Originally Posted by
Roger Payne
We (Brits) didn't copy the over the bore mounting principle until 1918, so left ourselves at somewhat at a disadvantage, yet two of our most significant sniping scopes of the Great War were indeed plagiarised German scopes. The 'original' PPCo scope as fitted offset on the SMLE was a slightly modified version of the Fuess Helios 3, & the later Model 1918 scope (also made by PPCo) was a copy of the Hensoldt Light model scope. Notwithstanding our limitations in equipment British & Dominion marksmen did eventually match, if not surpass, the German forces. This was largely due to the single mindedness of people like Crumm & Hesketh-Prichard in setting up dedicated schools of sniping for each of the British armies.