Optical gun sight

• US 4,806,007 A
• Filed: 11/06/1987
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trijicon, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Armson Incorporated
• Inventors: Bindon, Glyn A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/118,410
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 33/245, 33/246, 350/562, 350/566, 350/569, 356/251, 356/252, 356/254
• US Class Current: 359/424
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/34 illuminated

Abstract

An optical gun sight having a central axis for a hand gun, shot gun and/or rifle having a firing axis and with the gun sight having an image erector system located generally at the focal plane of the gun sight and with the gun sight including adjustment means operative on the image erector system for selectively moving the image erector system in two tranverse directions which are in turn transverse to the central axis to provide calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the hand gun, shot gun or rifle whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target.

Claims

1. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means having a plurality of light transmitting and reflective surfaces including a first and a second of said surfaces being axially spaced along said central axis and defining the axially extending length of said image erector means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane at said predetermined location within said axially extending length of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target.

2. The optical gun sight of claim 1 further comprising:

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said reticle projecting means located within said axially extending length of said image erector means.

3. The optical gun sight of claim 1 further comprising:

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said reticle projecting means located within said axially extending length of said image erector means,

illumination means illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said reticle projecting means for movement with said image erector means.

4. The optical gun sight of claim 1 further comprising:

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means, and

said prism means having said light transmitting and reflective surfaces.

5. The optical gun sight of claim 1 further comprising:

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means located within said axially extending length of said image erector means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means.

6. The optical gun sight of claim 1 further comprising:

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said prism means having said light transmitting and reflective surfaces,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said reticle projecting means located within said axially extending length of said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism.

7. The optical gun sight of claim 1 further comprising:

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said prism means having said light transmitting and reflective surfaces,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said reticle projecting means located within said axially extending length of said image erector means,

ilumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said reticle projecting means for movement with said image erector means.

8. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern.

9. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preslected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantialy focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means.

10. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said helper prism having a plurality of prism surfaces,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern.

11. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said helper prism having a plurality of prism surfaces,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern,

said roof prism and said helper prism oriented such that said roof prism is closest to said objective lens means and first receives the image of the target from said objective lens means.

12. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said helper prism having a plurality of prism surfaces

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means.

13. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said helper prism having a plurality of prism surfaces,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said roof prism and said helper prism oriented such that said roof prism is closest to said objective lens means and first receives the image of the target from said objective lens means.

14. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith.

15. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism surfaces being defined by surfaces on said roof prism and said helper prism,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces on said helper prism,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith.

16. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism surfaces being defined by surfaces on said roof prism and said helper prism,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces on said helper prism,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means.

17. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism surfaces being defined by surfaces on said roof prism and said helper prism,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces on said helper prism,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said illumination means located behind said reticle pattern for projecting said reticle pattern substantially in the same direction of reflection of said focused image from said mirror surface.

18. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism surfaces being defined by surfaces on said roof prism and said helper prism,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces on said helper prism,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said illumination means comprising day illumination means including a light collecting and transmitting rod located at a forward portion of said hollow housing section and extending into said hollow housing section at a position proximate to the back of said mirror surface and including a flexible fiber optic connected to said collecting rod and communicating the collected light to a preselected position behind said reticle pattern.

19. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism surfaces being defined by surfaces on said roof prism and said helper prism,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces on said helper prism,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said illumination means comprising day illumination means including a light collecting and transmitting rod located at a forward portion of said hollow housing section and extending into said hollow housing section at a position proximate to the back of said mirror surface and including a flexible fiber optic connected to said collecting rod and communicating the collected light to a preselected position behind said reticle pattern,

said tubular housing means comprising a main housing and an eyepiece housing removably connected together generally at the location of said image erector means,

said light rod collecting light over its exposed length with said exposed length being greater than around 50% of the axial length of said main housing.

20. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism surfaces being defined by surfaces on said roof prism and said helper prism,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces on said helper prism,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said illumination means comprising day illumination means including a light collecting and transmitting rod located at a forward portion of said hollow housing section and extending into said hollow housing section at a position proximate to the back of said mirror surface and including a flexible fiber optic connected to said collecting rod and communicating the collected light to a preselected position behind said reticle pattern,

said tubular housing means comprising a main housing and an eyepiece housing removably connected together generally at the location of said image erector means,

said light rod collecting light over its exposed length with said exposed length being between around 70% to 90% of the axial length of said main housing.

21. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said prism means comprising a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism surfaces being defined by surfaces on said roof prism and said helper prism,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces on said helper prism,

illumination means for illuminating said reticle pattern and connected with said mirror surface for movement therewith,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said illumination means comprising day illumination means including a light collecting and transmitting rod located at a forward portion of said hollow housing section and extending into said hollow housing section at a position proximate to the back of said mirror surface and including a fiber optic connected to said collecting rod and communicating the collected light to a preselected position behind said reticle pattern, a transparent shield secured to said housing means and overlaying and protecting said collecting rod.

22. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said preselected plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means being supported for movement with said image erector means,

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface on one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said mirror surface being generally vertical and said reticle projecting means providing at least a vertically extending pattern which is substantially parallax free, with said vertically extending pattern having vertically spaced gradations for assistance in compensation for distances other than that for which said optical gun sight is calibrated.

23. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means having a plurality of light transmitting and reflective surfaces including a first and a second of said surfaces being axially spaced along said central axis and defining the axially extending length of said image erector means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane at said predetermined location within said axially extending length of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said internal adjustment means comprising support housing means for supporting said image erector means and further comprising a spherical bearing structure for connecting said support housing means with said tubular housing means for selective movement of said image erector means in said two transverse directions,

said first and second of said surfaces of said image erector means being generally axially located within the confines of said spherical bearing structure.

24. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said internal adjustment means comprising support housing means for supporting said image erector means and further comprising a spherical bearing structure for connecting said support housing means with said tubular housing means for selective movement of said image erector means in said two transverse directions,

said image erector means comprising a prism assembly,

said support housing means including a prism housing for supporting said prism assembly generally at said preselected plane,

said hollow housing section including a forward housing member for supporting said objective lens means and a rearward housing member for supporting said ocular lens means,

said spherical bearing structure being defined by cooperating surfaces on said prism housing and said forward and rearward housing members.

25. The optical gun sight of claim 24 with said prism housing including a plurality of engaging surfaces located in quadrature with each other,

said internal adjustment means further including adjustment assemblies supported in said forward housing member and including radially movable adjustment members engageable with said engaging surfaces for providing selective movement of said prism housing and hence of said prism assembly in said two transverse directions by means of said spherical bearing.

26. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis and having a barrel comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a substantially focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said internal adjustment means comprising support housing means for supporting said image erector means and further comprising a spherical bearing structure for connecting said support housing means with said tubular housing means for selective movement of said image erector means in said two transverse directions,

said tubular housing means having longitudinally extending bore means under said hollow housing section for permitting sighting along the barrel independently of sighting through the lens system of said optical gun sight.

27. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing a focused image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preseleced plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said tubular housing section comprising a forward housing member having a forward connecting portion and a rearward housing member having a rearward connecting portion,

connecting means for connecting said forward and rearward housing members together at said forward and rearward connecting portions,

said forward and rearward housing members having generally spherically contoured internal surfaces located generally at said forward and rearward connecting portions for defining a spherically contoured bearing seat,

said image erector means comprising a prism assembly, prism housing means operatively associated with said image erector means for securing said prism assembly within said tubular housing section,

said prism housing means having a generally spherically contoured external surface adapted to be matably received within said spherical bearing seat to define therewith a spherical bearing,

said prism assembly being located at said preselected plane by said prism housing means and said spherical bearing seat,

internal adjustment means including said spherical bearing operable with said prism housing means for providing selective movement of said prism housing means via said spherical bearing and hence of said prism assembly in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target.

28. The optical gun sight of claim 27 with said prism housing including a plurality of engaging surfaces located in quadrature with each other,

said internal adjustment means further including adjustment assemblies supported in said forward housing member and including radially movable adjustment members engageable with said engaging surfaces for providing selective movement of said prism housing and hence of said prism assembly in said two transverse directions by means of said spherical bearing.

29. The optical gun sight of claim 27 with said prism assembly including a roof prism and a helper prism,

said prism housing means being generally tubular in construction and having a rearward portion having a circumferential opening with a web extending longitudinally, diagonally across said circumferential opening,

said roof prism and said helper prism being supported in spaced relationship on opposite sides of said web.

30. The optical gun sight of claim 29 with said prism housing including a plurality of engaging surfaces located in quadrature with each other,

said internal adjustment means further including adjustment assemblies supported in said forward housing member and including radially movable adjusting members engageable with said engaging surfaces for providing selective movement of said prism housing and hence of said prism assembly in said two transverse directions by means of said spherical bearing.

31. The optical gun sight of claim 27 with the portable gun having a barrel and with said tubular housing means having longitudinally extending bore means under said hollow housing section for permitting sighting along the barrel independently of sighting through the lens system of said optical gun sight.

32. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing an image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said focal plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said preselected plane being the plane of said mirror surface.

33. The optical gun sight of claim 32 further comprising:

said prism means comprising a plurality of reflecting and transmitting prism surfaces, and

said mirror surface being one of said prism surfaces with said mirror surface including said reticle pattern.

34. An optical gun sight for attachment to a manually portable gun having a firing axis comprising:

tubular housing means having a generally elongated and hollow housing section for receiving a target to be sighted at its forward end and for viewing an image of such target at its rearward end,

said tubular housing means having a central axis,

said tubular housing means having securing section means for securing said gun sight to the gun,

objective lens means located at said forward end of said hollow housing section for receiving the target to be sighted and for providing an image of the target at a preselected plane at a predetermined location within said hollow housing section,

ocular lens means located at said rearward end of said hollow housing section for viewing an image of such target,

image erector means located within said hollow housing section intermediate said objective lens means and said ocular lens means for providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

said image erector means operatively associated with said objective lens means for receiving the image of the target from said objective lens means and for providing and locating the image of the target at said preselected plane within the confines of said image erector means and providing a properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

internal adjustment means operative on said image erector means for selectively moving said image erector means in two transverse directions which are in turn transverse to said central axis of said tubular housing means to permit calibration of the position of the image of the target relative to the firing axis of the gun whereby compensation can be provided for the trajectory of the bullet to the target,

said image erector means including prism means located at said preselected plane for providing a substantially focused image at said focal plane and for providing the properly oriented image of the target to the viewer through said ocular lens means,

reticle projecting means for providing a reticle pattern with the image of the target from said objective lens means,

said reticle projecting means comprising a mirror surface,

said prism means providing a substantially focused image of the sighted target on said mirror surface of said reticle projecting means,

said preselected plane being the plane of said mirror surface,

said mirror surface being generally vertical and said reticle projecting means providing at least a vertically extending pattern which is substantially parallax free, with said vertically extending pattern having vertically spaced gradations for assistance in compensation for distances other than that for which said optical gun sight is calibrated.