ZF4

Pictures of ZF4 and parts for ZF4

ZF4 scopes

These scopes were produced by:
AGFA Kamerawerk, München, code "bzz" - a rare scope.
Opticotechna GmbH, Prerau (Czechoslovakia), code "dow". The last are marked ZF K43 instead of ZF4. BLM used almost exclusively "dow". Walther used in some cases "dow".
Voightländer und Sohn, Braunschweig, code "ddx". The first are marked ZF4. The last are marked K43 and some have a double marking. Walther used "ddx".

The color of the triangle indicates the internally used grease:
Blue: grease for cold climate, most are seen with a blue triangle
White: grease for temperated climate
Green: grease for hot climate
Many of the last produced didn't have a color at all

A "dow" scope
A late variant - note the phosphated finish.

A "ddx" scope
with the special and not so common marking "L" - for use on the FG42 - see further down. (Beware fakes are out there)

Special ZF4's:

The "Bu" scope
Super rare. A special reticle after an idea of Hauptmann Burk, Gebirgsjägerschule Mittenwald.

The "P" scope
Super rare. Used on the MP44 with side mount ?

The elevation drum is marked "P" and the distance between the graduation is more than on the standard ZF4. Consequently the maximum distance is only 600 m.
This P-scope has a special mount but this is most certainly for a post-war civilian use.

The special "P" scope on a MP44. I am not sure about the origin of the mount.

A real FG42 scope
Super rare. Marked "L" + FG 42 and a serial number.

The "K.Z.F." scope
Super rare. It's presumed that this scope was used on the K98 for the "Swept Back Mount"

The "Versuch" (Test) scope
The marking is here:
GZF 69V
037
ddx
This should mean test #69, serial# 037 - some of these don't have the side adjustment (but this here has)

ZF4 used in Czecho-Slovakia after the war
ZF4's used by the Czechs after the war have a horizontal line through the markings. Many of these are of the late K43 dow type.

The scope below is a late war dow or a postwar Czech scope. It has a bold arrow.

The scope below is marked with a Czech lion and U 45 (made in 1945 ?) The scope is marked on the left side: ZF K 43 dow 41628. These markings have the horizintal line.

Scopes produced by the Czechs aren"t marked ZF4 but has a lion, a number, 4x and an indication of field view 4,5°. In some cases the lion has been removed. On the left side: Z1 - two swords - 49 and OM262.

The last ZF4 type produced in Czecho-Slovakia
I have been told that Meopta now has resumed the production of the "ZF4" and also make repairs.
(perhaps a reason for we now see many ZF4 fakes on auctions)

ZFK 43/1

The successor to the ZF4 was constructed by Zeiss in Jena (Code rln) in the latter part of 1944 . A focus knob was included. About 100 were produced and only 6 are known to have survived.

Wooden scope case
A difficult to find accessory

Metal scope case
Beware: almost all metal scope cases seen for sale are modern reproductions

From the "Fake department"

The "L" marked ddx scope
It's believed that the upper ZF4 has a fake marking. Perhaps made from a reworked "Meopta" scope

Sunshade

Note: Two originals and one repro right

Seen on eBay. The seller says this is a repro. If that's correct, it's difficult to tell what's genuine and what's a fake.

Rubber eye cups

Note: Two repro eye cups at the top.

Leather for the ZF4

Note: One repro at the left and three originals.

Wood plug for the rubber eye piece

Note: A repro upper left.

Mount lever

One original lever at the right. The latest repro levers are made exacly like the original.

Scope bands

The lower is a repro.
Note: there are differences between the interlock at the backside. Org.: Cut with an ellipse. Repro: Cut at 90 degrees angles.

Screws for the bands

The right one is a repro.

G43 scope mounts

How to tell the difference between real and fake:

I havn't held many scope mounts in my hand. I had a fake. It was very crude made and the centerline of the scope wasn't parallel to the line of the bore. The lever had capital letters (see above). The other is very well made - too well and has WaA214. Repro WaA359 mounts exist also and most repro mounts are round ended. The differences between the WaA214 repro mount and an early square ended WaA214 mount: (First the repro, then the real):
Appearance: smooth, blued - coarse, phosfated
Cradle: smooth - machine lines
WaA214: dull - sharp
Length of slot in the cradle for the rear screw: 12.0 mm - 7.3 mm,
Distance between the slot and the upper side of the cradle: 9.0 mm - 11.0 mm
Length of the cradle: 112.5 mm - 110.5 mm
(Measures from another real round ended: 7.5 mm, 10.8 mm and 110.5 mm)
Latch: slanted - stepshaped
Lever: see above
Differences between a real WaA359 and a real WaA214: (first WaA359, then 214):
WaA#: center - front
Number: front (late WaA359 have no number) - rear
Engraved number: sloping - vertical

Here you can see the differencies of the cradles

A genuine mount
WaA359 with square edges

Czech post war mount

"Fest" and "Lose" have been removed. In most cases the lever is marked "Pevne" and "Volne". The mount is marked "rid" (The Czech continued a similar coding system after the war and "rid" was a Czech code )

A beatiful scoped qve45 with numbermatching mount
The stock is marked ZF K43 (Does it mean that the rifle was test shooted and found usable as a sniper rifle). Note also the late type of sling.

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