The purpose of this article and its accompanying video is to educate consumers and retailers on how to spot the differences between real and fake Trijicon MRO and RMR optics. I could start this article with something like 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Trijicon must be feeling very flattered…' but in reality, these fake optics hurt Trijicon, they hurt retailers, they hurt consumers, and they even hurt America. Allow me to explain.
- Trijicon Mro Serial Number Lookup
- Trijicon Serial Number Lookup Night Sights
- Trijicon Acog Serial Number Lookup
- Trijicon Warranty Registration Online
Trijicon is hurt, of course, because consumers buy fakes thinking they're getting the real thing, thus taking money away from Trijicon. Those consumers are hurt for an obvious reason – they pay too much for an optic they were told was of a certain quality, when in reality it isn't. Retailers are hurt when unscrupulous people buy real optics, switch them for fakes in the box, then return the fakes for a full refund as cashiers and customer service counter folks often can't tell the difference.
You're probably with me so far, but how about America? How is America hurt by fake optics? Well, as I was discussing the MRO emitter position with a Trijicon manager, an idea suddenly popped into my head. When people buy fake optics, they're rewarding unscrupulous overseas companies and helping them produce better optics. These optic companies could then sell their new and improved products to just about anyone, including countries and organizations that would seek to do America and its people harm. These clone manufacturers are not like the European optics manufacturers that make quality products and compete above board. I try not to get on jingoistic soapboxes any more often than necessary, but I do see a real problem here.
Now, on to the meat and potatoes of the topic. When it comes to both optics- any fake optic, really – you're looking for details.
Trijicon Mro Serial Number Lookup
Starting with the MRO, you need to pay attention to things like the forge lines, the fit of the adjustment mechanisms in the body of the optic, the font used to mark things such as '1 click = ½ MOA' and so on. The fake MRO we use as an example in the video has GENERIC CHINESE INSTRUCTION MANUAL FONT for some of its laser markings, while the real Trijicon optic, needless to say, does not.
If I were considering buying a used Trijicon anything, I would first send Trijicon the serial number to check on it's status before finalizing the deal. If the seller has a problem with that, that's what I'd call a clue. Serial Number Category Manufacture Model Description Date Received 048470 OPTICAL EQUIPMENT TRIJICON RX01M4A1 REFLEX SIGHT 8/14/2013 048471 OPTICAL EQUIPMENT TRIJICON RX01M4A1 REFLEX SIGHT 9/10/2010. That serial number is a 4 digit one, leading me to believe that it's pretty fuckin' old. To me, it's a real ACOG. Trijicon is raised on all the models, as is Made in USA. The serial number isn't normally inside the viewing area - all mine just say the calibration for caliber. Source: I own 3 of them.
The adjustment mechanisms on the real MRO are black and fit perfectly in the body of the optic, both in terms of being level with and parallel to an imaginary line on the surface of the body as well as being perfectly centered within the holes in the body, while the adjustment mechanisms on the fake are silver in color and are not level or centered. The real MRO has a forged housing/body with corresponding forge marks. The fake isn't forged but has what almost appear to be file marks where the forge line would be, meaning they're trying to make it look as if the forge line has actually been removed in some quality control or manufacturing step, but Trijicon always leaves it intact. It's necessary for the fake to have file marks there because it's not actually forged and thus doesn't have that forge line to begin with.
Trijicon Serial Number Lookup Night Sights
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The emitter on the MRO can be seen within the body of the optic at the rear and at approximately the 10:30 or 11 o'clock position as seen from the rear. Fakes can vary – some have it in this spot, but many place the emitter at the bottom of the optic, at the 6 o'clock position, including the one seen in the video.
You'll also want to look for details like the embossed MADE IN USA on the left side of the body and the trademark and copyright symbols accompanying the embossed Trijicon MRO on the right side. The fake is missing these marks.
Inside the battery compartment, the fake has a font which almost looks like Comic Sans saying 'Battery CR2032' – the real optic has no such markings. Also inspect the details here. A real optic exudes quality in manufacturing when you pop off the battery cap. A fake will give you little impressions here and there that something just isn't quite right.
Moving on to the Trijicon RMR, we're looking for many of the same things. The position of the adjustment mechanisms in the body and their being tool-less – this fake has allen wrench adjustment screws for windage and elevation – is a dead giveaway. So is the font with adjustment instructions. On this fake, MOA is a smaller font size than the rest of the sentence. The real optic maintains a consistent font and size.
Trijicon Acog Serial Number Lookup
Side by side, the windows of a real RMR are going to be thicker than that of a fake, generally speaking. You'll also want to check serial numbers – often times the fakes all carry the same one, so if you're looking at a big stack of optics at a gun show and they all have the same serial number, back away slowly.
On the underside, the RMR Type 2 has a battery compartment with a cool 'ninja star' design that Trijicon says will be hard to copy for a while. The real RMR (type 1) doesn't have this, but like the MRO, the quality of the manufacturing and assembly work here as well as the font looks top notch, while the fake is devoid of markings beyond a minus sign – note that this is the opposite of the situation inside the battery compartment of the MRO – and generally gives an impression that it's not been assembled by the A Team.
As mentioned above, the most crucial thing is to look for small details that just don't seem right, however minor they may seem at first. It's entirely possible that a fake optic manufacturer could watch this video or read this article and figure out how to make a better fake -but if they could make an optic truly as good as a Trijicon, they wouldn't need to sell counterfeit optics, they could come up with their own design and sell it under their own name.
The only winners in the fake optic game are people you wouldn't want to leave unattended around your children. Learn how to spot their tricks and you'll be better prepared to keep yourself or your business from making a costly mistake.