Now what about a good scope mount for No1 MK3?

[RJW NZ]

That info on the thread about aftermarket scope mounts for the No4 and 5 was great stuff, I had no idea they had progressed and become such good quality overall. I'm used to mounts that never really quite did the job, so I was extra optimistic seeing the B Square one, and then all the others seem at least as good too.

So, 10 years ago the only no gunsmith mounts I tried on my No1 Mk3, a) permanently marked the receiver where the grub screws/allen screw put their pressure on, and b) crept up and out over 4-5 shots, no matter how tight I made the screws, it was like the receiver/mount fit was getting slightly loose on each shot.

So, these days, is there such a thing as a reccomended after market, no gunsmith mount for the No1 Mk3 that works OK, and doesn't come off?

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[Thunderbox]

The SK mount works reasonably well:



The problem is that SMLEs are fundamentally unsuitable for no-gunsmith mounts and, when people do use no-gunsmith mounts, they tend to use a big scope that imposes a great strain on the mount - often causing them to loosen up.

[Alan de Enfield]

Thuderbox - isnt that the one where you have to cut away some of the inside of the forend to get the 'ring' to fit ?

I've only ever read reports on their usage where 'no-gunsmith' means no drilling and tapping but does seem to mean some woodworking skills ?

[Peter Laidler]

When they were formulating the L60A1 DP rifle (that eventually became the L59A2) project, the team found that every rifle body they had to use to put the plan into operation differed. Even the main holding jig wouldn't hold them all tightly and so a number of cramps had to be used. Eventually it was decided that there were so many small but significant variations in the external dimensions of the bodies that each conversion would virtually be a one-off - so they abandoned the idea.

Since the telescope mount must fit all the Mk3 bodies, tightly to be a no gunsmith mount, there's not even the remotest chance of finding a one size fits all mount. Even the curvature at the left side of the bodies differed wildly..........

I spoke to WO1 Ian K----- about the project some years ago and he rolled his eyes skywards and said '................enough was enough so we gave them all DP No4's........., three and a half thousand of 'em.........'

Nope, I doubt that there'll be a SUCCESSFUL screw-on SMLE tele mount either in the past or in the future

[Brian Dick]

I have to agree with Peter. There simply isn't a no-gunsmith mount that's acceptable for the SMLE. I've bought and sold them all and I don't/won't stock any of them anymore. The S&K has a recoil plate behind the charger bridge jam nut and they are notorious for shearing off. The old drill and tap Parker-Hale or Weaver base is the only other option and it obviously permanently alters the rifle.

[RJW NZ]

Hmm, afraid to say I agree with all the comments. I recall trying one of the SKs shown but there was no way without cutting the wood, there was just no room for the band. Thanks for the insights.