Help with made up sniper rifle scope

Gentlemen,
I bought this rifle many years back from someone who said he had it for a few years and never fired it. I finally took it to the range and it's a nice shooter. The target shows 8 shots at 100 yards using 1967 Pakistan military ammo that I received with the rifle, click-bang.
Years back, so many folks would file off " UNITED STATES PROPERTY " on 1911's etc and this scope got the same file treatment. Even though the scopes info has been filed off I'am still going to ask an almost impossible question. Can any of you gentlemen make out any markings on this scope from these few, rather poor, pictures ? I've referenced the books I have on hand and checked out some information on line but I could really use your help.
Thanks much.

I guess I'm first on the scene, so without seeing more of the receiver and the mount bases (aka "pads"), hard to be sure if the rifle is a genuine T, but if you bought it "many years ago" it very likely is as hardly anyone bothered to assemble then and there was no supply of after-market pads anyway.

The scope is an REL MkIA or MkII. Can't be sure myself

The bracket is the roughest REL example I've seen, but as you have cap serial number "1" (and I assume "2" on the other?), and the stamps are on the opposite from normal side, you may have a very early REL bracket indeed.

That would tend to suggest a MkIA scope, if the two are original to each other. It looks like when whoever stole the scope was filing the numbers off, he filed the bracket edge as well, so yes, probably been together from the start.

Not sure what to make of the electric pencilled SN on the receiver wall, doesn't look like a UK FTR re-mark and doesn't match the original SN on the butt socket. :confused:

BTW: Faststone ImageViewer is a great free and safe download which I used to tweak your photos in about two minutes. Has features normally found only in pricey photo software. Try it out?

Thanks for the input and the info on Faststone, I'll give it a try.

the elevation turret is fitting number is "351" but it is not scope 351c. Scope #351c was /is fitted to 71L0303

scope serial numbers and models were not fitted to consecutive rifles.

71L0303-351c
71L0311-315c (REL '43 MkIA)
71L0312
71L0314-508c (REL probably a .44 MkII)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Surpmil

I guess I'm first on the scene, so without seeing more of the receiver and the mount bases (aka "pads"), hard to be sure if the rifle is a genuine T, but if you bought it "many years ago" it very likely is as hardly anyone bothered to assemble then and there was no supply of after-market pads anyway.

The scope is an REL MkIA or MkII. Can't be sure myself

The bracket is the roughest REL example I've seen, but as you have cap serial number "1" (and I assume "2" on the other?), and the stamps are on the opposite from normal side, you may have a very early REL bracket indeed.

That would tend to suggest a MkIA scope, if the two are original to each other. It looks like when whoever stole the scope was filing the numbers off, he filed the bracket edge as well, so yes, probably been together from the start.

Not sure what to make of the electric pencilled SN on the receiver wall, doesn't look like a UK FTR re-mark and doesn't match the original SN on the butt socket. :confused:

BTW: Faststone ImageViewer is a great free and safe download which I used to tweak your photos in about two minutes. Has features normally found only in pricey photo software. Try it out?

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The serial number on the reciever sidewall looks to be of the dot matrix variety and would've been applied by the importer to satisfy the BATFE.

Thanks, so does the BATF just apply in their own sequence irrespective of the original? And in what cases are such numbers applied?

The original number on the butt socket looks like its possibly a 1943 Maltby made No.4, which does increase the odds of it being an original T?

Any guess to what the info on the scope looked like before the file job ?

https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....7&d=1374406904

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=44835

Thanks Surpmil, that matches. CGB....GA is identifiable, as is the final C from the line above, in the correct position.

WOW, there it is. Sure would be great to have that back on the scope.
Thanks so much, greatly appreciated.

It's possible, but the original engraving was pretty deep and so quite a lot of metal has been removed. With flame welding maybe the area could be built up and ground to the correct diameter and then the markings re-engraved.

That would mean a complete refinish of the scope I expect, and the ability of the tube to stand that much heat without distortion is questionable.

Another option might be to recut the markings, but only slightly deeper so that they are readable, but their depth will vary depending how much metal was removed from a particular area by the filing.

You will still have the filed-down look, but at least will be able to read the markings.

Should all be doable with CNC these days.

I'll be talking with a young machinist whose done some work for me in the past. He has a CNC in the shop. We'll see.

Thanks