| Imagine buying what seemed to be a Leupold scope | | | | Here's how to know if you are holding a fake or the |
| through an online sale, having to return the rifle scope | | | | real deal: |
| to the Leupold repair facility in Beaverton, OR to find | | | | Adjustment dial - All legitimate Leupold scopes carry |
| out that the scope you purchased is really a fake! | | | | the antiqued brass Leupold medallion on the |
| Unfortunately, according to Leupold support, this is | | | | adjustment dial. So far, all the known counterfeit |
| happening more and more. | | | | scopes have had a bare black center on the |
| As it stands right now, the counterfeit models seem | | | | adjustment dials. |
| to be confined to the ultra popular Mark 4 series, | | | | Objective ring - All authentic Leupold scopes have |
| which is one of Leupold's top sellers in military and | | | | black on black objective rings, with "Leupold" inscribed |
| law enforcement. It somewhat stands to reason as | | | | on the ring. The counterfeit sport an objective ring |
| the Mark 4's are not inexpensive so it was probably | | | | etched in white on black, and does not say "Leupold." |
| pretty simple to sell a counterfeit one at the right | | | | Turrent - Bona Fide Leupold scopes bear the |
| price. Leupold has been able to track the counterfeit | | | | "Leupold" logo and "Mark 4" nomenclature laser |
| models back to Hong Kong and China. Based on the | | | | etched in silver on the bottom of the turret. |
| instances that Leupold is aware of, the purchases | | | | Serial number - All Leupold scopes have a serial |
| seem to originate on the Internet in some way. It is | | | | number, generally on or around the bottom turrent. |
| also believed that some of these counterfeit versions | | | | The current clones don't feature a serial number yet. |
| might have made their way into secondary | | | | Should you have a question about the authenticity of |
| merchandising channels (illegal Leupold dealers) | | | | a Leupold, please contact their customer service at |
| through the gray market (surplus goods funneled | | | | 1-800-LEUPOLD for more information. |
| through Europe or Canada into the US). | | | | |