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PA BEN · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Washington St.

Just picked up this scope (New in the Box) and would like to know more about It. It's a 6-24x40mm, Bausch & Lomb, BALVAR by; Bushnell. Seems like an older scope, but the box has a bar code and is made in Japan. Any info would be nice. Thanks

Hammer1 · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 1607

The Bevar first introduced in the 50s ,did not have adjustments on the scope, adjustment were on the mounts. Second introduction was around 1990 with scope adjustments and no doubt "bar codes".
Very good quality scope, although I have never owned one.

PA BEN · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Washington St.

I picked it up NIB for 75 bucks :thumbsup1:

ratltrap · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Back when B&L was a U.S. firm that made great optics, the Balvar was a top of the line scope that cost several weeks pay and often many times what the rifle did. Don't know much about the newer Japanese version you have, but the U.S. version I have (w/ mount adjustments) still has depth of field and focus crispness (?) better than any other scope I own. However, it isn't even close on brightness or eye relief of recent cheap models by Bushnell and Tasco. That just shows that even cheap scopes have come a long way in the past few years. Todays cheap scopes are so good that I believe most high dollar Euro optics are way overpriced for what you get. I don't think that was true of the early Balvars. The consumer really got a superior product in the Balvar compared to other scopes that were available. I suspect that the old style mounting system is probably not very sturdy in field use, but I've been told that the idea behind that system was to provide a quick release system of mounting so that one scope could be changed repeatedly from rifle to rifle without readjusting the scope settings.

PA BEN · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Washington St.

Mine mounts like a regular scope. Is very clear, I just sited in my new 7mm rem. mag. in 3 shots. Pulled the bolt, looked down the barrel, put boar on target at 120 yds, put the cross hairs on the target. First shot new gun hit 6" high right above the bull.

WesternHunter · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 685 Location: Western USA

Bausch & Lomb has always made excellent optics, back when it was Bausch & Lomb making them, be it USA made or Japan made. Make no mistake, the Japanese make very great quality products and always have, despite the bias they recieve. Sounds to me like you got a great scope.