Counterfeit Leupold Riflescope Warning

**Brick** · December 5th, 2009, 07:24 PM

I just found this on newsgroup rec.guns. I hope no one here has gotten stung. Buyers beware. Check authenticity!

Counterfeit Leupold Riflescope WarningLeupold® is issuing a customer alert to purchasers of products, particularly via Internet sales, in regards to bogus Leupold products that are apparently being illegally imported from the People’s Republic of China. These products bear many of the marks and trade dress of current Leupold & Stevens riflescopes making them very hard to distinguish externally from authentic Leupold products.

In recent months, counterfeited Leupold Mark 4® riflescopes have begun to arrive with increasing regularity at the firm’s Beaverton, Oregon, headquarters for service. These products are not manufactured by Leupold and are not covered by the Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee.

Leupold employs serial number tracking for all its riflescopes, so if a customer finds a scope that is suspect, he or she can simply write down the serial number and call 1-800-LEUPOLD to confirm if it is indeed authentic.

In general, most of the scopes appear to originate from Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China), and have “Leupold Mark 4” laser engraved on the bottom of the turret in a silver etch, while the black ring on the objective is etched in white and does not include the name “Leupold.” An authentic Mark 4 riflescope will always be engraved black on black and have the name “Leupold” engraved on the black ring.

Identifying Marks
Adjustments
Objective
Bottom of Turret

Here's the cite for the site http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-s...erfeit-warning you can go there and see photos of the currect identifying marks.

**Kramer** · December 5th, 2009, 07:29 PM

This came out about a year or two ago but it's good to bring it up every now and then.

**PA Rifleman** · December 5th, 2009, 08:40 PM

This topic's a regular feature:

Thanks for posting just the same, sometimes things slip past.

**Guns & Glass** · December 15th, 2009, 10:28 PM

BEWARE......showed up @ the last Valley Forge show & last weekend @ Harrisburg show.

Interesting that Dealer who sold one when confronted, "knew nothing", but quickly made a refund.

In addition counterfeits so far can be also identified by:

1. No Leupold Logo. Major Trademark violation.

2. Serial # on all Leupold are engraved into every scope tube.

**bogey1** · December 15th, 2009, 11:03 PM

can they be legally imported?

**Guns & Glass** · December 16th, 2009, 09:26 AM

Using the 'look' & Leupold name, legally (operative word)....NO!

Bear in mind...this is a cultural mindset so we're seeing & hearing only the tip of the iceberg. It's not just in the optics world.

Even the EPA has brought charges against Chinese companies for bringing in uncertified high emission engines.

Am I prejudiced? Yes.....against cheaters, liars, thieves, and illegal copiers who are are pro USA as long as they make $$$$ that goes into their pockets. Have business experience with a few Asian companies. Chinese (Mainland), Taiwanese, Koreans, and Japanese.

**625** · December 28th, 2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Guns & Glass

Using the 'look' & Leupold name, legally (operative word)....NO!

Bear in mind...this is a cultural mindset so we're seeing & hearing only the tip of the iceberg. It's not just in the optics world.

Even the EPA has brought charges against Chinese companies for bringing in uncertified high emission engines.

Am I prejudiced? Yes.....against cheaters, liars, thieves, and illegal copiers who are are pro USA as long as they make $$$$ that goes into their pockets. Have business experience with a few Asian companies. Chinese (Mainland), Taiwanese, Koreans, and Japanese.

Aint that the truth. They love to steal software too.