R.E.L Scout Regiment scope (the green vulcanized rubber ones) for sake on eBay

[Peter Laidler]

The Stand Instrument No21 plus a few others were generally used in the instrument workshops in order to hold an instrument such as the MG theodolites and directors plus compasses, binos....., you get the picture, steady while you set about calibrating them. You could change the head to accommodate different instruments. The big one was solid brass and we had another brass adaptor for that for compasses

If you didn't have these special stands some instruments were sometimes such an akward shape that it was difficult to hold and aim. You could just put a director on the window sill while doing calibration tests........... But you'd only let it drop once!

[corco]

Here is an example of the Green scope that is made by K.E.C (Kodak) that I have aquestion about. I have never seen a green Scout Regiment Mk2s before only the brown ones. I was wondering if this is a legitimate example.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...33071dd9-1.jpg


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5bf790bf-1.jpg


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d045def2-1.jpg

So I can learn a bit about these scopes. The pictures of this rough green Scout Regiment Mk2s scope. All the K.E.L scopes I have seen online have been brown. Why would this one be green?

Could the British sniper request it to be green instead of brown? I have read that at least one British sniper, Harry M. Furniss, had green prismatic binoculars although I have not seen any online for sale that are green. The info about the green prismatic bino is talked about in this link below where they want to be as authentic as we do:

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/sixth-scale-action-figure-news-reviews-discussion/80746-british-sniper-1944-45-a.html

[Peter Laidler]

I saw and handles about a zillion pairs of prismatic binos of the No2 and 5 types and worked as the sniper wing as a very young in service Armourer in the 60's and later when they came under the wing of the Small Arms School plus an Instrument Technician. And I never saw a pair of green covered or coloured binos either. If you wanted to change the colour or the texture you just wrapped them in old hessian or scrim net or an old face veil like everyone else......... Just as they still do

Mind you, I never saw a green Tele Sct Reg either. I just wonder if that particular one has had the brown covering washed with a material that has impregnated the covering material with a fluid with high penetrative qualities such as leather dye. As anyone who has dealt with government contracts will tell you. If you don't supply them with exactly what the contract says then it's the chop - at your cost!

[corco]

Ahhh! I understand now. Thank you very much Peter.

I came across an online version of a book called "Out of Nowhere" it credits you and Dr. Roger Payne and talks about Harry M. Furness. I am looking forward to reading it.

[Brian Dick]

I have one set of REL No.2 binos dated 1944 that are green. I'd guess they came from REL that way but could be wrong. They appear to be original and untouched except for normal wear. I have another beautiful set out of British service beautifully FTR'd and marked as such.

[Peter Laidler]

We used to see REL's and another US lend lease sort called stereoscopic binos (were they Bausch and Lomb - that rings the old memory cells.....) that were collimated by grub screws acting against the prisms to tilt the rays of light. They were around until the late 70's or so as I remember. I never saw these in green either. But never say never as they say

[corco]

Well I ended up buying the green Broad arrow marked and "TEL.SCT.REGT MK.2.S", KEC. OS 126 GA". I turns out that is is the normal "TEL.SCT.REGT MK.2.S", KEC. OS 126 GA" scope that was painted green at one point. The seller gave me a bit of history of the TEL.SCT.REGT MK.2.S. It turns out as per the seller " This one came out straight out of a British army armory; I bought it from the VP of the NRA in England [Jim Hallam from the Classic Gun Company] who also happens to be the head of the museum at Bisley. He had direct access to the gear that they were clearing out and he picked up a few of these from them. I bought three of the scopes from him at the Las Vegas Antique Arms show last Jan." Jim advertised this same scope for sale here WTB British Scouts Regiment sniper telescope MK2 MKII except he typoed the serial number by accident.

I just received it today and I find it really neat that it fits right into the No15 transport case where the thick 70 year old felt is located. The draws are nice except for the last one which is quite loose. When I pulled the last draw out it just came right out of the tube and the inner lens's hung from the bottom of the scope. I unscrewed the 2nd draw and found that the third draw had come unscrewed. I put it all back together and gave it a look and the lens are clear and clean! It is a indescribable feeling I get holding these pieces of history. It is really cool to finally be able to buy items like this. I will need to buy some pool table felt and see if I can make that last draw tighter.

I am thinking of restoring the scopes vulcanized coating and painting it back to the original brown that I can see underneath the green paint. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad one? Sometimes I think the history of an item, even though it is not "correct", is sometimes better left alone.

I also received the Parker-Hale scope stand as part of the purchase too. Could someone please share their knowledge of the scope stand? I have never seen one of these before.

Tele Scout Regiment KEC 3 Draw Scope Photos by bsdncorco | Photobucket

Corco

[Peter Laidler]

There's a lot been written about this subject and the telescope stands recvently soi I won't repeat it except that the stands weren't an issued item.

Just be very careful with those threads as they are notorious for just slipping or even stripping. Sometimes the female threaded portion INSIDE the tube will come loose too. There was a repair for this.

Regarding the story of the scope, it's always wise to remember this. Buy the rifle (or in this case, the scope) and not the story. I always had my doubts about the supposed green colour having seen about a zillion of the scopes!

[rayg]

Here's a British WWI Tripod I have that was apparently altered by the Canadian's to a shorter one for the British probably WWII period, or else the scope case was made specifically to fit the shorter bipod legs by the British for the Canadian's. Both professionally done. Ray

Attachment 55354Attachment 55355Attachment 55356Attachment 55357Attachment 55358Attachment 55359

[rayg]

Forgot to mention, either the tripod has new made legs or the dia. of the old legs were slimmed/reduced down to fit in the dia. of the metal end caps. Had the legs just been cut down the dia of the ends would be too large to fit in the metal caps. So there was more involved in altering the tripod then just cutting the legs down, Ray