometimes incorrectly call it MC-1, a designation which properly refers only to the scope and mount.

    The USMC 1952 sniper rifle was produced by Springfield Armory. Standard M1C rifles were each given a barrel, a Griffin & Howe mount, and the Kollmorgen scope. A bell shaped flash hider, different from the Army M2 flash hider, was produced to the USMC design for these rifles. Few if any of the USMC 1952 rifles made it to Korea before the armistice ending the conflict on 27 July 1953.

    In 1966, during the Vietnam War, the USMC 1952 sniper rifle was replaced by the M40 sniper rifle, based on the Remington Model 700 bolt action rifle.

    http://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_rifle_m1c-m1d.php
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  • givette
    The military Kollmorgen:

    USMC-1 (called the MC-1) was a direct replacement (upgrade?) of the optically sighted Garands. The grunts wanted more than the M1-C 2.5 powered post-and-crosshair setup available at that time with the M84 scope. So, they made a few changes.

    I think it was an M1-C "knockoff", because the receiver mount on the MC-1 was Griffin & Howe the same as the M1-C. However, it used a dovetail mounted set of rings on the scope base, instead of post mounted rings (found on the M1-C) and the rings were 26mm instead of the M1-C's 7/8in rings.

    As Issued to the USMC, it [Kollmorgen] was fine crosshaired (no dot), 26mm,(not one inch) had a USMC NSN stock number stamped into the bell where the address is on yours, and was in four power. Unsure of next--> I believe it also had knurled adjustment knobs, instead of the "civilian" screw-slot adjustments. Best, Joe

    EDIT
    Above posted without using references. Hip-shot if I may. Please feel free to make amendments/corrections as you see fit. Thanks, Joe
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  • Uintah
    Thank you for the replies. I now suspect the scope I have is the civilian model as it has the screw slot adjustments. It may have been that Kollmorgen offered their civilian Bear Cub 4X with the military parkerized finish to the general public? Interesting to learn about the Kollmorgen Optical Corp. and their association with the Dept. of Defense.
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  • v35
    The Marine Corps used the Kollmorgen scope marked USMC-1 on the eyepiece (not objective bell)for a short period sometime after the Korean War. there was no objective bell on those scopes. There was also a FSN imprinted on the eyepiece.
    One that I had was finished in a flat,dark gray. They were all 26mm not one inch.
    Presently, I have a Stith/Kollmorgen 2 3/4x with both Texas and Brooklyn, NY addresses on it. It's glossy black anodized under a flat black paint.
    I wouldn't be surprised if your scope was sold to the Govt being it's finished in olive green. If not issued, it could have undergone testing.
    Stith made the Bearcub line of scopes and Kollmorgen in Brooklyn made optics for the Govt and the MC-1 scope. The companies merged after,I believe, Kollmorgan failed.
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  • kimi
    v35 - This link shows one with a bell:

    http://usmcronbo.tripod.com/id99.htm
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  • v35
    Kimi, you may be right about an objective bell on the MC-1
    It's been a long time but all stamped markings were definitely made on the eyepiece between the knurled rings.
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  • kimi
    quote:Originally posted by v35
    Kimi, you may be right about an objective bell on the MC-1
    It's been a long time but all stamped markings were definitely made on the eyepiece between the knurled rings.


    Thanks for the info. v35.
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  • spence.smith
    I got to the forum by searching on Kollmorgen, because I was looking to trade or sell mine. It's a Bear Cub 4x, serial no. 14691. Has been mounted to my Sako 243 for 30 years and has helped several members of my family take deer over the years. Has very fine crosshairs with dot in center. Excellent condition with just a few dings.
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  • givette
    quote:Originally posted by spence.smith
    I got to the forum by searching on Kollmorgen, because I was looking to trade or sell mine. It's a Bear Cub 4x, serial no. 14691. Has been mounted to my Sako 243 for 30 years and has helped several members of my family take deer over the years. Has very fine crosshairs with dot in center. Excellent condition with just a few dings.

    No Problemo, my good man! Put it on the auction side of Gunbroker, and I'll definately bid on it! You must place pictures on the auction to garner most return for your effort. Everything you've just written above needs a photo for visual reference. Thanks, and good luck! Joe
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  • nmyers
    According to Peter R. Senich in The Complete Book of US Sniping:

    The Stith Bear Cub in 2 3/4X was evaluated for the USMC. The version adopted was the model 4XD, MC-1 with 4x magnification, click adjustments, crosshairs, & with black enamel-type coating. The version used by the USMC was stamped
    STITH MOUNTS S.A., TEX.
    4X DOUBLE
    KOLLMORGEN OPTICAL CORP.
    BROOKLYN, N.Y.
    PAT. PEND.

    Mr Senich also says that there were also commercial variants of these scopes produced by the company.

    Neal
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