Saved this auction information and pics for posterity ... :thup:
Printable View
Saved this auction information and pics for posterity ... :thup:
Question: Is Skennerton always correct? Are these British sniper rifles either "black or white" unlike the US M1C rifles that also have numbered and un-numbered bases and numbered mounts?
No Skennerton is not always correct.
No one is, Laidler, Law, Reynolds, every author has errors and omissions.
British No4 T serials do not appear in specific blocks as each rifle was target fired and selected for conversion.
Early Canadian No4Ts followed the British system, but this was found too slow and a batch system was instituted during 1944.
If you are referring specifically to the Lyman Alaskan equipped Long Branch No4Ts then ALL of the production T.P. scopes were in the 1944 74L block...
Regarding M1Cs, contact the Garand collectors association for the known serial numbers. The production block serial number batch ranges are quite well established.
Here is a set of pictures captured from the web of what a serialed Alaskan
looks like. No, not saying they all are serialed this way; who could really answer that? However, I've not yet seen one that hasn't been serialed to the rifle.
If the rifle was damaged, worn out was the scope placed on another rifle by an armourer to keep the kit in action. If this was done then was the original number on the scope barred out and the new host number applied. Were these rifles FTRd just like any other rifle. A full matching one could be rarer than hens teeth or rocking horse poo unless they were not used and just stored. (dont think so)