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Advisory Panel
Still looking for Watson #1186, I hope it is still out there......... A few years ago the matching scope can for my rifle showed up across the country. The generous owner traded me even for another can. For your reference attached is a photo of the marking of an early HBM scope (not mine) slightly younger than the one you are looking for.
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11-20-2011 08:08 PM
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Lance,
Thanks for the info. Otherwise, I would have been looking for a scope that didn't exist. The scope can on your attachment, is that the can you traded for?
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Advisory Panel
Nice rifle. Looks very familiar. Mine were A0507 and A0703. The first had scope 1161, and the second 3511. Showing that scopes from William Watson & Sons and Houghton Butcher were arriving at Enfield concurrently, which of course fits with the details we learned from Peter's book on the No4(T) about how serial number blocks were allocated to the different makers of the No32.
Now, the "ROF.M.No.4.MkI." T that I had, SN 11618 had scope number 1423, and of course, no T or TR stamps as per these trials rifles. Which suggests that the Maltby conversions were done at RSAF Enfield concurrently or immediately after the trials No.4s.
Makes me wonder if some or all of those Savages we see with no T or TR stamps were also converted at Enfield.
The HBM No3142 above is interesting as it shows HBM dropping the "1941" from the markings very early in their production, before 150 scopes had been made. No doubt because adding dates would allow production quantities to be estimated; wartime security!
Someone out there doing a spreadsheet on these numbers?
Last edited by Surpmil; 11-22-2011 at 12:33 AM.
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Much changes, much remains the same. 
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Nearest I've ever seen since I started to keep records in 1968 is 3533. Close, but no cigar! Also, no trace of 13534 either
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Closest I got is here is H.B.MCo 3449, and 4587, and some earlier Watsons.
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Advisory Panel
The can is the one I traded for and has my rifle and scope s/n; it is not original 1941 issue but it matches! No luck on scope #1161 or 3511 on my scope records of girls I have come across. Here are a couple pic's of the earliest girls I have seen posted on the internet over the years.
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Legacy Member
Is this the correct magazine on my Trials T ?
Mine also has the screw in the cock, Ray
Attachment 28293Attachment 28294
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Advisory Panel
That is the correct magazine plate for it. If the spine is marked like the one in the photo you have a factory Enfield mag which is correct on the SMLE VI or Trials No. 4. The cross screw cocking piece is from the SMLE Mk VI but frequently shows up on Trials No. 4's so that is acceptable too!!
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My Mk1 HBM Co (No year marked)
Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...
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Legacy Member
Originally Posted by
Lance
That is the correct magazine plate for it. If the spine is marked like the one in the photo you have a factory Enfield mag which is correct on the SMLE VI or Trials No. 4. The cross screw cocking piece is from the SMLE Mk VI but frequently shows up on Trials No. 4's so that is acceptable too!!
Here's the spine markings, Ray
Attachment 28318Attachment 28317
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