Hi-Lux Introduces $549 Unertl-Type 8X ‘Vintage Sniper’ Scope

Leatherwood/Hi-Lux Optics has added an 8X USMC-SNIPER Unertl-type scope to its William Malcolm Series of vintage-style, externally-adjusting riflescopes. Scopes of this design, with micrometer click external adjustment, were once favored by long range shooters. Today, a mint-condition, original USMC-marked scope can sell for as much as $5,000. And with the current interest in vintage sniper rifles, just a working standard model Unertl scope in good condition can still bring $2,000 or more.

Leatherwood/Hi-Lux already markets a variety of long-tube, external-adjusting scopes that are quite popular with BPCR shooters and vintage rifle fans. The new USMC repro scope, priced at $549.00, duplicates the original windage and elevation controls on the 50s/60s-era USMC scope. But the new Hi-Lux offers modern multi-coated lenses. Hi-Lux claims this scope offers the “brightest and sharpest optics ever in a riflescope of this design”. That’s quite a boast — the “real deal” Unertls were pretty darn good.

The 8X USMC repro scopes are marked with the “Wm. Malcolm” name over the USMC-SNIPER model designation, and each will be serial numbered — as were the original USMC models. The Marine Corps utilized this style of externally-adjusting scope on sniper rifles during WWII, Korea, and the early stages of the Vietnam conflict.

With its $549.00 MSRP, the Hilux USMC-SNIPER repro scope is far more affordable than a serviceable original. Like all Leatherwood/Hi-Lux Optics, the Wm. Malcolm USMC-SNIPER model comes backed with a limited lifetime warranty. If this scope proves to be of decent quality, we expect it will become popular for the growing Vintage Sniper Rifle discipline, which allows reproduction optics.