{"product_id":"original-german-wwi-interwar-gewehr-98-visar-2-x-sniper-scope-by-emil-busch-retailed-by-ernst-steigleder-with-leather-eye-cover-serial-2381","title":"Original German WWI - Interwar Gewehr 98 “Visar” 2 ¾ x Sniper Scope by Emil Busch \u0026 Retailed by Ernst Steigleder with Leather Eye Cover - Serial 2381","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. Only One Available. This is a very interesting original German \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEmil Busch “Visar” 2 3\/4x\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e telescopic sight of the type used on Gewehr 98 sniper rifles during WWI, additionally engraved for the prominent Berlin and Suhl arms dealer \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eErnst Steigleder\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e. The scope retains its original-style mounts and a leather double-ended lens cover, while the Busch maker markings, magnification, D.R.G.M. designation, and serial number \u003cb\u003e2381 \u003c\/b\u003eremain clearly present. Comparable Busch Visar 2 3\/4x scopes are well documented on Imperial German Gewehr 98 sniper rifles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe side of the scope is hand-engraved:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eERNST STEIGLEDER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBERLIN \u0026amp; SUHL\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is for the retailer of the scope. Ernst Steigleder was an established German gun dealer and arms merchant with operations in both Berlin and Suhl. He opened a Berlin business after training at J.P. Sauer \u0026amp; Sohn and maintained a Suhl branch, placing him firmly within the German sporting-arms and firearms trade before, during, and after WWI.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brass attachment piece is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“VISAR” 2 ¾ x\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eD.R.G.M.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e2381\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmil Busch A.-G.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRathenow\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEmil Busch of Rathenow\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e was one of the German optical manufacturers whose civilian and military telescopic sights were adapted for use on Scharfschützen-Gewehr 98 rifles during WWI. Surviving documented examples of the Visar 2 3\/4x carry very similar markings and are specifically associated with Gewehr 98 sniper rifles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scope measures 11 ⅛” long. There are mounts, and they look correct for a WWI era example. This would likely fit well onto a Gewehr 98 with the proper mount for this scope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scope comes complete with the original leather eyecup set, which is a single piece with a securing strap and snap in the middle. One end is stamped \u003cb\u003e265\u003c\/b\u003e, and the other end is stamped \u003cb\u003e395\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Visar 2 3\/4x belongs to the diverse family of optics used by Imperial Germany after the Army expanded its sniper program during WWI. By 1915, selected Gewehr 98 rifles were being equipped with telescopic sights from numerous optical houses, including Busch, Zeiss, Goerz, Hensoldt, Voigtländer, Oigee, and others. The German wartime system never relied on one single standardized sniper scope, and both commercial and military-pattern optics were pressed into service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Busch Visar was among those patterns associated with wartime Gewehr 98 sniper use. A surviving period photograph has even been identified by specialist collectors as showing an Emil Busch Visar 2 3\/4x mounted on a Gewehr 98. The exact production date of this individual scope remains uncertain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its Emil Busch A.-G. Rathenow markings, “Visar” 2 3\/4x designation, D.R.G.M. stamp, serial 2381, Ernst Steigleder Berlin \u0026amp; Suhl retailer engraving, retained claw-style mounts, and original leather lens cover, this is an especially interesting example of the commercial-optics network that supplied telescopic sights used with Imperial German sniper rifles during and around WWI.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45644731220037,"sku":"ONSV26WSV120","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/1688DF78-9D59-4864-BDD0-2CF1A58FB0D7.jpg?v=1787944003","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwi-interwar-gewehr-98-visar-2-x-sniper-scope-by-emil-busch-retailed-by-ernst-steigleder-with-leather-eye-cover-serial-2381","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}