Here's a real head scratcher for you...

Found this gem a couple days ago... Scope mount looks purpose made for something, though I couldn't really say what!

Description from site: "Very good condition British No. 5 MK I Enfield Jungle Carbine in .303 British caliber that is marked “M/47C” on the left side of the receiver socket for manufacture by BSA Shirley and dated 1947. Carbine is marked “ENGLAND” on the left side of the receiver socket otherwise NOT import marked. Gun has all matching serial numbers including receiver, bolt, and magazine. Rifle is fitted with an unusual scope base that is marked “SAS M47C” and “S51” with matching serial number to the gun. Also has a sniper scope that has somewhat hazy optics and a simple crosshair reticle. I was told this was used by an Australian in Vietnam and brought back by an American soldier, we can find no reference on this rifle. Metal finish is original black showing some normal wear. Bore is very good with strong rifling and some light pitting. Stock has original finish. Forend has been slightly shortened and the handguard and band removed. Left side buttstock is stamped “SAS”. Carbine has an unusual threaded muzzle attachment that is marked “MK 5 SILENCER” and was designed to allow the attachment of a silencer. A rare and unusual Enfield variation that will make a fine addition to a collection and warrants further research."

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Saw that this morning, but I was too embarrassed (for the rifle) to post it.
An absolute mess of an otherwise nice BSA-No5.

The story is worse than that disaster of a mount.

Horse sh!t...unadulterated.

Like most of that seller's auctions, people seem to be bidding it up with aplomb.

I've no idea what would even possess someone to build that monstrosity. I also got a laugh out of the "S51" stamp. I'm sure Holland and Holland would be pleased as punch to be associated with such a fine mechanical mess as that scope mount! :rofl:

I've seen that mount before somewhere. Or something very similar. But not on an Enfield. I'll dig in, I'm curious. That story sounds...well used.

If you lose the scope & mount the rifle is salvageable, given a flash eliminator & some wood.......luckily I had an original FE & hand guard when I restored a real monstrosity last year.

It does beg the question as to whether or not the design of the mount incorporates a "hinging device" to allow the use of charger clips for loading the mag?

---------- Post added at 12:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by 303 Gunner

I've no idea what would even possess someone to build that monstrosity.

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For someone with an abnormally elongated head perhaps?

Alright, it was a special order job if you really have to know!

Is the scope of some antiquated piece of artillery maybe? At any rate; it's a mess!

Who can tell us anything about the scope?

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Originally Posted by smle addict

Saw that this morning, but I was too embarrassed (for the rifle) to post it.
An absolute mess of an otherwise nice BSA-No5.

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And a really, really late made BSA one at that with a '47 dated PK serial.

As for the rest of it well...........:bash:

It is an interesting one. Maybe if you buy four or five No4 (T) cheek pieces and stack them with really long screws, you *might* be able to get a cheek weld!

In my limited experience, the mount itself doesn't look home made. Looks like something off a machine gun or something like it with the round windage and elevation knobs. It does look like someone got really creative with a stamp set and a hammer! The other thing I noticed is the adjustments are in Mils, so I wouldn't guess the mount came from the US originally.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

For someone with an abnormally elongated head perhaps?

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Nope, just slide your mess tins up under your chin and it would be perfect.

I'm pretty sure that mount is from an old U.S. night vision rig. I'm still looking though. The rifle is a hot mess, it needs some love. Or a mercy killing. :o

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Originally Posted by CoatiMundi

It is an interesting one. Maybe if you buy four or five No4 (T) cheek pieces and stack them with really long screws, you *might* be able to get a cheek weld!

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At the very least it would make for an entertaining (and alarming?) visual for everyone else on the range!

I'm glad I posted this ugly duckling. The commentary has been fantastic!

Oh come on you blokes. My mate's brother's cousin was issued this rifle when he was posted as an SAS assassin in Korea ... or Malaya... or Borneo???

One thing I do know was Milrads and 303s didn't mix.

I agree with Atticus, the mercy killing is probably the best option.:surrender:

I'd bin the scope & mount & resuscitate the rifle.....

I think the scope and mount are for surveying

What a mess. It may have been more believable if a 4 year old child hadn’t stamped those spurious makings!!

And the story, wow. Someone should point out that the England marking is an import mark which dispels the bring back story straightaway.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nope, just slide your mess tins up under your chin and it would be perfect.

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Or just straddle it like a motorbike. That should put your eye in line with the scope.

Lets run with the story for a bit. If it was used in Vietnam by the Australian SAS would/should it have been marked "ASAS" or "Australian SAS", assuming that they wished to mark their weapon?

When the "Australian SAS" is being referred to in the UK it is normally referred to as the "Australian SAS" so as not to confuse it with the "UK SAS". But in Australia, is the "Australian SAS" referred to simply as the "SAS" or is it still referred to as the "Australian SAS"?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

When the "Australian SAS" is being referred to in the UK it is normally referred to as the "Australian SAS" so as not to confuse it with the "UK SAS". But in Australia, is the "Australian SAS" referred to simply as the "SAS" or is it still referred to as the "Australian SAS"?

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Not to quibble but should this one not be marked DASS.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

Lets run with the story for a bit. If it was used in Vietnam by the Australian SAS would/should it have been marked "ASAS" or "Australian SAS", assuming that they wished to mark their weapon?

When the "Australian SAS" is being referred to in the UK it is normally referred to as the "Australian SAS" so as not to confuse it with the "UK SAS". But in Australia, is the "Australian SAS" referred to simply as the "SAS" or is it still referred to as the "Australian SAS"?

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Here in Oz the official abbreviation is SASR. Special Air Service Regiment. In outside circles they are simply SAS. I prefer the time honoured term Chook Stranglers.

Also interesting is what the same seller is trying to pass off as No.5 flash hider pins.

Knurled dowel pins?

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Originally Posted by Steve H. in N.Y.

No.5 flash hider pins.

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Not even close...

Ended up going for $2,075!

:yikes:

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Originally Posted by 303 Gunner

Ended up going for $2,075!

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Incredible. But with 7.53 babies born every minute in the USA, if Barnum is still right, then 13.28% of the population are suckers. :D

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Originally Posted by Atticus Thraxx

I've seen that mount before somewhere. Or something very similar. But not on an Enfield. I'll dig in, I'm curious. That story sounds...well used.

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While browsing eBay for new auctions I found this: Rare tank or cannon scope and mount | eBay (not my auction nor do I know the seller - only posting it because it is identical to the one on the rifle).

The same mount and scope as with the rifle in question. Obviously the seller doesn't know what it originally was intended for either. I think he is not too way off with Cannon or Tank.

I do not know where that telescope mount came from but it is not an early US night scope mount. It looks like a bit steampunkess, Could be a movie prop for the movie, "When I was in the SAS." The movie probably never got release because it was so bad. LOL!!

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Originally Posted by Promo

While browsing eBay for new auctions I found this: Rare tank or cannon scope and mount | eBay (not my auction nor do I know the seller - only posting it because it is identical to the one on the rifle).

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Ah, the plot thickens! Thanks for posting that up.

I get the feeling that Bubba is going to be selling another ultra rare SAS No5 with that scope on it!

Will probably be LRDG or Special Service Force next time.

Maybe someone should send the lucky buyer a link?

I think it has to be an experimental rifle for the SAS motorcycle corps. Looking at that scope mount system, if you mounted the rifle to say the front edge of a motorcycle side car, then the scope would end up being just about the right height for the rider to sight through it without bending his head at all. :rofl: Or maybe a fixed position in the bush--If you put it on a sort of traverse (like on a Bren tripod) you could snipe with no difficulty at all without even having to go to all the discomfort of lying down. You wouldn't need to worry about your position being compromised, because the flash-hider/suppressor combination would make the whole thing mouse-fart quiet.......