Overview of Leupold Scopes Serial Numbers

Leupold Optics is one of the premier sporting optics brands in the world and has established a near-fanatical following with shooters and hunters in the United States. Due to their overall popularity, it’s no surprise that I spend a substantial amount of time answering or trying to answer questions associated with the Leupold different Leupold scopes. One common theme that seems to come up in those questions involves Leupold scopes serial numbers and how to use those serial numbers to do the following:

• Identify the year that the scope was manufactured.
• Identify the specific Leupold scope model.

Given the interest in these topics, I thought it might make sense to answer some of those serial number-based questions on paper.

Note that Leupold actually has a page on their website that provides some of this information, but it’s very brief and can be a bit confusing. As such, I’ll be using this page (which can be seen here) as a reference point throughout this post.

Leupold Scope Serial Number Data

Scopes Manufactured Before 1974

Although I haven’t been able to locate a specific year, it looks as though Leupold started serializing scopes in the mid to late 1960s. Any serialized riflescope from Leupold that was manufactured before 1974 will have a 5- or 6-digit serial number without any letters or prefixes.

To check the manufacture date on one of these models, your best bet is to email or call Leupold so they can research it.

Scopes Manufactured between 1974 and 1992

From 1974 to 1992, Leupold used a serial numbering system that included a letter at the beginning of the serial number.

The letter prefix on those serial numbers equates to a specific year of manufacture.

Data pulled from: https://www.leupold.com/faq/when-was-my-leupold-riflescope-manufactured

Scopes Manufactured After 1993

In 1993, Leupold changed their serial number system by changing the letter’s position. Instead of placing the letter in the front of the number, they moved it over to the end of the number (which is commonly called a suffix).

In addition, scopes produced after 1993 may have either a single or double-letter designation.

Data pulled from: https://www.leupold.com/faq/when-was-my-leupold-riflescope-manufactured

How to Use the Year-Manufactured Data

Here are a few real-life examples of how to interpret the Leupold serial number data:

In the example above, the box for this VX-3i 4.5-14×40 CDS model has a serial number of 343522AE so this Leupold model was manufactured in 2018.

In the image above, the serial number of 244280AA on this VX-3L 3.5-10×50 model means that scope was manufactured in 2014.

Where is the Serial Number on a Leupold Scope

Depending on when the optic was manufactured, there are two potential locations where the scope serial number is visible:

On the Scope Box (Not an Option on all models)

I’m not entirely sure when Leupold started listing the serial number of the box, but most of the models manufactured in the last ten years have the serial number listed on the end of the box where the scope specifications are displayed.

On the Bottom of the Turret

Any serialized Leupold scope will have the serial number listed underneath the scope turret, which many people consider the “bottom” of the scope.

The turret is the scope area where the elevation and windage are adjusted. The serial number is located on the bottom of the turret adjustment area.

FAQS

Here are some frequently asked questions related to the serial numbers on Leupold scopes:

Where can I find a Leupold serial number lookup?

Leupold does not currently offer a serial number look-up database or leupold serial number check feature. However, they do offer the serial number parameters listed above to determine when a Leupold scope was manufactured.

How to tell when a Leupold scope was manufactured?

Depending on the age of the Leupold scope, you can usually determine the year of manufacture based on the serial number format. The information listed above, or the information listed at this location on the Leupold website, offers some help in determining the year the optic was manufactured.

Does the Leupold serial number also identify the specific scope model?

Outside of contacting the Leupold company directly, there is no way to determine the specific Leupold scope model based on the serial number. However, Leupold customer support can most likely identify the model from the serial number.

How can I tell if my Leupold scope was made after 2004?

The easiest way is to look at the serial number’s format. If the serial number has a letter or letters at the end of the number, then it was manufactured sometime after 1992. The specific letter or letters appended to the serial number can be used to determine the particular year that the scope was produced.

I have an older Leupold M8 6 power scope. How can I figure out when it was made?

Assuming it has a serial number, you can potentially use the serial number to figure out the year it was manufactured. You can also contact Leupold customer support, who can probably help research your serial number.