WHO BOUGHT No.4 MkI (T) A2636 from RIA June 2020? Rifle matching scope is available.
WHO BOUGHT RIFLE A2636, sold by RIA Auctions, June 7, 2020, Lot 3545 with mismatched scope 20737 in bracket numbered H33394?
The rifle that matches that bracket H33394 and scope 20737 is up for auction. Auction ends February 15, 2021 on Gunbroker. Auction 891700355. Located in Gainesville, GA, USA.
It would be nice if rifle H33394 could be reunited with its matching scope 20737.
For rifle A2636, RIA only showed two side photos, so I do not know what scope had been mated to it in service. If the owner contacts me and lets me know the scope number on the butt, then I can look and see if its matching scope has turned up.
I maintain a research database of No. 4 (T) type rifle serial numbers, scope serial numbers, scope case rifle and scope numbers etc.. Many collectors have helped by sharing the various serial numbers. So far, with over 2,000 entered, I have matched up over a dozen serial numbered pairs, even on different continents. The power of the Internet. Sometimes the two owners come to an agreement, and sometimes they do not. One successful reunification was rifle 71L0573 which was bought at the Show of Shows in Kentucky in 2015 by jawes of Milsrups.com The matching scope case, which had both 71L0573 and C-690, was owned by Lance, also of Milsurps.com. Now we knew what scope to watch for. The matching scope 690-C, was purchased by jawes off Gunbroker in 2017. Then, once we had the matching rifle and scope, Lance graciously agreed to trade this scope case. This triple matched set is back home in Canada, where it was made, in jawes' collection.
Owners of No. 4 (T) type rifles, scopes, scope cases etc. are welcome to contact me whether they have mismatched or orphaned parts, or are fortunate the have a matching set. The more data that is recorded, the better chances of finding matched as well as tracking changes in markings, serial numbers etc.
For those who do not know, No. 4 (T) rifles were carefully matched to a scope at the time of conversion in World War II at R.S.A.F. Enfield, Holland and Holland or Long Branch. This matching up was to ensure the greatest possible accuracy and each bracket, with its scope, was custom fitted to a rifle. The scope serial number was marked on the top of the butt, just under or aft of the cocking piece. The serial number of the rifle was usually marked on the left side of the bracket. In military service, if a scope was lost, damaged or an upgrade was planned, an expert armourer would cancel the old numbers on the bracket and butt, fit a new scope set, and mark on the new serial numbers.
