Support staff at Leupold’s facility in Beaverton, Oregon were surprised to find a number of rifle sights being returned for service… which were not actually genuine Leupold sights.

• Leupold Scopes Website
• Leupold Rifle Scope Serial Numbers
• Leupold Rifle Scope Serial Numbers Identification
• Leupold Rifle Scope Serial Numbers For Sale

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.

Aug 29, 2017 Every Leupold scope produced since 1974 will have a letter included in the serial number acting as a date-code. Scopes using a letter as a prefix (the beginning of the serial number) were produced between 1974 and 1992. Scopes using a letter as a suffix (the end of the serial number) have been produced after 1992. The Vintage Leupold Scopes would develop into a very prominate place in rifle scopes by the 1960’s. Men would now discuss what was the best rifle scope to have. By 1954 there were several companies’ making rifle scopes. Kahls scopes, Stith scopes, Weaver scopes, Leupold scopes, Lyman scopes and Unertl scopes. All Leupold riflescopes are given an individual serial number. Counterfeit scopes often use a fake serial number, all identical serial numbers, or incorrect numbering convention. If you find a scope that is suspect, simply write down the serial number and call 1-800-LEUPOLD to ask if the scope is authentic.

It seems that a number of counterfeit sights have been manufactured in Hong Kong and China, and sold through various methods – primarily over the internet. This is, of course, a matter of great concern to anyone wanting a genuine Leupold scope! How can you be certain that the scope you buy is, in fact, a genuine Leupold product?

First, all of the counterfeit Leupold scopes have been the Mark 4 models. Other counterfeits may be out there, but everything seen thus far by Leupold staff have been the Mark 4.

The first and most obvious place to look is on the adjustment dial, which will not include the antiqued brass Leupold medallion. The counterfeit scopes all have a bare black center on the adjustment dials.

Additionally, the objective ring is etched in white on black, and does not say “Leupold.” All authentic Leupold sights have black on black objective rings, with “Leupold” engraved on the ring. Finally, the “Leupold” logo and “Mark 4” are laser engraved in silver on the bottom of the turret.

Counterfeiting on the internet is rampant, and it is always worth a little effort to ensure that what you are getting is a real Leupold sight. Checking these three basic features of the sight you ordered can easily discern whether you have been duped, or are in fact the proud owner of a genuine Leupold sight.

When in doubt, all scopes sold by Leupold either directly or through an authorized dealer are tracked, and the serial number will confirm whether it is in fact a Leupold-manufactured rifle sight. By calling 1-800-LEUPOLD, Leupold’s staff will be glad to confirm any valid serial number as genuine.

Any used Leupold IMHO is a smart purchase. It should sell used for about $300-$400 depending on condition and reticle. eBay sold Leupolds usually fetch an additional 30%. You can determine when it was made by the serial number located on the center saddle section. Beginning in 1974, Leupold began letter coding riflescope serial numbers. All scopes produced during that year had the letter E as a prefix to the serial number. The next year the letter code was advanced to F, and so on through the alphabet. The letters I,O, and Q, were skipped so that they wouldn't be confused with numbers. When they reached Z in 1992 they started over at the beginning of the alphabet with letter A. This time they used a suffix.

Prefix

E - 1974

F - 1975

G - 1976

H - 1977

J - 1978

K - 1979

L - 1980

M - 1981

N - 1982

P - 1983

R - 1984

S - 1985

T - 1986

U - 1987

V - 1988

W -1989

X - 1990

Y - 1991

Z - 1992

Suffix

1993 - A

1994 - B

1995 - C

1996 - D

Leupold Scopes Website

1997 - E

1998 - F

1999 - G

2000 - H

Leupold Rifle Scope Serial Numbers

2001 - J

2002 - K

Leupold Rifle Scope Serial Numbers Identification

2003 - L

Leupold Rifle Scope Serial Numbers For Sale

2004 - M