SMLE Oddball Sniper?

Buccaneer,

The scope on your rifle although similar in appearance to the WA5, WB5, WB3 etc is in fact a model known simply as the Winchester 8x. The following text is reproduced from "Old Rifle Scopes" authored by Nick Strobel. ISBN 0-87341-830-1

Quote "In 1939 Winchester introduced an 8x scope specifically for its model 75 target rifle.This scope is unmarked except for an 8x on the objective bell and has a characteristic japaned brass tube that gives a greenish-black colour to the tube finish. The stamped sheet metal mounts are marked "Winchester". The last listing I have for the 8x is in the 1944 Gun Digest" End quote.

Winchester 8x (1939 - 1945)

Magnification - 8x.
Field of view - Not given.
Luminosity - Not given.
Eye relief - Not given.
Length - Approx 18". (Roughly 450mm in new money).
Weight - Not given.
Tube diameter - 0.750" (Roughly 18mm in new money).

Cheers,

Simon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Valleysniper

The scope base appears to be an exact copy of the Parker Hale/A G Parker one designed for the WA5 during the great war (See pic) and available afterwards. Probably one of the first "No gunsmithing" mounts? Quite a few of these bases have been copied recently.

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I guess I should make a proper scan of that page seeing as how the photo has got around.

While our "creative" friends took the trouble to use some old looking number stamps for the "113", they forgot one or two other details from that page; which I'll forbear to enumerate, lest their future efforts include them!

Their machining and finishing just isn't up to 1930s standards either, nor is the bluing.

Probably it was thought cleverer to mark BSA than Parker Hale; and more sort of "military" looking.:rolleyes: