Optical sight having obscured reticle illumination

An optical sight, comprising:

• an optical train having an input end and an output end, and defining an optical path from the input end to the output end, wherein the optical train has at least one powered optical element, and wherein the optical train includes as an optical element a reticle that comprises:
• a reticle substrate,
• a reticle relief pattern in the reticle substrate having a relief surface oriented so that the relief surface faces the output end,
• a layer of a barrier material that is opaque to visible light deposited upon the relief surface,
• a wavelength-converting material within the reticle relief pattern such that the layer of the barrier material lies between the wavelength-converting material and the relief surface of the reticle relief pattern, wherein the wavelength-converting material is excitable by a non-visible excitation wavelength of light to emit a visible wavelength of light, and
• a light source of the non-visible excitation wavelength that controllably illuminates the wavelength-converting material, wherein the optical train prevents the non-visible wavelength from propagating out of the input end of the optical train.