No4 Trials Sight on a BSA No 4 T

[AD-4NA]

I've just seen a sporterized 1943 BSA (Shirley) T that features a No4 T trials sight for the rear sight. It is definitely an original trials sight with the aperture milled off. It is paired with the usual plunger style rear sight detent and seemed to flip back and forth just fine with only the tips of the sight "legs" contacting the plunger of course.


Any guesses on how on earth this combination came about?


It seems a pretty dubious pairing since it would have been years since Enfield was doing any T conversions and years since Fazakerley or Holland & Holland would have been doing rebuilds or had come anywhere near a trials No4/ No1 MkVI.

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[Peter Laidler]

I would suggest that at some time, either in service or post service the rifle needed a new backsight and this one was in the tray. The sight didn't function properly with the production backsight plunger so the person simply machined the flat plunger plate off and rounded it off. Now works a treat!

[AD-4NA]

I was looking for a little more interesting idle speculation!

Uh, I don't think anything was milled off, unless the plunger base was shortened.

Now, while there is no telling what some civilian might do, would an armorer really have used/been "allowed" to use a non interchangeable part off of an A suffix parts source or a "scrapped" Trails T?

[Peter Laidler]

Ok then, POST service the same thing happened but this time a civvy did it! Without a picture from youy and other responses from the other forumers, that seems like the only plausible answer - so far!

Armourers made the best use of the parts available and the A suffix indicated that parts were not interchangeable or might need selective or hand fitting. Done it a zillion times

[Surpmil]

Whatever the case, buy the rifle for the sight and put it on eBay if you don't need it as there are a number of people who do, as you will see! Gives everyone a shot and lets the market decide.

[CINDERS]

Ah good old fleabay couple of items that just sold the in the field multi tool for the SMLE sold for $610/AU and the Mk III front sight adjustment tool went for $500 all from the same seller, so the bay is great for driving prices through the roof.
Glad I got those items a long time ago, guess some have very deep pockets and do not research alternate markets so your rear sight may be worth a heap or the auction may yield you a poor price realization good luck........