True, authentic holographic sighting technology is nearly impossible to replicate. Unfortunately, there are numerous imitation EOTECH products, including LED based products, attempting to pass as holographic sights. We can help you spot the difference.

Unscrupulous overseas manufacturers and criminal elements in the United States are selling counterfeit EOTECH holographic weapon sights to consumers, as well as police officers and soldiers. Counterfeiters replicate the outside appearance of the EOTECH sights and may include EOTECH logos and labels to make them appear as genuine products. Unlike the counterfeits, all EOTECH holographic weapon sightsare made in the U.S.A.

Often the differences in appearance between the genuine EOTECH products and the counterfeits is nearly indiscernible, including replication of registered trademarks.

These counterfeit items 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 water resistance protection
• Offer the advantages provided by true holographic technology
• Offer dependable, reliable performance for any military, law enforcement, or competitive, real-world firearm applications

To identify a counterfeit product, look for the following:

• No EOTECH manufacturing sticker or serial number
• Uncommon batteries – The counterfeit products often, but not always, require several small, hearing-aid-style batteries
• Interchangeable red and green reticle colors
• Highly reflective optics
• A visible LED light positioned inside the sight cavity
• NV push button that switches the LED to a different color instead of to a night-vision mode

EOTECH trademarks and patents, as well as many of the company’s product designs, are protected by registration. United States-based EOTECH is dedicated to protecting its customers and products. EOTECH supports the departments and individuals involved in attempting to stop this counterfeit product from entering the country, and proudly stands behind its made-in-the-USA products. The company will use all available appropriate legal means against any persons found to be dealing in counterfeits of EOTECH goods.

Counterfeit Alert: EOTECH Holographic Sights

There are now three models of the EOTECH holographic weapon sight counterfeits that are in the market, primarily sold through web sites based in China and Korea, EBay, and at local gun shows. They are the Model 552 which utilizes two AA batteries, the Model 551 which uses two N batteries and the model 553 (Military designation – SU- 231/PEQ) which uses two CR 123 batteries and has two quick detachable throw lever mounts. Genuine and counterfeit L3 EOTECH holographic weapon sights are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 for the three models. The sight on the left is a genuine EOTECH holographic sight and the one on the right is a counterfeit. As one can see, the outside appearance is nearly identical. Also note, the counterfeit Model 553 sight shown in Figure 3 has the EOTECH logo imprinted on it. 

Genuine L3 EOTECH sight             Counterfeit sight 
Figure 1: Real and counterfeit Model 552 Holographic Weapon Sight. 

 

 Genuine EOTECH sight          Counterfeit sight 

Figure 2: Real and counterfeit Model 551 Holographic Weapon Sight. 

 

 Genuine EOTECH sight                    Counterfeit sight 

Figure 3: Real and counterfeit Model 553 Holographic Weapon Sight. Offered in both black and tan colors 

The counterfeiters copied the outside appearance of the EOTECH sight but the counterfeit sights are not clones. The counterfeiters do not have the technology to copy a holographic sight. They simply mimic the operation of the holographic weapon sight using older “red-dot” technology.  

Ways to Recognize a Counterfeit

The counterfeits, regardless of model, can be recognized by their curved and reflective optics. The flat, anti-reflection coated optics of the genuine EOTECH sight reflects very little light while the optics of the counterfeits reflects a bright and distorted image of the room light. This can be seen in Figure 4 and 5, viewing the sights from the front and the back. The sight on the left is a genuine EOTECH holographic sight. Very little of the room light is reflected. The optics in the counterfeit sight, on the other hand, are curved and reflective and it reflects a lot of the room light. 

 Genuine EOTECH                           Sight Counterfeit


Figure 4: Looking at the front of a Model 552 with the sights angled to reflect room light 

 

Real EOTECH Sight                      Counterfeit 
Figure 5: Looking at the rear of a Model 552 

The reflection from the optics can be used to recognize the counterfeits of any model of the EOTECH holographic sight. In Figure 6, we show the reflection off the optics of a genuine and a counterfeit Model 553. Similar to the model 552 shown earlier, the difference in the amount of reflection from the two sights is easily discerned. 

 

Real EOTECH Sight            Counterfeit

Figure 6: Looking from the front of a Model 553 with the sights angled to reflect room light 

Another feature that distinguishes a genuine EOTECH sight from a counterfeit is the presence of an optical component behind the top part of the front window of the sight. As shown in Figure 7, one can see an optical component at the top of the front sight window of a genuine EOTECH sight. It rounds off the top edge of the sight window. The lack of the component indicates the sight is a counterfeit.  

              

 

 Real EOTECH Sight                           Counterfeit 
Figure 7: Close up look at the front sight window.  

Another means to recognize a counterfeit is to look at the bottom of the sights as shown in Figure 8. Of all the counterfeits identified so far, none have the EOTECH manufacturer and serial number labels affixed to the bottom of the sight. However, on Ebay, a seller has been identified that sells EOTECH labels for use on counterfeits. So while the absence of labels is a good indication that a sight is a counterfeit, one cannot be certain that a sight with the labels is a genuine EOTECH sight. 

 

Real EOTECH Sight                                 Counterfeit 
Figure 8: View of the bottom of a real and a counterfeit EOTECH sight. 

For the Model 553 (SU-231/PEQ), one can also recognize a counterfeit positively by opening the battery compartment. As shown in Figure 9(a) and 9(b), the battery compartment of a genuine and a counterfeit Model 553 sight are very different. The counterfeit model uses two AAA batteries instead of two CR123 lithium batteries. 

 

 

 Figure 9(a): Battery compartment of a genuine Model 553 EOTECH holographic weapon sight. 

 

Figure 9(b): Battery compartment of a counterfeit Model 553 EOTECH holographic weapon sight. 

This applies only to the Model 553 which also consists of (2) quick detach throw lever mounts. The battery compartments of the counterfeit Model 551 and 552 look very similar to the genuine EOTECH Holographic Weapon Sights. 

Again, the Model 553 has (2) throw lever mounts for quick detachment and reattachment. The genuine throw lever mounts are from our supplier, Atlantic Research Marketing Systems, Inc. (A.R.M.S. Inc). The design of the throw lever mounts are patented and trademarked by A.R.M.S. Anyone manufacturing or marketing a copy of our Model 553 holographic weapon sight infringes on the trademarks of both EOTECH and A.R.M.S. 

In Figure 10, we show the view of the reticle through the sight window away from center. 

              

 Real EOTECH sight                          Counterfeit 

Figure 10: Distortion of ring-dot reticle when viewed near the edge of the sight window. 

 

The counterfeits also do not have a Night Vision mode where the intensity of the reticle is lowered substantially so that it can be viewed with night vision goggles without blooming or saturating the image intensifier tube. When the button labeled NV as shown in Figure 11 is pushed, a genuine EOTECH sight goes into the night vision mode and the intensity of the reticle is reduced substantially to a point that it is not visible by the naked eye. Pressing the NV button again toggles the sight between the normal and night vision modes. With the counterfeit sight, on the other hand, the color of the LED is changed from red to green when the NV button is pushed. Pressing the NV button again toggles the color of the reticle between red and green. 

 

Figure 11. Back of the sight showing the Night Vision mode (NV) selection button. 

Lastly, a counterfeit sight can be identified if there is any light source visibly present when looking through the sight. A user cannot see the laser diode source anywhere in the housing of a genuine EOTECH sight. Most counterfeits are designed with the light source facing the user’s eye; fully exposing the light source. See figure 12. 

 

Real EOTECH Sight       Counterfeit 
Figure 12: Counterfeit shows diode light source 

Summary 

The presence of counterfeit EOTECH sights will most certainly have a negative impact on our company, but more importantly, it can jeopardize the safety and lives of American soldiers and law enforcement officers as many of these counterfeits were sold as genuine EOTECH holographic weapon sights. EOTECH has received many counterfeit sights for repair from victims of the fraud that include soldiers who bought the counterfeits with the intention of bringing the sights with them on upcoming deployments. These counterfeit sights are not parallax free, cannot hold zero and can easily break. Bringing a counterfeit to battle thinking that it is a genuine EOTECH holographic weapon could cost lives. It is imperative that everyone understands these differences and communicates this information to all relevant parties. 

In addition, one of our representatives was told by a seller of counterfeits at a gun show that what they are selling were “excess inventory from the Chinese factory manufacturing holographic sights for EOTECH”. The counterfeits are NOT holographic sights; they are red-dot sights dressed up to look like a holographic sight. ALLgenuine holographic weapon sights sold by EOTECH and the consumer model HOLOsight sold by Bushnell are and have always been made in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the industrial heartland of the U.S.A. 

KEY POINTS 

• EOTECH is the exclusive manufacturer of EOTECH HOLOgraphic Weapon Sights and the Bushnell HOLOsight (consumer model). 
      -There are no other companies or manufacturers authorized to design or manufacture EOTech branded products or components anywhere in the world. 
• Genuine EOTECH or Bushnell HOLOsight products:

-- Use only red laser diodes and do not produce any products that offer switchable red to green colors.


-Offer only the following battery types: 

         -CR123 (LITHIUM 3V)

         -AA Alkaline

         - N Alkaline

-- Do not reveal any light signature, glass reflection , or the diode source.  

Unscrupulous overseas manufacturers and criminal elements in the United States are selling counterfeit EOTECH holographic weapon sights to consumers, as well as Police Officers and Soldiers. Counterfeiters replicate the outside appearance of the EOTECH sights and may include EOTECH logos and labels to make them appear as genuine products. Unlike the counterfeits, all EOTECH holographic weapon sights are made in the U.S.A.

Often the differences in appearance between the Genuine EOTECH products and the counterfeits is nearly indiscernible, including replication of registered trademarks.

 

These counterfeit items 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 water resistance protection
• Offer the advantages provided by true holographic technology
• Offer dependable, reliable performance for any Military, Law Enforcement or competitive real-world firearm applications

To identify a counterfeit product, look for the following:

• Missing or incorrect EOTECH manufacturing sticker and/or serial number
• Uncommon batteries – The counterfeit products often, but not always, require several small hearing-aid-style batteries
• Interchangeable red and green reticle colors
• Highly reflective optics
• A visible LED light positioned inside the sight cavity
• NV push button that switches the LED to a different color instead of to a night-vision mode
• Offered for sale from a non-authorized EOTECH Dealer

EOTECH trademarks and patents, as well as many of the company’s product designs, are protected by United States trademark and patent laws. EOTECH is dedicated to protecting its customers and products. EOTECH supports the many departments and individuals involved in attempting to stop this illegal product from entering the country, and proudly stands behind its Made in USA products.

EOTECH will use all available appropriate legal means against any persons found to be dealing in counterfeits of EOTECH goods.

There are now multiple models of the EOTECH holographic weapon sight counterfeits that are in the market, primarily sold through web sites based overseas, eBay, Amazon, Facebook and at local gun shows. Comparisons between Genuine EOTECH product and fakes are demonstrated below. Although not a comprehensive list of all counterfeit product, this will help you identify a real vs. fake when making a purchasing decision. The sight on the left is a Genuine EOTECH holographic sight and the one on the right is a counterfeit. As one can see, the outside appearance is nearly identical.

The counterfeiters copied the outside appearance of the EOTECH sight but these are not clones. The counterfeiters do not yet have the technology to copy EOTECH's holographic technology perfectly. They simply mimic the operation of the holographic weapon sight using older red dot or reflex technology.

Regardless of the model, counterfeits can be recognized by their curved and reflective optics. The flat, anti-reflection coated optics of the Genuine EOTECH sight reflects very little light while the optics of the counterfeits reflects a bright and distorted image of the room light. Very little of the room light is reflected with a Genuine product. The optics in the counterfeit sight, on the other hand, are curved and reflective and it reflects a lot of the room light.

Another feature that distinguishes a Genuine EOTECH sight from a counterfeit is the presence of an optical component behind the top part of the front window of the sight. It rounds off the top edge of the sight window. The lack of the component indicates the sight is a counterfeit.

Another means to recognize a counterfeit is to look at the bottom of the sights. Of all the counterfeits identified, few actually have Genuine EOTECH manufacturer and serial number labels affixed to the bottom of the sight. However, some versions have been identified with compelling EOTECH labels for use on counterfeits. So while the absence of labels is a good indication that a sight is a counterfeit, one cannot be certain that a sight with the labels is a Genuine EOTECH sight. Some of the new counterfeit models are using copies of the serial number stickers.

Counterfeits do not have a Night Vision mode where the intensity of the reticle is lowered substantially so that it can be viewed with night vision goggles without blooming or saturating the image intensifier tube. When the button labeled NV is pushed, a Genuine EOTECH sight goes into the night vision mode and the intensity of the reticle is reduced substantially to a point that it is not visible by the naked eye. Pressing the NV button again toggles the sight between the normal and night vision modes. With a counterfeit sight, the color of the LED is changed from red to green when the NV button is pushed. Pressing the NV button again toggles the color of the reticle between red and green.

Lastly, a counterfeit sight can be identified if there is any light source visibly present when looking through the sight. A user cannot see the laser diode source anywhere in the housing of a genuine EOTECH sight. Most counterfeits are designed with the light source facing the user’s eye; fully exposing the light source.

The presence of counterfeit EOTECH sights will most certainly have a negative impact on our company, but more importantly, it can jeopardize the safety and lives of American Soldiers and Law Enforcement Officers as many of these counterfeits were sold as Genuine EOTECH holographic weapon sights. EOTECH has received many counterfeit sights for repair from victims of the fraud that include Soldiers who bought the counterfeits with the intention of bringing the sights with them on upcoming deployments. These counterfeit sights cannot hold zero and can easily break. Bringing a counterfeit to battle thinking that it is a Genuine EOTECH holographic weapon may cost lives. It is imperative that everyone understands these differences and communicates this information to all relevant parties.

In addition, one of our representatives was told by a seller of counterfeits at a gun show that what they are selling were “excess inventory from the Chinese factory manufacturing holographic sights for EOTECH”. The counterfeits are NOT holographic sights, they are red-dot sights dressed up to look like a holographic sight. ALL Genuine holographic weapon sights sold by EOTECH and the consumer model Holosight sold by Bushnell are and have always been made in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the industrial heartland of the U.S.A.

 

Key Points:

• EOTECH is the exclusive manufacturer of EOTECH Holographic Weapon Sights
• There are no other companies or manufacturers authorized to design or manufacture EOTECH branded products or components anywhere in the world

Genuine EOTECH Products:

• Use only red or green laser diodes and do not produce any products that offer switchable red to green colors
• Offer only the following battery types: CR123 (LITHIUM 3V), AA Alkaline or N-Cell Alkaline
• Do not reveal any light signature, glass reflection , or the diode source

EOTECH will pursue all valid counterfeit claims and take legal action where appropriate. If you are a victim of being sold an illegal counterfeit, please be sure to report these incidents to Law Enforcement. You may also follow the steps below to bring these bad actors to EOTECH's attention.

 

Contact Customer Service:

• Use the Contact Form to report a counterfeit product or seller
• Take photographs of the counterfeit product (left side, right side, back, front and bottom)
• Keep your receipts and collect as much information about the seller as possible

Disposal of Counterfeit Goods:

• EOTECH will dispose of counterfeit product free of charge
• Send counterfeit product to the following address:

EOTECH Customer Service
Counterfeit Destruction
46900 Port Street
Plymouth, MI 48170