My Sniper CES

Seeing the wonderful display on the L96 CES I was prompted to show my meagre offering.

I have a 1942 No4T RAF issue which has I think the full rifle CES

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../No4T001-1.jpg

I have then attempted to find 'Air Ministry' accessories to make up the 'Sniper CES' and as many of you will have seen SWMBO treated me to some 1942 AM binoculars for Christmas.
I have sourced an Air Ministry 'Observers' watch and a MkIII compass (Army ?)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fd0bb497-1.jpg

The binoculars are marked Watson Baker 1943 6E/293
The case is marked "Binocular Prismatic No2 - Case Mk1 - OS18687 FLTD

The watch is manufactured by Kay & Co and is an Observers watch type 6E/50 dated 1941

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fcfc4643-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...21c25c28-1.jpg

The compass is a manufactured by TG & Co London and is dated 1942. It is a MKIII

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...52bcfee8-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...f13bcd52-1.jpg

If anyone has any interest and would like furthe pics I can post.

Alan,
Nice set mate, still can't see the Brylcream jar though.
You know you can get a replacement cork base for the compass on Ebay, or are you leaving it as is?

It's a MODIFIED Mk3 compass. Modified to mils (6400 mils = 360 degrees). These are a bit scarcer(?) than standard degrees compasses. Maybe you should swop it with someone who has a degrees compass in their L42 kit. The RING, base, seating we used from the 70's was a hatched neoprene stuff with a peel-off stick-on side. Totally useless unless you really cleaned the old stuff off with trich.. Only THEN were they any good!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

It's a MODIFIED Mk3 compass. Modified to mils (6400 mils = 360 degrees). These are a bit scarcer(?) than standard degrees compasses. !

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As my 4T was till in use in the very late 60's (last 'service' at Base Workshops Catterick in 1968) I though the 'mils-modifies' one was apt, as by then I guess they would have been usig Mils.

I have a degrees one on its way to me but its a 1944 so if I'm being OCD then its the wrong year.

Here you go Gil

Attachment 48598

Alan,
Now you have a complete RAF/ AM CES:lol::lol::D

I also have a grey painted wooden chest for my 4T,was this grey paint just used for the RAF?

The paint on mine is a 'washed-out' blue rather than Grey,

Are there any indications either on the transit case, or the rifle of RAF ownership

For example - on my forend :

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../No4T010-1.jpg

Which shows 34 Base Workshop Catterick August 1968

Maybe the 'drips' on the inside show the colour better :

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../No4T002-1.jpg

The drips on the inside of the lid shows that the original paint was the standard drab green,
I can still make-out the old stencil chest numbers beneath the grey paint,but for some reason
this has been over-painted and re-stenciled.
could it by any chance have been issued to the Navy?

If you have a mils compass then you SHOULD have a pair of Binos that have beem modified to mils too. The reticles were regraduated to reflect mils and the right face closing plate was re-marked to suit.

Not a lot of people know that.........

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

If you have a mils compass then you SHOULD have a pair of Binos that have beem modified to mils too. The reticles were regraduated to reflect mils and the right face closing plate was re-marked to suit.

Not a lot of people know that.........

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Don't tell me any more - you are costing me a fortune.

Bit of a 'downer' on the 'degrees' compass that has arrived today - no fluid in it allowing the 'pointer' to 'rattle about' with no damping. Need to find a 'man who can' !!!

Just recharging the camera batteries and then rifles galour for you to munch over with Full CES

....................send it to me and I'll see what the Instrument shop can do...............

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

....................send it to me and I'll see what the Instrument shop can do...............

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Many, many thanks - home address or Warminster (drop me a PM)

My L42A1 CES minus the compass and watch plus my ENFORCER AND M85

Hi Gil, cracking kit there mate! You wanna get a 58 pat case for your bins.

---------- Post added at 07:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:00 PM ----------

...............and some more Brasso for your SRS hahaha.

Prismatic compass and G-10 wristwatch?

Chosenman. I spoke to the people that know today and the last spotting scopes in the L96 CES were the little prismatic Kowa with a fixed ocular system (locked at x20). Still in use there but now taken over by the Reccy div and still in use....... Still got the rifle rack numbers stencilled on the sides in black paint too!

Cheers Peter, I've just put my bruised and battered wallet away! Looks like its got some more work to do!!

Nice M85 back in the day they were the must have rifle.

Simon,
Don't start me off on why they selected the L96A1 over the M85 again :) article to follow and why I think it happened

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gil9713

Simon,
Don't start me off on why they selected the L96A1 over the M85 again :) article to follow and why I think it happened

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I'm interested in hearing this story/saga!

Being proof read at the moment, once done hopefully I can get it launched on here after conferring with the headshed. It is a factual account and not aimed at being controversial, albeit, they should be glad I wasn't about when they made the wrong decision, IMO

Why was it the wrong decision?? I'd fully support that statement if the L96 was a disaster but it wasn't it was hugely successful delivering in three major conflicts over 25 years, furthermore the ascendant rifles of the L96 are still in service today in several calibres. Sounds like they got right to me.

Steve,
You will have to wait for the article mate, and I am sure there will be lots of interesting feedback. Suffice it to say it was a very close call, but in my opinion, as well as many others, it was not substantiated from the experienced trialists of the systems.
There are people on this site who will perhaps come in now, or after the launch of the article, and air their respective views from a fist hand maintenance point of view.
I didn't do it for the hell of it, I was extremely interested as a firer of both weapons systems about the history of both AI and Parker Hale anyway, but did it because it killed off a major arms manufacturer in the whole process, which was the saddest part of the whole tale!!

Look forward to reading it all Gil. Is your enforcer box the proper one?

No, it was an option if carrying cleaning rods and bits and pieces. It is simply the biggest PELI case on wheels that weighs more than the rifle but, it is worth it when you consider keeping scope drums stabilised to and from the range etc.
It has had some knocks which would have been damage to wood and scopes in a traditional over the shoulder bag, but I have found the original Alluminium case makers now who want £485 for the green / black case with foam cut out, but not for the Enforcer.
Incidentally for the benefit of anyone reading this, I know where there is an Enforcer for sale at £1400 and also an L42 with full CES including the bottle and brush etc POA but well below silly money

Just a footnote for those of us outside the UK who don't get the allusion to "Brylcream", "The Brylcream Boys" was a nickname given to the RAF and the Dominion air force members by army and navy personnel in WWII and after. It wrapped up into one phrase a certain resentment, mixed with some envy(!), of the "flash" appearance of pilots and air force personnel, their often greater success with and access to the fair sex, and all the benefits of life behind the lines. The usual sort of inter-service stuff! ;)

:lol::lol:spot on. I knew when my father came home when I was a kid from long duration ops abroad, that he had been in mums bed first before I saw him in the kitchen fully clothed on my return from school, because of the brylcream stain on the head board. I have to say at this juncture, I took a few more years to figure that one out too