Bushnell Spotting Scope Stand

[JED1177]

I recently purchased this Bushnell Spotting Scope Stand and have a question.

From the bottom moving up is the leg assembly followed by a polished ring with tightening knob to adjust height. Right above it is another knurled ring that free floats up and down the height adjustment shaft. It is not threaded inside nor does it have any other obvious use.

What is this rings function? What is it for?

 

[cvc944]

I'm only guessing here, as I don't own one, but the picture suggests it might be nothing more than a spacer. It looks like it might prevent the top part from going down too far to restrict side-to-side rotation of the scope. It seems odd though that it is knurled. Since it isn't threaded you don't need grip to tighten it.

 

[JED1177]

Maybe...

....right.

As in the photo, there is also an up and down scope adjustment knurled knob that threads into the upper assembly from the bottom where the scope mounts.

With the vertical height adjustment tube lowered to the extreme bottom, that "spacer" is slightly longer than the distance between the bottom of that knob and the top of the legs. Might be there just to prevent that knob from hitting the leg tops if rotated.

There are actually four knurled "functional" knobs counting the one on the bottom of the vertical adjustment tube base. They may have possibly knurled it to match the others knobs just for for appearance.