Swarovski Scopes, good, better, best?

[Shootist43]

Yesterday I purchased a used Swarovski scope on EBay for my newly acquired 308 Norma Mag. I noticed that some of the scope descriptions included the word "Habicht" while others did not. What is the difference between a Swarovski Habicht and Swarovski scopes that do not have that nomenclature in their description? This is my first scope purchase outside of my normal brands which include Vintage Weaver K - 4 (El Paso), Leupold, and lately Nikon. I was thinking it might be a model designation similar to Leupold's VX1, VX2 ... VX6.

I was unable to find anything on the internet, but figured that AH Members could and would provide me with an answer.

 

[rookhawk]

Habicht were their older line, typically 1" tubes and made in the 1980s or early 1990s at latest. They are quality German optics in every way but they are not of the quality of new production scopes so price accordingly.

I've had to seek them out previously when I've had rifles that included complicated mounts in 26mm / 1" and I couldn't find a proper modern scope. I knew that a habicht would do the trick better than anything out there in that $300-$500 range even though they are a bit long in the tooth.

The last I had was a 1-4x habicht marked "west Germany" so I think it was from around 1986-1987.

 

[Shootist43]

Thanks rookhawk, that is the answer I was looking for.