200-400

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20-40.jpg

  • In use - Telephoto Assembly Rifle Rifle.jpg
  • Type - Per Schouten: Special Viewfinder for Leica-Gun, 1937 Leitz, Wetzlar. Further development of the Leitz, Wetzlar, Leica Gun was forbidden in 1937 by the German Security Service. However, there existed a small number of already manufactured special viewfinders, which reached Leitz, New York, presumably after WWII. As they had developed meanwhile their own viewfinder for the Leitz, New York, Leica Gun RIFLE, these German orphans were disposed to interested parties in the 70s or 80s. This viewfinder example is mounted to a Visoflex-I mirror housing by a custom made dove-tail adapter. - Literature: James L. Lager, Volume III, p. 110. - One of the most unusual and rarest Leica accessory parts!
  • Source - Per Randol Hooper: "The Wetzlar gewehr certainly influenced the development of the American version. For example, at least 10 of the special viewfinders were shipped to Leitz New York for unknown purposes. Could they have been intended for use on the New York RIFLE? They were lost for many years to be rediscovered and sold to collectors in 1980. Once could speculate that E. Leitz New York contemplated production of the Wetzlar gewehr but scrapped the idea in favor of their own improved design ..."
    • From the Leica Historical Society of America (LHSA) article is in its Viewfinder publication Volume 14, Number 2, April - June 1981. On page 11 is a short article/introduction called Leica Guns, by Jim Lager. On page 12 starts an article called Wetzlar Gewehr by Randol Hooper. It shows several pictures of the "early gunstock camera" shown by G. Rogliatti. This piece of equipment was in the Leica museum which was subsequently sold off and then that collection was broken up. Page 14 gives good detail on this finder. - courtesy of zeitz
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