Unknown 3-9x56 Review

Overall Rating

Massive objective lense
Good clarity
Adjustable magnification
Looks brilliant
Build quality seems alright

Poor eye relief
Too big for most air rifles
What make is it?

I've always wanted to own a monster scope, and now I have one - the second of my buys from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.

I got this one from a surplus store, where details about the scope were apparently non existent. I'm guessing this is an SMK, because it has the silver ring that wraps around the huge 56mm objective lense. However, I can't be sure as the scope didn't come with anything apart from some protective material it was wrapped in and a box with the few words "rifle scope" on the top.

It's nesassary to make clear that, although you may be tempted (as I was) to go for the biggest scope you can find to fit an air rifle, bigger does not always mean better (but I'm sure you knew that anyway).

The best thing about this scope is the excessive size - fitted onto a BSA Supersport this scope almost looks bigger than the rifle itself! The 56mm objective lense means that you can keep shooting right up until it's almost dark, and with perfect visibilaty.

I have a strong feeling that this is a 3-9 magnification version of the SMK 8x56, which I nearly ordered a few months ago. Despite this, I haven't found any online articles about this scope, so it seems that it is a very rare piece of kit and well worth holding on to.

The thing that's hardest to get on with would definitely be the very, very poor eye relief. It is extremely hard to look through the scope and get a complete circle of view - and this makes it hard to zero the scope in. I did manage to get it perfectly set up, but it's all now slightly out again after a few days of sitting on the table.

If you manage to find one, I do recommend this scope to anyone, despite not knowing who it's made by, for use on a full size rifle. With an £80 price tag (give or take £10) this definitely isn't a toy or plinking scope. This is a full size, no nonsense target shooting, or possibly hunting scope, and has a lot of potential if only the eye relief was slightly better.

If I can find out more information about this scope then I'll post it here as and when I come across it.

I hope this has been useful in some way, although it's not the most descriptive review.

Attempting to find one of these rarities is well worth a try, if only that.

Members' Comments onCognition's Review

• Cognition on 18th Apr 2007

  Yes, just found out that this is an SMK scope. A version with illuminated reticule is available at www.airshooter.co.uk.