No.32 Mk1 Replica Scope - Armourers Report

Found a detailed report by Paul Green of Thames Valley Guns on the replica No.32 Scope, scope bracket and mounts as supplied by Numrich Gunparts.

Thought it appropriate to share the link to Mr Greens report.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.tv...o32Scope-1.pdf

As Mr Green points out in his report, these replica scopes are not for the purist, but not everyone has access to the genuine article.

I'll happily stick with my Fulton/Laidler refurbished Mk1's sitting in Roger Payne brackets.

Thank you again to both Peter and Roger for providing these important services.

Cheers

Paul

An excellent article and very objective.
I just finished rebuilding one of the repro scopes last evening and have reworked several over the last year. First I should add that there are a few minor items that could become a small issue down the road but I doubt that most repro scopes will get the usage like a military scope so I don't think it is a major issue. The ones I do get for service I do tart up a bit and so far everyone has been more than happy with the scope.
There is not a single part of the repro scope that will fit the original 32...any Mark. The repro lenses are of top quality and I had them checked by an optician and he was impressed by the quality. The ocular lens arrangement is much different than the military No.32 which has two thick achromatic lenses while the repro has one thick lens and one thin, PLUS a plastic protecting lens over the outer achromatic lens. A nice feature as replacing or polishing the protecting lens will be much easier than a glass lens and removing the coating in doing so. Any distortion in the plastic lens is totally negligible to the normal eye, but I am sure that someone will find fault with this. Still a nice touch.
The movement is certainly not British quality and there are a few rough edges but nothing that will affect usage. One thing that is missing are the index screws and during reassembly you have to be VERY careful or the scope will jam up. There is no reason to take the scope apart unless idle curiosity, but I would recommend against it unless absolutely necessary. There are a few tricks in assembly that I've learned over the last year or so in working on the repro No.32's. My one major complaint is a couple of components are "loctite"d (tm) into place and are not easily removable.
More later, but just a few words to add to a most objective article and not one just trashing the scope for what it is. A repro for the none purist or shooter.

I'll take that on board Warren. They're bound to come through in the near future

I tried hard to get one out of Numrich but they seem to be citing some regulation about defence restrictions on the export of optical sights or some such thing. It's not a limitation on $100, since I have purchased an order in excess of $100 from them.

But cor blimey $750? That's only because they have the market on these. If we take the Mosin Nagant scope repros as an example - and the market is awash with these excellent Ukrainian scopes - a complete repro outfit can be had for half the price.

It's called International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the dreaded ITAR. Telescopes need export licensing. Since these aren't military, they'd be licensable by US Department of Commerce, not the US Department of State.

Been thinking about this a bit...and before you ask, yeah I do have a headache.
Do the same restrictions apply to Canada? if not then maybe have it purchased by someone there and then sent from them, or do the Canadians have the same export restrictions.
While we are on this, I want one of there No. 32 scope mounts, so if all this is possible, maybe some good citizen can PM me.

Very good article. I have a T rifle with the pads on it - but alas no mount or scope. I ordered the scope mount from them and it is in the mail as I type. I do hope it fits the rifle!

My budget would not allow even the repro scope so I did the next best thing. I took a Weaver K3 scope and put external windage and elevation drums on it - it'll do as the old K series of scopes are tough and reliable.

Attachment 31350
Attachment 31351

The drums came off an old Bushnell scope that was broken.

The ITAR applies to all exports of all U.S. Munitions List articles. Even NLR, (No LIcense Required), shipments under $100 must be reported through the AES system with CBP/Census. If you want a headache. Google the ITAR and start reading!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brian Dick

The ITAR applies to all exports of all U.S. Munitions List articles. Even NLR, (No LIcense Required), shipments under $100 must be reported through the AES system with CBP/Census. If you want a headache. Google the ITAR and start reading!

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To quote ITAR :

"Riflescopes manufactured to military specifications (See category XII(c) for controls on night sighting devices.)"

I suppose one could argue that these repro 32 scopes are made to military specifications - but are 50 year old mil-specs still valid ?
Or - indeed - are they actually manufactured to military specs ?

Im from argentina and got the same problems (I want to make a No4T but I cant buy the mount or scope)...
Regulations in this product is stupid this item is a vintage/collector optics...Not a "tactical device".

As I said before, they aren't military but they still need a Snap-R Dept. of Commerce export license and many aren't registered nor do they care to bother with export shipments and the many related hassles involved.