A5/B4 scope also Evans Bros's WW1 scope mounts

[mike1967]

It really would be stretching coincidence for that combination of initials to be someone else

I would have to agree. I would be nice to find an inscription in one of his books just to try make a hand writing comparison.

[Lee Enfield]

Thanks chaps. I've just been collecting since I was a teenager & I'm 58 tomorrow........have just slowly amassed it over a very long time.
Hadn't considered adopting but my wife would sell it all in a flash for any reasonable offer!

Incidentally, has anybody yet noticed the significance of the initials on the scope case for the No3 (T)? It says.......'EGBR'. Ring any bells anyone?

Ian, would you be in a position to let us see some photo's of your scope(s)? I'd be fascinated to see.....

Major EGB Reynolds...

[Roger Payne]

Major Edmund George Barton Reynolds, IIRC.

ATB

[Surpmil]

I would have to agree. I would be nice to find an inscription in one of his books just to try make a hand writing comparison.

Here are the said initials as written on paper. On the rough cloth of the scope case, block letters would have been easier. The rest of the signature is cropped out for obvious reasons.

Attachment 72149

[harlton]

Hi Roger,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you,but what a fantastic display of rifles. I really must thank you, for all the trouble you've gone to putting those all those rifles on line, a massive thanks.
I'm reading as many books as I can about the period, as I find it the most interesting of periods, the characters and the multitude of different rifles designs too.
I cannot recall who's words these were, but they had been issued a new sniper rifle, replacing his other older one. The new one adjusted by putting a pin into the small hole to adjust it, which continually found it's way into the mud at the bottom of the trench, and luckily something else fitted.
One further question, if you don't mind. when approximately, was the the adjustable Evan's mounts introduced, would they be premature on a 1915, based rifle as it's this early period I'm shooting for, and most interested in.
What a fantastic collection you have, but which do you prefer, shooting, and which design would you say work's best, just out of interest, surely you must be the only guy who could access these differences,and access them, many thanks again Roger.

[Roger Payne]

Hi Ian,
Thanks very much for your comments. I haven't shot all of the SMLE snipers, though have one or two of them. To be honest it's a high days & holidays situation, as they are too valuable to shoot regularly. Additionally, although they fascinate me as historic weapons, if I want to have a great shoot down at the range I take my L42A1 with me! It's far more accurate. I haven't finished rebuilding it yet, but I would guess the SMLE with over bore claw mounts would be the best shooting proposition of the WW1 era SMLE snipers. It is the one shown with the 1" steel rod in the rings - I will be fitting either a 4th or a modified 3rd pattern Aldis into it when I get round to it. The end result is a rifle with a similar mount system to the No3 (T) & the Lithgow No1 Mk3* H T, although it dates from 1918/19.

The Evans two piece mounts date from 1915. There is an original rifle in the Royal Armouries/National Firearms Collection (I think I forgot to mention this one when I referred to the Evans in an earlier posting), that is, IIRC, fitted to a 1912 dated rifle, so any early Mk3 SMLE dated up to & including 1915 would be fine for a recreation.

ATB.

[harlton]

Hi Roger,
thanks again for getting back to me. Yup! I can see that, if I had a nice L42, blasting away with that would be very good.
I'm the same with my older Rifles, I have a thing for Long lee's, especially the one's with good Bores, also LE Carbines and range rifles, other early breech loading British rifles. I do shoot them all, but respectfully, so I fully understand you're reservations.
That's what's a nice thing about replica's, you can always build another, and for me being interested in these early pre 1916 rifle concoctions, and all the intrigue, that goes with them. My only access to info, other than the books I'm reading, is on this forum.
It's just my curiosity as an engineer, as to what you thought had the best overall design features, all things considered, and the neat mechanical designs. It's not my field, only a hobby, but curiosity got the better of me, and I had to ask, hope you didn't mind.Thanks for your patience.

Best regards Ian

[Roger Payne]

Not at all Ian,my pleasure. Keep us posted as your project develops.

[Surpmil]

I'm curious about this one Roger, any further information?

I see there is a South African ownership mark...

[Roger Payne]

Hi Rob,
I'm afraid the reality of that one is that that was the best SMLE I had to hand when I wanted to get the Evans bases fitted (I got them from Fulton's junk box twenty five years ago!). The rifle has been sympathetically set up, but bears some 'inappropriate' service marks!