Rifleman Q & A: A Winchester Riflescope?

by
posted on February 28, 2019
winscope.jpg

Q: I read an article in American Rifleman about the use of Winchester scopes as sniper optics during World War I. I have a Winchester A5 riflescope that I’ve been told is in very good condition—the glass is clear, and the reticle is also clear and unbroken. I’d like to know more about what I have. My father used it competitively in the early 1900s with a Winchester Model 52 rifle.

A: Your scope is a wonderful piece of shooting history. While technology has rendered scopes such as yours primitive, fragile and crude when compared to today’s marvels of precision, there remains an appreciation for the efforts of early optics designers and producers.

While not widely used by the general public, scopes were eagerly sought by target shooters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially for long-range applications. Some of the early examples were longer than the barrels of the rifles onto which they were mounted. By 1900, there was much commonality in design and straight-tube appearance between the various U.S. makers, including Stevens, Malcom, Sidle and others. Stevens was especially aggressive, offering scope/mount systems advertised for model-specific Remington, Winchester, Marlin, Savage and, of course, Stevens rifles.

Winchester’s entry into the scope market made good business sense. Most of the interest in this, and similar scopes, is for the purpose of assembling period-correct pieces, rather than for their field utility. Unless you know of a person or persons in your area that might have an interest in this sort of item, it can be difficult to market. A quick check of online auction houses shows recent sales of similar Winchester A5 riflescopes ranging from $450 to $550. Winchester’s Model 52 was introduced in 1919, which fits within the production range of your A5 scope. --John W. Treakle

Latest

heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees
heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees

Red Fifty: The Soviet 12.7 mm DShK Heavy Machine Gun

While the Browning .50-cal. M2 machine gun has been unequaled for a century, John Moses Browning’s genius design has had one significant 12.7 mm competitor: the Soviet DShK.

Support The NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) On Giving Tuesday

With more than 1,200 students having graduated from the program and over $700,000 in scholarships awarded since 1996, NRA's YES is an immersive leadership program for high school students eager to learn about the foundations of our nation, the importance of civic engagement and the role of the Second Amendment.

Rifleman Review: Remington 360 Buckhammer

Remington Ammunition's 360 Buckhammer is a straight-wall hunting cartridge that's designed to give deer hunters an ideal round for their Midwestern hunt.

New For 2025: EAA Girsan Witness2311 Brat, Match and MatchX

European American Armory Corp. (EAA) introduced an affordable variation of the double-stack 1911 design with their Girsan Witness2311 in 2023, continually adding additional chamberings and slide length options. New for 2025, the company is adding three new versions of the Witness2311 with the Match, MatchX and Brat models.

Review: Citadel Trakr

At less than 4 lbs., this repeating rifle is easy on the back while also being extraordinarily easy on the budget.

Freedom Munitions To Move Ammo Component Production To Idaho

Freedom Munitions has announced it will be consolidating its projectile component production from X-Treme Bullets out of Nevada into its Lewiston, Idaho, facilities.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.