No32 SCOPE QUESTIONS

A couple of questions here guys regarding the No32 scope.
1- Is there a sequence for tightening front or rear thumb screws when attaching scope to rifle?
2- I have 2 original No4MK1 T series rifles ( both 1945 M47 C)....I understand that in some cases the bolt can be removed with scope still mounted to rifle, both of mine need to have scope removed in order to remove bolt. Did Holland & Holland not ensure this was the case when doing the conversions?
Sorry if the lingo is incorrect (thumb screws) for the purists out there...thanks for the help and have a great day.

There are threads for the Q's you ask giving the answers but main thing as PL alludes to the tightening of the screws you do not have to be a 6'6" godzilla tightening them up, as for the bolt removal savvy armorers realized this fopar and rectified it by judicious removal of some metal I think it is in the No.4 T by Skennerton & Laidler.
But if you have a T I would just leave it alone no bubba and buy a breech flag for the range days

I've yet to see in person a rear sight modification done on a No.4 Mk.I(T) or L42a1 that allows the bolt to be removed whilst the scope is on the rifle. (And have been looking since the little book that has a description of such mod came out last century...) Have thought about doing one myself just for giggles, but hate the thought of cutting up a perfectly good rear sight!

The perfectly good rear sight IS perfectly good for the No4 rifle JM. But will be a perfectly BETTER sight for a No4T and an L42. I bet that you've never seen a No4T ot L42 with a Bren sling as part of the CES either JM. That's because when the rifles are returned to Ordnance they have to go back 'as issued'.

I must admit, having climbed all over 385 L42's at Charnwood Ordnance in about 1994 or whenever it was, I never found a rear sight so modified either. However, Peter's comments about the rifle having to go back 'as issued' could explain that. They are easy enough to do - I used a half round file, though one has to proceed carefully. I also used a spare rear sight in each case, rather than alter the originals. There's no doubt that at times it is convenient to be able to slip the bolt out easily whilst on the range.

I seem to recall that the screw tightening is a front thumbscrew then back one a bit, with the back always being the final one to be done up tightly.

And that I also seem to recall has been mentioned by PL as an answer to the same question from quite some time ago, but as mentioned not to 68 ft lbs that some think they need! And as has been said by the person who Co. wrote a book on them they do and have broken!!!!!!!!!!:banghead:

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

There are threads for the Q's you ask giving the answers but main thing as PL alludes to the tightening of the screws you do not have to be a 6'6" godzilla tightening them up, as for the bolt removal savvy armorers realized this fopar and rectified it by judicious removal of some metal I think it is in the No.4 T by Skennerton & Laidler.
But if you have a T I would just leave it alone no bubba and buy a breech flag for the range days

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Not too worried about the breech flag as I usually shoot at a private range...the concern was not to remove scope everytime when I clean the bore from the breech end.....thanks

Send me your address by PM Bros and I'll send you one. Easy to fit and re-zero

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Originally Posted by jmoore

I've yet to see in person a rear sight modification done on a No.4 Mk.I(T) or L42a1 that allows the bolt to be removed whilst the scope is on the rifle. (And have been looking since the little book that has a description of such mod came out last century...) Have thought about doing one myself just for giggles, but hate the thought of cutting up a perfectly good rear sight!

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Yeah, I had a good laugh when a (fellow) internet "ExPurT" said that he's "seen many No4T rifles" which have had the rear sight modified for bolt removal.

I asked him to send me or post a picture of one as in looking at well over 100 No4 T rifles in person, and several hundred more in photos, I've never seen a single one which had a (properly) modified rear sight. Strangely not a single picture was forthcoming...

I HAVE in fact seen several which were modified by grinding the rear sight slide...obviously home done....and wrong.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

The perfectly good rear sight IS perfectly good for the No4 rifle JM. But will be a perfectly BETTER sight for a No4T and an L42. I bet that you've never seen a No4T ot L42 with a Bren sling as part of the CES either JM. That's because when the rifles are returned to Ordnance they have to go back 'as issued'.

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And of course, most of the No4 T rifles I've physically had in my hands were sold out of the British system by the late 1960s, so it's quite possible that none ever received the modification...especially as most have early manufacturer codes (SM41 Singer manufactured ect.) rear sights....arguably likely original to the sniping rifle.

I can't say I've seen an original rifle equipped with the modified rear sight. I've modified and had some spares up until a little while ago. I accumulated Mk.1 sights with smashed battle apertures and modified them myself after being instructed how to do it correctly. MoD Armourer's had a simple grinding jig which does modify the back sight slide a tiny bit for good clearance. I'd guess they were used more on the L42A1 later on.

Was advised not to mod them as they snap very easy. I guess it all depends on how often you shoot if you find it a pain to keep removing the sight.

Snap easily............... Who in heavens name told you that? Never heard so much guff in my life!

On the same subject of the modded backsights being uncommon, would the same apply to Bren gun butt plates modified to be able to carry them with the sling from the top instead of at the side......... Seen many of them?

Or Mk2 telescopes waterproofed with added desiccation screw facility....... Seen many of them? Yet both exist

They work like a champ when done correctly.

My rifle came minus the rear sight, I bought one of the Internet took it into my shed and after looking in some well known books on the modification process, I set about it with an half round file. Works a treat, cos it was a pain in the arse having to remove my scope all the time.

5 weeks ago I gave my armorer instructions to reshape the rear sight so I could take the scope off easily.
I will get the No 4 back in 2 weeks ot so, thenI will send the other one in for the same mods.
I am all for it as it is a modifcation that makes it easy to investigate a stopage more quickly.
Helps keep the scope of the ground depending on the situation. etc etc
Quicker to return the th ejo at hand being a sniper..
It is not always about origionality but at times needs evolving and necessity.