Abstract: An optical sight includes an optical train having an optical path therethrough, an entrance, and an exit. A reticle is visible through the exit of the optical path. An unpowered reticle illumination source has a first light source that illuminates the reticle responsive to the level of ambient light, and a second light source that illuminates the reticle with an unpowered light source. The reticle illumination source preferably has a light filter positioned so that ambient light entering the ambient-light receiver is incident upon the light filter, whereupon the light filter transmits filtered light, a light-gathering prism that receives the filtered light and has a diffusing surface disposed to illuminate the reticle using the filtered light, and an unpowered light source positioned to emit light through the diffusing surface to be incident upon the reticle. The unpowered light source may be a tritium light source.

Abstract: A multi-magnification viewing and aiming scope includes a first imaging group including an objective lens lying on the optical path and an eyepiece lens lying on the optical path. The first imaging group forms a first image having a first magnification on the optical path at an image location. A second imaging lens group is controllably inserted into the optical path between at least some elements of the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. Upon insertion of the second imaging lens group into the optical path an optical combination of the first imaging group and the second imaging lens group forms a second image having a second magnification on the optical path at substantially the image location. The insertion may be accomplished by a tumbler mechanism upon which the second imaging lens group is mounted.