+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: Pictures of old Neil optical sights

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member boltaction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    10-02-2023 @ 12:21 PM
    Location
    BC Interior
    Posts
    642
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM

    Pictures of old Neil optical sights--more photos uploaded

    Good morning:
    I thought I'd post these photos of an old set of optical sights I have for the SMLE. I believe they are the Neill type, based on Skennertonicon's book page 147. I have never tried them out, but if I ever get out to the range, I will do so. I think they'd be fun to shoot with, albeit rather fussy. The problem with them is that the front optic portion mounts to the nosecap; the curved portion mates to the oval slots in the nosecap and is held on there by pressure, but the pressure is created by a screw which goes through the slot in the front nosecap. To mount the sight, you have to drill a hole through the portion of the forestock which is behind the slot. I would have to use one of my FTR's or something, because I couldn't bear to drill a hole in one of my other SMLE's. It's not a huge deal probably, but still, on principle............
















    Ed

    It's certainly a complicated sight. One other user asked if it only was graduated at 500. It has a sliding aperture graded for 200-500, only two apertures. The aperture is covered by a glass lens, which can be unsrewed, presumably for cleaning. The aperture portion can be swung aside by loosening a screw. I am not certain why this is--if this is to enable use of just the clear lens, that doesn't really make sense, but is possible. It may be to allow for some lateral adjustment for individual user preference. If anyone happens to have an instruction manual for this puppy it would be most appreciated or if any of the experienced target shooters on this forum have used such a sight before, any insights (no pun intended) would be good. There is some mention of it in Skennerton's book on page 148 (note mine has a crosshair not a centre dot), but no instructions for using it.













    Cheers

    Ed
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    Last edited by boltaction; 12-21-2011 at 10:49 AM.

  2. The Following 8 Members Say Thank You to boltaction For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Legacy Member Anzac15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last On
    03-08-2024 @ 11:09 PM
    Location
    Suwanee, Ga.
    Posts
    1,491
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:38 AM
    That is really a neat item! I have never seen nor heard of this sight. I noticed it was manufactured in Belfast, was this a military item, or made for the civilian mkt? Would really like to see pics of it on the rifle. Are these common? Rare? Now I have one more thing to keep looking for Enfield wise, thanks a lot! Thanks for sharing.

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Legacy Member Valleysniper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    07-23-2022 @ 08:30 AM
    Location
    Cardiff, South Wales, UK
    Posts
    82
    Real Name
    Hugh Rees
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:38 AM
    My set is marked Barnett Optical Sight inside case lid and not anywhere as nice and clear as your marking. Anyway interesting to see that your front lens has a presumably etched and filled set of crosshairs instead of the normally seen central aiming black infilled dot. Also your rear sight only seems to start off at 500 Yards instead of the normal 200, 400, 500 and 600 yard markings, what other range markings and aperture peep holes are on the rear sight? Perhaps you have a long range example?

    Mine also has the pat 1850/15 marking.

    Anyone have a Neil marked case one?

    Finally another bit of useless information if you have a set with busted lenses, I have had my set read and their prescription is:

    Front Lens + 1.00 Dioptre Sphere
    Rear Lens - 2.50 Dioptre Sphere
    Last edited by Valleysniper; 12-20-2011 at 04:14 PM.

  7. Thank You to Valleysniper For This Useful Post:


  8. #4
    Administrator

    Site Owner
    Badger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    @
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Age
    75
    Posts
    12,941
    Real Name
    Doug
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:38 AM
    My Videos in Video Club
    12
    Beautiful pics Ed ...

    Thanks for posting them ...

    Regards,
    Doug

  9. #5
    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last On
    @
    Location
    West side
    Posts
    4,651
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    Didn't waste any money on finishing did they? Rough and ready...perhaps.

    A zero at one range and use appliance, as adjusting for range describes a nice arc through the windage as well!

    The Ulster Division deserved better.

    Thank you for posting the photos. They are interesting.
    “There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”

    Edward Bernays, 1928

    Much changes, much remains the same.

  10. #6
    Legacy Member Valleysniper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    07-23-2022 @ 08:30 AM
    Location
    Cardiff, South Wales, UK
    Posts
    82
    Real Name
    Hugh Rees
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:38 AM
    I took some pictures of my Barnett rear sight and its marked 200, 400, 500 and 600 Yards in opposite to markings on yours. Mine's marked same as example in Skennertons Britishicon Sniper page 22 which is of sealed pattern. Now why should yours be marked in a totally different way and have a crosshair reticle instead of sighting dot? Wheaty whats your example like?

    I think I know the answer your Ulster Division sight is for an Ozzie Lithgowicon SMLE as everythings upside down there isn't it?

    Merry Xmas to all.
    Last edited by Badger; 12-22-2011 at 02:00 PM. Reason: Edited post to show pop-up pics as attachments in-line with thread so members don't get switched to a new browser screen.

  11. #7
    Contributing Member boltaction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    10-02-2023 @ 12:21 PM
    Location
    BC Interior
    Posts
    642
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by Valleysniper View Post
    I took some pictures of my Barnett rear sight and its marked 200, 400, 500 and 600 Yards in opposite to markings on yours. Mine's marked same as example in Skennertons Britishicon Sniper page 22 which is of sealed pattern. Now why should yours be marked in a totally different way and have a crosshair reticle instead of sighting dot? Wheaty whats your example like?

    I think I know the answer your Ulster Division sight is for an Ozzie Lithgowicon SMLE as everythings upside down there isn't it?

    Merry Xmas to all.
    Mine isn't marked differently, depending on how you look at it. When mine is set to 200 yds, the 200 shows up above, and when you move it up to the 500 mark, the 500 shows up below. It is simply a difference in how the markings show, but the elevations remain the same. Yours has more apertures and more graduations than mine does, so I would assume mine is an earlier one. I also understand that the name Neill disappeared after some patent issues, so if yours is labelled as a Barnett, it would be a later one. What does the inside of your case say?

    Ed

  12. #8
    Advisory Panel
    Warren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    03-23-2024 @ 12:55 PM
    Posts
    1,192
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:38 AM
    Attachment 29162Attachment 29161
    I think what Valley sniper was mentioning in that his, along with mine go from 200 to 600 yards. 600 yards being the top range on ours while yours is 500 yards.. Yours also differs in that it has a cross hair on the front element while I know Hugh's, along with both of mine have just a dot. My leather case is completely void of markings.
    Last edited by Warren; 12-22-2011 at 06:22 PM.

  13. Thank You to Warren For This Useful Post:


  14. #9
    Legacy Member Valleysniper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last On
    07-23-2022 @ 08:30 AM
    Location
    Cardiff, South Wales, UK
    Posts
    82
    Real Name
    Hugh Rees
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:38 AM
    boltaction

    Thanks for your explanation.

    It would seem that your sight is the original version at least when it comes to the rear sight markings. Wheaty's and mine a later variant. But the crosshair reticle who knows? No one else has mentioned has seen one or owns one the same. As if the Ulster, Caldwell, Neill or Barnett Galilean sight wasn't rare enough you appear to have a rarer version, congratulations.

    My case inside is ink stamp marked The Barnett Optical Sight and below that looks like Pat pending 1850/15 and some other lines of text, but it's very faint. Mr Caldwell was the inventor/patent holder and it would be interesting at least to me to know if anybody has these sight sets with cases marked up to Caldwell and Neill as well?

    A friend of mine has recently obtained for his collection a very nice complete with some extras Martin Gallilean Sight set and he's OK'd for me to post pictures which may be of interest to the forumers. The Martin set is the only one of the main 4 types missing from my collection should anybody be thinking of disposing of a set. I did offer my friend my left kidney for it but he declined

    Attachment 29209Attachment 29210Attachment 29211Attachment 29212

  15. #10
    Contributing Member boltaction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Last On
    10-02-2023 @ 12:21 PM
    Location
    BC Interior
    Posts
    642
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:38 AM
    Thread Starter
    Try offering the right kidney instead--maybe he's got a preference......

    That is one amazing sight set. Just beautiful. I've got a couple of Long Lees with the Martrin rearsight, but have never seen the front sight portion before.

    I don't know about my set--perhaps the glass was replaced at some point, or perhaps the earliest ones were made with the crosshair and shortly thereafter changed to the dot for some reason? I could see that the crosshairs might be awfully hard to see from such a distance, especially if the lighting wasn't great. A dot would be better I would think.

    Ed

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Focusing Australian Optical Co. Model 1918 Scope?
    By RobD in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 02-04-2014, 12:32 AM
  2. Enfield front sights and target rear sights
    By yellowhousejake in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 12-04-2010, 09:19 PM
  3. RFI pictures
    By arado in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 01-25-2010, 06:46 PM
  4. Some M75 US Pictures
    By Big Larry in forum .22 Smallbore
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-11-2009, 07:22 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks