Spotting a Fake Eotech

[joelogic]

there was a great thread on how to spot a fake aimpoint in the Rifle Forum but I couldnt find a good thread on spotting a fake eotech.

Could someone please point me in the right direction.

thanks in advance.

[SuperSet]

joelogic,

Have you checked out EOTech's web notice here?

http://www.eotech-inc.com/counterfeit_notice.php

---

Attention - Counterfeit Alert
September 26, 2008

For All L-3 EOTech HOLOgraphic Weapon Sights and Magnifier products.

L-3 EOTech has become aware of several counterfeit offerings of the HWS and magnifier product line. Produced in China and Korea, and distributed throughout the US, these counterfeit products are red-dot sights built to look exactly like a Holographic Weapon Sight on the outside. Often, the appearance between the genuine EOTech products and the counterfeits is nearly indiscernible, including replications of registered trademarks. These counterfeit items are often marketed towards recreational Air-soft use and WILL NOT:

* Withstand recoil or shock consistent with small to medium weaponry
* Consistently hold or maintain battle zero
* Withstand drop tests or excessive shock
* Offer any waterproof protection
* Offer the advantages provided by true holographic technology
* Offer dependable, reliable performance for any military, LE or competitive real weapon application

To assist in identifying a counterfeit product, you should look for the following:

* Uncommon batteries. The Counterfeit products often, but not always require several small hearing aid style batteries
* A product that offers interchangeable Red and Green reticle colors
* Highly reflective optics
* Visible LED light position inside the sight cavity
* The NV push button switches the LED to a different color instead of to a night vision mode
* Lack of EOTech manufacturing and serial number sticker

L3 EOTech trademarks, patents, and many of the product designs are protected by registration. L3 EOTech is dedicated to protecting the company, products and customers and will use all available and appropriate legal means, against any other persons found to be dealing in counterfeits of our goods.

To be certain that you receive genuine L-3 EOTech products, please deal only with our authorized Distributors as listed here. If you have any information regarding counterfeit L-3 EOTech products, please share it with us by contacting:
L-3 EOTech

1201 East Ellsworth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Tel: 734-741-8868
Fax: 734-741-8221
Email: Russ.Mcallister@L-3com.com

[joelogic]

Awesome, thanks. Some other info I found was that when looking at the reticle you should see a fuzzy (Sprickled) laser image rather than a clear led image.

[maxicon]

Yes, the real Eotech will have a grainy reticle. If it's got a solid red reticle, it's generated by an LED instead of a laser.

The red/green thing is a pretty common one, too - many of the clones switch colors, because it adds extra features, but no Eotech does.

[joelogic]

So when the eotech switches to NV the reticle is still red just dimmer?

[AlexBreya]

when you switch to NV, you can hardly even see the reticule. i accidentally did, then kept trying to turn it on (thinking it was off) and started freaking out, thinking my brand new eotech was a POS. eotechs just have that "well built" feel to it, unlike most every airsoft gun product.

[dieselpower]

Hold it with your left hand, look straight down the sight. Cover 90% of the lens with your right hand. If the image jumps from the center of the lens to the 10% of the lens you can see through, its a real holographic sight.

A red dot is a LED projected onto the center part of the lens. It cant jump anywhere.

A Holographic image is recorded on the lens in every possible way you could look at it. So even if you can only see the very top corner of the lens, the image will be viewed and zeroed.

[series8217]

That's not quite how it works. The reticle will not "jump" to an unobstructed part of the lens. Rather, when you move your head to where the reticle would be in the unobstructed part of the lens, it'll still be visible there, unlike a normal reflex sight.

With a normal reflex sight, obstructing the center of the lens obstructs the path of light from the LED and thus you won't see a reticle anywhere.

Remember, if the reticle moves without you moving your head or the rifle, your point of zero has to have changed.

[TZL]

fake eo techs look very different than real eotech, the easiest is the grain-ness, real eo tech are grainy and made of many small dots, fake are solid

real and fake aimpoints are a bit harder to tell apart

[dieselpower]

er, no?

That's not quite how it works. The reticle will not "jump" to an unobstructed part of the lens. Rather, when you move your head to where the reticle would be in the unobstructed part of the lens, it'll still be visible there, unlike a normal reflex sight.

With a normal reflex sight, obstructing the center of the lens obstructs the path of light from the LED and thus you won't see a reticle anywhere.

Remember, if the reticle moves without you moving your head or the rifle, your point of zero has to have changed.

I hate to disagree, but you are talking about a colmination red dot, like an ATN, or C-more. In a Red dot such as an Aimpoint, the LED is on the inside so the Red Dot is still being projected at the same spot, you just can't see it since your hand or whatever is in the way. On A holographic sight, the image itself will move, you do not have to move your head at all.



This happens without you having to do anything.

[series8217]

I hate to disagree, but you are talking about a colmination red dot, like an ATN, or C-more. In a Red dot such as an Aimpoint, the LED is on the inside so the Red Dot is still being projected at the same spot, you just can't see it since your hand or whatever is in the way. On A holographic sight, the image itself will move, you do not have to move your head at all.



This happens without you having to do anything.

This is not correct.

First and foremost, do you understand that those are fabricated images to simplify the functionality for the layman? They are not actual photographs and do nothing to demonstrate the true functionality of a holographic sight. If you are basing your assumptions on those graphics, pick up an Eotech and give it a try.

Second, your understanding of basic optics seems to be incomplete... Holographic sights do not function as you think. Remember, marketing texts are not designed to explain how the technology works, only to make you "ooo" and "ahhh".
As opposed to a a reflex sight, the image on a holographic sight is collimated before it reaches the viewing plane. The reason the reticle remains stationary over your point of impact regardless of your head position is because the reticle is actually projected parallel to the axis you have zeroed it to. Because the reticle is only parallel to that axis, if your line of sight to the point of impact (within the viewing angle of the sight of course, otherwise you can't see ever) is obstructed you will NOT see the reticle.
Here is a functional diagram of the Eotech:


Third, light does not know it is obstructed. The sight is passive, it does not have active control over imaging. It simply projects an image which can be set by windage/elevation screws.

Fourth, and this is a repeat from my previous post: If the reticle moves without you moving your head or the rifle, your point of zero has to have changed. In other words, the reticle will no longer be at your point of impact. If you understand this and nothing else, you should be able to convince yourself that the reticle will not behave as you have surmised. Do you disagree with this fact?

[dieselpower]

My Eotech does.

This is not correct.

First and foremost, do you understand that those are fabricated images to simplify the functionality for the layman? They are not actual photographs and do nothing to demonstrate the true functionality of a holographic sight. If you are basing your assumptions on those graphics, pick up an Eotech and give it a try.

Second, your understanding of basic optics seems to be incomplete... Holographic sights do not function as you think. Remember, marketing texts are not designed to explain how the technology works, only to make you "ooo" and "ahhh".
As opposed to a a reflex sight, the image on a holographic sight is collimated before it reaches the viewing plane. The reason the reticle remains stationary over your point of impact regardless of your head position is because the reticle is actually projected parallel to the axis you have zeroed it to. Because the reticle is only parallel to that axis, if your line of sight to the point of impact (within the viewing angle of the sight of course, otherwise you can't see ever) is obstructed you will NOT see the reticle.
Here is a functional diagram of the Eotech:


Third, light does not know it is obstructed. The sight is passive, it does not have active control over imaging. It simply projects an image which can be set by windage/elevation screws.

Fourth, and this is a repeat from my previous post: If the reticle moves without you moving your head or the rifle, your point of zero has to have changed. In other words, the reticle will no longer be at your point of impact. If you understand this and nothing else, you should be able to convince yourself that the reticle will not behave as you have surmised. Do you disagree with this fact?

Nice explanation. Its too bad when I cover my EOTechs glass, the reticule appears in the corner. If yours doesn't, You have a Made in China Red Dot sight.

I'm done trying to educate people here on this. Aimpoints, BSA, Trijicon, EOtech (L3), and Tasco all make the same red dot sights. You win.

[aplinker]

Probably the easiest way to tell is to see if you can see some color in the glass. Color is indicative of a dichroic mirror, as used in an Aimpoint or any other red dot. The EOTech will look absolutely clear, sans a bit of anti-reflective color (like when anti-reflective coated glasses get dirty, you'll see some purple or other color around the smudge).

Nice explanation. Its too bad when I cover my EOTechs glass, the reticule appears in the corner. If yours doesn't, You have a Made in China Red Dot sight.

I'm done trying to educate people here on this. Aimpoints, BSA, Trijicon, EOtech (L3), and Tasco all make the same red dot sights. You win.

LOL... The fail is strong with this one.

You're wrong. It doesn't move on its own. You can cover it, but if you don't move your head it won't appear in the uncovered portion. If it moved on its own, then your POI would be wrong.

[dieselpower]

No, once again your ego is wrong

Probably the easiest way to tell is to see if you can see some color in the glass. Color is indicative of a dichroic mirror, as used in an Aimpoint or any other red dot. The EOTech will look absolutely clear, sans a bit of anti-reflective color (like when anti-reflective coated glasses get dirty, you'll see some purple or other color around the smudge).




LOL... The fail is strong with this one.

You're wrong. It doesn't move on its own. You can cover it, but if you don't move your head it won't appear in the uncovered portion. If it moved on its own, then your POI would be wrong.

No one more time, your ego of knowing it all is wrong.

Once any portion of the optic is covered, the remaining portion is now the optic. You dont adjust crap. Its not a red dot! Call EOTech, would you like the number? I already posted a direct line, or do you need me to explain.

[socalT]

this thread got me wondering. i have two eotechs that do not show the recticle when a portion is covered. Are these fake... I pit in an email to eotech who knows not me