|
In early 1962, The
David White Company (best known for early triple lens cameras
and survey instruments), created the Realist Riflescope
Division, which in turn developed the Realist 3X20 20mm
objective Ballistic Drop Compensating cam (BDC 100-400 yards)
telescopic sight for the Armalite AR-15/M-16 rifle and later for
the Colt Sporter AR-15/16s. Realist 'Colt' 3x20 carry handle mounted scopes, which were made the the USA, were used during the Vietnam War. Realist 'Camputer' Auto/Ranging scopes were also in use during the Vietnam War by snipers. The name Camputer is a play on the words 'cam' because the sight used a cam system for different types of rifles to 'program' the range like a 'computer'.
Colt 'Realist' 3 x 20 Sporter scope c.1969-73 What follows here, is the civilian market production of Realist Rifle Scopes produced during the late 1960's and early 70s during the last years of the Vietnam War. According to Nick Stroebel's book, "Old Rifle Scopes", "Starting in 1965, Realist Inc., Menomonie, Wis., imported a quality line of hunting telescopic sights. All featured constantly centered reticles, nitrogen-filled alloy tubes, and the choice of crosswire, post and crosswire or dot reticles. In 1968, after reaching an agreement with its designer, Jim Leatherwood, Realist introduced the first American-made ART (Auto Ranging Telescope). Realist scopes are last cataloged in the 1974 Gun Digest. See the ads below. The Auto/Range and Camputor 6x scope (1968-1974) The first scope shown below is marked 'Realist Camputer' and has the 270 (130 Gr) cam installed. Apparently they came with a number of different cams for different calibers. This scope was made in USA and is so marked.
This is a VERY RARE, fully functional sniper
Rifle Scope. The scope was designed by Jim Leatherwood, the
famous designer/creator of the ART I and ART II sniper scopes used
in Southeast Asia to enable a sniper with only moderate training to
accurately shoot out to 800 meters without running through all the
calculations and compensations to manually adjust for the ballistics
of the load being fired. Jim Leatherwood created the ART / MPC after
the ART II, taking the knowledge learned with the military
applications of his Auto-Ranging-Sniper scopes, and applying them in
the design and productions of an Auto-Ranging scope for non-warfare
use. |
