A very rare P.O. Ackley Scope

[rookhawk]

You don't see these often, or really ever. PO Ackley had these optics built for his custom rifles. Its a fixed 6x with excellent glass and a fine plex reticle. 1" tube. The best use for this optic is to be put on a mid-century custom or a PO Ackley built rifle. Most of those rifles were ruined by modifications, whereas unraveling them back to original condition would add a lot to their value.

Best I can tell, the optic is worth around $650. I will take $475 with free shipping anywhere in the lower 48 States.

I reserve the right to list this item elsewhere as it may need a wider audience of collectors than AH.

Payment via Paypal Friends & Family, Zelle, or Venmo.

 

[Ray B]

Does the scope show who actually made it? Just an observation, it resembles a Lyman All American.

 

[buckstix]

Hello,

Was this built by Weaver, or by Lyman?

 

[rookhawk]

I don't know, but the glass is good. The answer is in Nick Stroebel's Old Rifle Scopes also has a dedicated entry for P.O. Ackley scopes. I don't own that book.

 

[rookhawk]

This symbol make unlike the key

 

[ZG47]

I don't know, but the glass is good. The answer is in Nick Stroebel's Old Rifle Scopes also has a dedicated entry for P.O. Ackley scopes. I don't own that book.

The entry on p. 261, reads:
In 1955 the famed gunsmith and experimenter P.O. Ackley of Salt Lake City, Utah, marketed a 4X scope and mount of his own design and manufacture. All these scopes and mounts are extremely rare. The only known listing is in the 1955 Gun Digest.
N.B. Stroebel gives the field of view as 45 feet at 100 yards, length 11 inches, weight 8 ounces and tube diameter is 0.875 inches.

 

[buckstix]

can you describe the cross hairs in more detail? perhaps a picture?

 

[rookhawk]

can you describe the cross hairs in more detail? perhaps a picture?

I can't get a good photo with my iphone, but its a fine wire plex crosshair. It is not duplexed with different thicknesses, just even crisp wire cross hairs.

 

[buckstix]

OK ... I was thinking for use with one of my Big Game Brevex rifles, but a fine cross hair wouldn't be appropriate.

 

[Never Been]

I (stupidly) passed up a .270 built by Paul Jaeger on one of the Ackley left hand mausers for $1500. This would have been the perfect scope to replace the damaged vintage Leupold that was on it.

 

[Ray B]

My guess the scope was made for PO Ackley by Zentall-Zuhr Optical Works Tokyo/Osaka and was made between 1949 - 1956. Ackley worked with a couple Japanese firms who produced quality optics after WWII and before scopes of German and American companies were available.