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Posted: 8/9/2010 8:58:50 AM EDT
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I just bought a couple PVS-14 3X magnifiers. They were advertised as the Mil-Spec. ones. First off, they are very well-built, definitely new (not a mark or scratch on them), excellent finish and appear to be very clear, but there's minimal markings on them. The only thing is a label around the objective lens (looks "military") that says "80063-A3256391" then the serial number. It came in a little green Mil-looking pouch.
Is this really a Mil-Spec unit? Is there any way to tell the difference between the Mil-Spec and commercial ones? The image is very clear when attached to the PVS, but I have nothing to compare it to. |
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I had one of these as well that I snatched of of eBay for about $100. I believe that it was in fact Mil issue. |
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Yup, I tracked down the numbers available (found the Cage #) and compared pictures of the Mil. vs. commercial ones. Apparently it was really new (never been issued/sold) to the military, so the standard sticker on the body hadn't been affixed yet, just the S/N and Cage number. It was made by a major military contractor. I talked to a buddy who works for this company, and he said it was probably either an over-run or a blem (I can't see anything wrong!).
It definitely works great. Really pulls the images in, and it's amazing how far you can see through a PVS-14. As far as stargazing, it makes all the difference. One thing I did notice is that it renders most IR illuminators pretty useless (even the Vampire) due to the increased distance you can effectively see. It really brought out the advantage of my 'Da Torch though. For some reason, there's a few of them out there right now. I paid $140.00 for mine, and I've seen a few more for around that same price (mostly E-Bay). That's kinda what made me think that it wasn't Mil-Spec, as they retail for around $500.00. It is definitely a "must have" if you have a PVS-14. |
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