Solothurn S18-1000 optic question.

[Contender]

As shown the Solothurn S18-1000 had an optic does anyone know what the reticle looked like? Since its related to Rheinmetall and uses the same German 20×138mm rounds, I suspect the sight might look similar to the Flak 38's ground sight but I have zero evidence and I do not even know the FoV and magnification of the Solothurn sight. I have not been able to even find manuals about this weapon despite its use in the German army, Italy and a few other nations.

[jbaum]

The Swedish manual for the S18-1000 has been translated to English and is available at www.Germanmanuals.com but it contains nothing about the telescopic sight.

[Cav1]

From what I've been able to piece together, the usual S-18/1000 scope was manufactured by the Swiss optical firm of Kern & Co. AG, the one example I saw outside of the rifle's protective tube housing at the fortress museum in Full was clearly marked "2.75x" for magnification and "120 0/00" for field of view. The knob on top is a manually-operated BDC matching the trajectory of the 20x138B AP round in 100 meter increments out to 1,200 m. In your middle photo you can make out an unusually advanced feature for an optic from that era. There is a small threaded metal cap retained by a chain "dummy cord". The cap could be removed and a small incandescent lamp was screwed into the well to illuminate the reticle for shooting in low light conditions. The reticle was a German-style inverted post pointer with IIRC three graduated vertical lines on either side for leading moving targets.

I ASSUME but do not KNOW the Dutch, Italian and Swedish exported weapons used the same scope. It sure looks like it from the photos but it's awful hard to tell with that housing covering most of the scope tube and all the markings. FWIW, I do know the Hungarians manufactured their own completely different scope for use on their version of the S-18/100.

[Contender]

I think that assumption is fair, incidentally I was able to find the Hungarian optic for the short S18-100 Hungarian version.... but still nothing on the S18-1000.

[Crazy Texan]

I have an original AV 20 MM pvkan m/39 manual from Sweden with parts numbers and schematic diagram if any questions.

Thanks.

[jbaum]

This is the title of the S18-1000 Swedish manual that I have translated to English: Solothurn S18-1000 20 mm PVkan m/41. I have no idea what, if any, differences there are between the m/39 and m/41. I've also translated a very brief (16 pages) S18-100 manual, which gives only an overview of the operation but does have these specs about it's sight: Magnification:2x, Field of view:20°, Exit pupil:8 mm.

I had someone give me a factory drawing of the S18-1000, which I include in it's entirety (in sections) in the translation. All the part numbers in the manual match the part numbers in the drawing. Here is a section of that drawing.

[Biffj]

I believe the scope is made by Wild but it could have been Kern or maybe both companies were used. I can check when I get back to the shop. According to all the info on my scope they are 2 power.
The reticle is an inverted V if I recall correctly but once again I can verify when I get to the shop.
I've not looked through the sight for the FLAK gun for a long time but I have a friend with one so I'll see if he can get some info for me.
I have the Swedish manual as well as John Baum's excellent translation. While the pictures are very helpful the text is less so.

Frank

[T. A. Gardner]

Well, if someone can remind me around the beginning of March 2024, I'll try to go up to the Big Sandy Shoot where there'll likely be at least one, if not more, S18-1000's present and see if I can answer that question definitively by looking through the actual optics and get a photo for you. It's a day trip for me from Phoenix.

https://bigsandyshoot.com/

[Biffj]

Got the info....
Scope is indeed made by Kern of Aarau Switzerland. It is also 2.75 power as noted by a previous poster. I was obviously mistaken there. The reticle is a black triangle with vertical lines on each side going to the bottom. Along side there are small inverted V's with numbers below to show how far off center the mark is. I believe it is marked for minutes of angle for the offsets. Also on top of the scope is a marking that I think indicates the field of view is 120 minutes of angle. If I can post the pics with the markings this should be clear. The reticle however was not very cooperative in letting me take pictures.

Frank

[Rastmust]

120 minutes of angle translates to 2 degrees, and that doesn't make any sense for a 2.75x optic. Are you sure it isn't 20 degrees?

[Grzesio]

The o/oo mark denotes parts-per-thousand, so the angle of view is most likely 120 mils (120 m in 1000 m distance), i.e. 6,75 deg.