I scored myself a nice BRNO model 1 .22LR today and it was fitted with a rather unusual scope.

Written on the scope is.....

B Nickel - Marburg/L
Supra - Gnome 2 3/4 X 18L 42
Nr. 168039
Made in Germany


I checked my reference book...Old Gunsights & Riflescopes by Nick Stroebel, and while many other Nickel - Marburg scopes are mentioned I could find no reference to the above scope. Anyone know anything about this particular scope?

B. Nickel is still making scopes at Marburg an der Lahn in west-central Germany. Since your scope is marked "Germany", rather than "West Germany", I would assume that it is a newer scope, made since the reunification in 1990.

They might still be making this scope, but you can look at their web site, www.nickel-ag.com, or email any questions that you might have to [email protected].

Awhile back, I was looking for an elevation cap for a 4x Supra and contact them, but since it is an older scope, they didn't have the part that I was looking for. One caution, I don't think that my B. Nickel Supra scopes are waterproof and it is possible that your scope isn't either.

Bernhard Nickel started making scopes under his own name in about 1936, after leaving Zeiss. The company was bought out by Hertel & Reuss in about the 1980s but they continued putting out scopes under the Nickel name, until the name was bought by the present Nickel concern, which makes very high end (and expensive) scopes but has little to do with the previous business.

I wouldn't think that scope is post-1990. Looking at the style of it, and the elevation and windage adjustments, I'd suspect it is of about the same age as the rifle it is mounted on. Certainly an older-looking scope than the Nickel Supra I have. Both your rifle and scope look to be in excellent order too.

My Brno No 1 was made in 1956 so I assume the scope is from around the same era.