Help Identifying Hensoldt Wetzlar Dialytan Scope

[Major Konig]

Hi Guys. I need help determining the age of a scope. I was looking to get a scope for a shooter, and wasn't too bent on an actual war-period scope, but wanted something that didn't look too modern and out of place on a late-war scoped shooter (I don't want to say I'm building a "sniper" rifle; I just want my next shooter to be a late war model with a scope and a period-correct mount ).

The scope is marked Hensoldt-Wetzlar Dialytan 4X on the top front, with the only other marks the serial number 19986 with what looks like a small 8 at the end. The scope is 11 3/16 long, 1-inch tube, 1-1/2 inch diameter objective. Its pretty worn and almost has a brassy patina. The optics are a little dusty but unscratched and clear (I couldn't get a great photo looking thru, just enough to show that it has the 3-arm reticle, not a crosshair). You can see the marks that look like they're from a previous soldered mount at the front half of the scope, spaced about 3-inches apart. The elevation adjustment knob has "up" with an arrow, but they look almost like they are hand-scratched into the finish.

Any input is appreciated.

 

[Major Konig]

OK, I did more searching around on the internet and found Snipercollections.com with some photos of various scopes back to 1900. Based on the stamps and the style of the elevation adjustment, it appears this scope is WWI era. I'm assuming it may be a commercial contract, since there aren't any military acceptance stamps, but I'm not familiar with that era acceptance procedures/stamps. I sent them my photos to see if they can give me any more definitive information.

I still plan to use the scope on a shooter, so next step is to start disassembly and cleaning/lubing. The tube is blued steel, the end pieces and elevation adjustment is painted brass, and the magnification ring seems to be painted aluminum (definitely a non-metallic silver metal). The elevation knob is so crudded up that it doesn't even turn, and the magnification ring turns very hard as well. I'll post updates on what I find.

 

[Major Konig]

Well, I haven't been able to find any info on the scope, and haven't heard back from the sniperscopes website people, so I went ahead and started taking apart the scope to see what I could find. It was pretty crudded up. The elevation adjustment knob didn't even turn, and the magnification ring barely turned as well. Once I had it apart, I could see why. All of the moving parts were gummed up with hardened lubricant and 100 years of dirt. The reticle didn't move in its slide as well. The good news is that everything seems to be undamaged, and the lenses are very clear with only one or two very minor nicks. The internal lenses were very dirty, so the scope definitely needed to be taken apart to be cleaned. I've attached a photo of all of the pieces, after most of them have been cleaned and polished, minus a few of the smaller set screws.

The tube was de-blued and de-rusted with Birchwood Casey blue and rust remover. After I had everything out of the tube, I ran a few patches soaked in mineral spirits through and they came out dark brown with guck. These things were definitely not weather or dust proof! I polished the tube with 400 grit and 4X steel wool to get the dings and scratches out.

Next step is to reblue the tube and blacken the brass parts. I was going to re-paint the brass rings and elevation adjustment, but I decided to use Birchwood Casey brass blackener on them, and Brownells cold blue on the tube. I wanted the refurbished scope to have a patina, not look brand new, and I like the way the cold bluing gives that look.