No8 Mk1 scope tin

I recently can across this scope tin, it appears to have been issued to a trials rifle Serial number A0179 with scope no 1534. All previous tins that have seen have been green in various shades but this one is Para Regiment maroon, at first I thought it might just have had a repaint job but unless someone cleaned off all of the old exterior paint it would seem to have been this colour from new as there are no signs of green showing in the paint damaged areas especially around the latch areas. The paint finish is professionally sprayed on top of a red base coat which can also be seen in the chipped paint areas. I know that these rifles were sent all over the world to many differ countries but has anyone come across a tin this colour before? Attachment 100572Attachment 100573Attachment 100574Attachment 100575

I think............... that this tin was as you said but sold off as a job lot of junk many many years ago, sold on through an ex WD surplus shop and used by someone at home to store a zillion and one things from small bits of fishing tackle to nuts and bolts or screws in his garage. Painted maroon because he had a load of maroon paint. Just my guess. One day I'll tell you about an old girlfriend of mine from Totton in Southampton who's dad had 50 or so of these tins in his garden shed for nails and screws etc etc etc. I only recognised them because I was used to seeing them in the Armourers shop

Interesting; but could you repaint it and keep the original label intact? Could there be another explanation? For example could it be for training ?

I think the fact that the interior is just as one would expect (colour-wise) lends support to Peter's explanation. We probably won't be able to prove it at all, but I suspect that if we could go back far enough in time it would have been that colour all over.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Painted maroon because he had a load of maroon paint

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Not so sure, no green underneath. Looks like maybe half finished, then not required and sold off surplus?

I would suspect that the exterior was originally a "brown" which has faded/exposed to more of a "maroon"...

I agree with Roger, it was most probably dipped originally.

Weren't these tins originally painted before the catches were rivetted on? Some in gloss and some in matt - the latter perhaps later in production?

Clearly an early case, originally fitted to a trials No.4(T) and no doubt providing the original rifle and scope numbers.

One for Colin's database on the trials No.4(T)s.

From the contract date on the paper label, it obviously went on after January 1942.

If I was you I would make diligent enquiries and see if you can come up with the original contents. H.W. English of Brentwood, Essex sold off thousands of Mk.I scopes in the cases after WWII.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

I think............... that this tin was as you said but sold off as a job lot of junk many many years ago, sold on through an ex WD surplus shop and used by someone at home to store a zillion and one things from small bits of fishing tackle to nuts and bolts or screws in his garage. Painted maroon because he had a load of maroon paint. Just my guess. One day I'll tell you about an old girlfriend of mine from Totton in Southampton who's dad had 50 or so of these tins in his garden shed for nails and screws etc etc etc. I only recognised them because I was used to seeing them in the Armourers shop

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I might agree but this tin appears to have professionally prepared and sprayed it has not been done by the normal stores basher or even someone in his shed The other thing is that the only marks on the inside of the tin are from the scope bracket with no other signs of damage that you would expect if it had been used for general storage, even the paper label is in quite good condition. I guess the only person who knows why it is this colour is the guy who sprayed it and he will probably be long dead by now......

Sorry Paul......, butif that tin has been professionally prepared and sprayed by a pro, then I'm a piccolo player!

Being a bit part amateur relating to army kit, the notion that this tin was picked out and set aside to be painted maroon for some reason is, er......, not really how things happened. If it was then as sure as god made little green apples, others would have appeared.

Re the catches, you could demand new catches for repairs and the rivets were a standard VAOS G1 item in brass or steel.