When you're investing in premium optics, you want to be sure that they're 100% legitimate and you haven't been duped.

Counterfeit goods and fake rip-off products leave consumers disappointed and in the long term out of pocket. That's why we began our Leupold Gold Ring Dealer collaboration. By working with select retailers across the UK we can ensure that customers are getting genuine Leupold products and getting the after-care that comes with owner a premium rifle scope or rifle accessory. 

Did you know that all Leupold riflescopes are given an individual serial number? Counterfeit scopes often use a fake serial number, suspect identical serial numbers, or a non-standard numbering convention. If you find a rifle scope or any Leupold product for sale that you think may be fake or counterfeit you can give Viking. Arms a call and we'll check the serial number for you. 

All Leupold rifle scopes are designed, manufactured. and assembled at the Beaverton Oregon production facility in America. Unlike many other big name optics companies Leupold doesn't operate any other production facilities anywhere else in the world. This means that Leupold have complete quality control over their products and can quickly check whether a scope or an optic is a fake.

If you come across a Leupold riflescope being shipped into the United States or the United Kingdom from China, it is very likely to be a counterfeit.

What should you look out for?

In this example we're looking at the Leupold VX-3.

A brief search online throws up a now discontinued VX-3 4.5-14X 40 mm scope. It's believable to think it may be reduced in price, but this scope was up for sale at 87% off the RRP. It looks convincing in the pictures, it features a mil-dot reticle but the led times on delivery are another giveaway. As mentioned above, all of these scopes are manufactured at one factory in the US and if you're not buying from an authorised distributor overseas and it looks like it's coming from China and will take ages to arrive then beware. 

The counterfeits these days look good. The glass is clear but when you compare a fake with an original the picture is clearly distorted. The next feature that's nearly perfect is the replica Leupold emblem and the fake clicks that on first touch are crisp and tactile.

But, the telltale signs start to come in. The tone of Leopold’s signature golden ring is lost and you can also spot cheap errors such as the Roman numeral III being used in place of “3”. Perhaps the biggest giveaway is  cheaply made rings, which Leupold would never include with a genuine optic. 

If you're ever in doubt, make sure you give the Viking Arms team a call and we'll check the serial numbers for you!