Scope mount for commercial SMLE

Hello everyone,

I am hoping you all could help me solve this problem I am facing.

I bought a commercially converted SMLE a little over a year ago and she has the drill holes for what appears to be a scope mount. I have asked my gunsmith to look at it to see if he can recognize the mount type but he was unable to figure it out.

The last time I went to a gun show in my area, I found an identical SMLE in the same commercial configuration and I had a peak at the left receiver wall. Sure enough, the same type of drill holes were there.

A fellow at the show mentioned that these holes were for older style mounts that are not readily available anymore but possibly through the collector market either in Canada or in the U.S.

I have attached a picture, would someone be able to identify the mounts needed to fit this build and possibly attach a picture so I can see what they look like ? Secondly, does anyone know of anyone or any place selling these mounts ? Finally, are there any scope type restrictions that limit the type of scopes that can be used with these mounts ?

I am also hoping that I can mount the scope rings and scope myself and work with it at the range to narrow down the point of impact.

Thank you all

Was it commercially converted, or commercially made? What kind of commercial markings does it have?

I can tell you that it'd be a brave soul that made a universal mount for a SMLE! From my very limited experience with these rifles, while one body might look similar to the next and the bodyside radius's seem similar, there any similarity ends. That's only my opinion having been involved in the project to create a DP version of the SMLE in the late 70's or early 80's.

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Originally Posted by Jc5

Was it commercially converted, or commercially made? What kind of commercial markings does it have?

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There are no commercial markings, only the standard British ones you would expect to find including the BNP proof stamp.

I have attached a picture of the 1940 BSA SMLE. I am told this commercial conversion was done in the 1960s and was quite popular back then.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

I can tell you that it'd be a brave soul that made a universal mount for a SMLE! From my very limited experience with these rifles, while one body might look similar to the next and the bodyside radius's seem similar, there any similarity ends. That's only my opinion having been involved in the project to create a DP version of the SMLE in the late 70's or early 80's.

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I do not doubt that this SMLE will take some work to fit the proper mount on but I am prepared to deal with it. I noticed an ATI weaver scope mount no gun smithing solution from a local dealer and I was considering that for this SMLE should my hunt for the proper mount fail. What are the general thoughts on the ATI one ?