Camarillo Traders MINTY Ordnance Optics 4x18mm Scope Manufacturer Ordnance Optics (Japan) Magnification Fixed 4x Accessories OG Box, Inspector Tag, Letter of Authenticity These scopes that we are offering are not replicas, they are new-old-stock and came from the original bulk lot purchase by Jim Thompson and remained in the inventory of Martin B. Retting, Inc. until it’s closure in 2023. These scopes, along with much of Martin B. Retting’s prior inventory, were entrusted to us, and it is with these scopes that mark a rare opportunity to own a highly collectible piece of American History that comes with concrete provenance and an unbroken chain of possession from the day that made it infamous. The Retting connection to the Optic used in the assassination of JFK is contained within the Warren Commission report, as well as being verifiable through countless published sources on the investigation. A letter of authenticity will be included along with your purchase. Background & History:
Ordnance Optics was a company founded by Robert Eugene “Bob” Penny around 1960. Bob Penny had been heavily involved in the robust Southern California surplus arms trade contracted with a Japanese Optics firm to produce a small, lightweight and inexpensive 4-power optic with an 18mm Objective Lens. This early optic was very basic, but offered reasonable optical quality, and was patterned after more well-known manufacturers but were intended as an “entry level price point” offering. The scopes were offered with a series of stamped steel mounts that allowed them to be mounted on many surplus WWII and earlier arms that were imported during the 50’s and 60’s. Around 1960-61 Penny decided to dissolve the company and liquidate the assets. Penny found a buyer in friend and colleague Jim Thompson, the manager of Martin Retting’s retail gun-shop in Culver City, CA. Thompson agreed to purchase, as a bulk lot, the entire remaining supply of these scopes from Ordnance Optics. Scuttlebutt was that at the time, Thompson failed to secure Retting’s approval before finalizing the purchase, which probably led to some fervent discussions. Finding themselves suddenly in possession of such a large quantity of scopes, the Retting company decided to offer these as wholesale goods. One of their largest buyers was the world-famous surplus firm of Klein’s Sporting Goods of Chicago Illinois. Klein’s at the time was heavily involved in the import and mail order distribution of surplus bolt-action rifles. They offered the “Ordnance Optics” scope as a roughly $7.00 “upgrade” with the purchase of some rifles (see included picture of the Klein’s ad), including their Italian 6.5mm Terni made “Carcano” carbines, which could be purchased for $19.95 with optics. One of these Terni M91/38 Carcano bolt-action carbines, serial number C2766 and mounted with an “Ordnance Optics” 4x18 scope were purchased by Lee Harvey Oswald under the alias A. “Alek” Hidell in March of 1963. It would be with that rifle that would forever go down as one of the most infamous moments in United States history. Knurled v. Smooth scopes: There were two version of the Ordnance Optics scope, one with a knurled treatment on the ocular housing and an otherwise identical version with a smooth ocular housing. Shortly before his death, we were able to ask Bob Penny himself about the difference and whether it involved different production runs. Penny assured us that there one only one production run, and only one importation of these scopes. He knew of the difference within the run but never received any explanation as to why the change was made. The variation is likely due to an inline change made at the contracting factory, but all records or other documentation have been lost to time. The scope used on the Hidell rifle was knurled, but it was most likely just a matter of chance as the scopes were shipped as sealed cases with no differentiation. PLEASE REACH OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS
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Camarillo Traders LLC, 1211 Flynn Road Unit 108 Camarillo CA, 93012
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