Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold Chinese Counterfeit report

I own a VX-2 3-9x40mm Leupold scope and it does not have the model information on the objective gold ring, or between the gold ring and the front of the objective bell. It is a CDS model and I called in to get the dial providing the serial number. No problems getting the dial.

Yes....same for me too...

This thread served two purposes for me. It reminded me that there is a pile of fake Leupolds out in the market and that I really needed to put together a complete inventory of all my scopes. I can now report that I have finally recorded the serial numbers on all of the 16 Leupold rifle scopes that I currently own. Two of these scopes do not have gold ring or stamped model information on the objective tube. So, I plan on calling Beaverton in the near future to make sure I did not make a couple of mistakes along the way. CP.

How well do the fake leupolds compare to the real leupolds?

My friend put one of the 2-7x33s on a Ruger 10/22, shot a 500 round of bulk pack .22 LR ammo, and reported that he didn't have any problems.

He was going to buy Simmons .22MAG 3-9x32s to put on some Ruger 10/22s that he is planning to give to his grandkids for Christmas, but he decided to go with these slightly more expensive "Leupold" scopes instead.

Unfortunately that seems to be no longer true. I have three VX-1's and a VX-2, a Y, two AC's and a AD date codes, three are LR reticles (which I have never seen offered on the Chicom counterfeit scopes) and none of them are stamped with the model anywhere on the objective bell. Not on the gold ring, nor between the gold ring and the objective bell.

If buying new you could always call and order them straight from Leupold. May pay a little more, but you know what you are getting.

This 3x arrived from Leupold today. It doesn't say Big Bore on the scope like the others did and the side markings are different. Someone down the road will say. "All the 3x Big Bores had it written on the scope and none had that white lettering. Must be counterfeit."

Well some didn't and some did.

Probably because they are discontinuing the 3x and only making them up with what parts are available.

My wife used to do a fair ammount of business in the Pacific Rim. She bought a fake Rolex for her dad while over there, knowing full well it was a knock off. He's had it for over 20 years and it still runs fine.

I keep telling people that post these they should try them, Its possible they might actually track better than the "real" leupolds.

^ How true

As I posted above, I contacted Leupold and provided them the serial numbers of the two scopes I have that do not have gold ring or objective lens markings. The technician was very curious about these scopes and asked me to send him some photos of the power selector, serial number, windage/elevation, and gold ring-which I did. This AM I received the following email:

"After having a chance to review the pictures and serial number, and engineering documents, it appears that this scope is authentic from everything I can see."

Make of this what you want... CP.

I put a counterfeit VX3i 1.75-6x32 on a Remington Model Seven 308, and it tracked and held zero just fine. That was only for one range session though. The eye-box isn't forgiving like Leupolds normally are. The reticle isn't a true duplex, nor a wide duplex. It's in between. The clicks are audible and firm. There is a blemish on the gold ring almost like a machining tool line that put a gouge part way around the ring. The box label had some errors. Matte was spelled Matt. The serial number was below the bar code and is one from a VX-R according to Leupold. The scope didn't come with a Leupold scope cover, just a set of cheap bikini covers. Without the blemish on the gold ring, one can't tell it visually from an authentic item without side-by-side comparison.

Be careful when purchasing a used Leupold or from a non-authorized dealer. Always get the serial number and contact Leupold.

I can see pawn shops buying a bunch of these fakes and putting them on rifles to make the price seem better.

It seems like alot of the counterfeit Leupy scopes on Ebay also come with Mil Dot reticles as well. This is something Leupold does not offer standard in the standard VX2 or VX3 lines.

Counterfeit Zeiss out there too.

Probably a better scope as well..

Ha ha..

There are lots of Leupolds made without the gold ring. Go scroll through their website, I counted 4 models then gave up.

I will buy all your Leupold "junk" scopes for $50 each.