Swift spotting scope

[sigma_pete]

Does anyone have the military and/or civilian instruction manuals for this spotting scope that they could post or email to me?

Swift MKII Telemaster model 841, NSN 6650995277191

I’m by no stretch of the imagination an expert in their history but those not familiar with it, the Swift is a straight design spotting scope with Japanese made optics that was originally made for the civilian market but saw limited military service as well. However, it has two dials for the 15-60x magnification and focus adjustment that didn’t fair well in the wind borne sandy dessert environment. In its original civilian roll, it was designed to be used with an SLR camera as a 4000mm focal length equivalent telephoto lens for wildlife photography.

I have acquired several Swift 841’s (15-60x, 60mm objective) and one of it’s smaller brother 842 (25-50x, 50mm objective) over the years with serial numbers dating from 1970 to 1991. The optics are clear, the all steel construction is rugged for outdoor use (although probably not waterproof). It’s served me well for range use, as well as accompanying me on many a family and Boy Scout camping trip for wildlife observation and amateur astronomy.

I would post some pictures, because everyone likes pictures, but I can’t figure out how to do so.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[waco16]

In response to sigma pete, I attached pictures of my military issue Swift:

Swift Telescope 6650 99 527 7191, Serial Number 85-52829, manufactured in 1985, housed in Case, Telescope 6650 99 527 7084 with original Swift Tripod with pan and tilt head.
Interestingly included with the paperwork for this scope was an instruction sheet for a different variant of Issue Swift Tripod V6/6650 99 527 7083.
The case carries NSN labels and descriptions for both the case and telescope together with 5 - 20mm diameter yellow labels with different ET numbers ('ET 10-13/6' & 'ET 10-14/1') The tripod caries three labels: 'S/N 523', 'Part of Serial No 82-20895' (I assume this was a previous scope this tripod was issued with) and 'ET 15/2 5/3.
These scopes have a variable 15 - 60x zoom with separate focussing knob.
They were issued at the end of the L42 and early L96A1 era's, and were optically very good but didn't stand up to desert conditions very well and were replaced with a British variant of the M49.

There were not usually military markings on the issue swifts, other than (occasionally) stick on labels - the same goes for the very 'civilian' case they were issued in...
The images show the one in my collection- exactly as it came from MoD disposal.
Only IDs were small square labels on the tripod and NSN numbers on the case

[sigma_pete]

Thank you waco16. I have also enjoyed going through and reading your past posts about the Swift and other spotting scopes. It’s been very informative. Too bad so many threads no longer have their pictures. Everyone on this forum appears to be so knowledgeable and helpful.

In response to sigma pete, I attached pictures of my military issue Swift:

Swift Telescope 6650 99 527 7191, Serial Number 85-52829, manufactured in 1985, housed in Case, Telescope 6650 99 527 7084 with original Swift Tripod with pan and tilt head.
Interestingly included with the paperwork for this scope was an instruction sheet for a different variant of Issue Swift Tripod V6/6650 99 527 7083.
The case carries NSN labels and descriptions for both the case and telescope together with 5 - 20mm diameter yellow labels with different ET numbers ('ET 10-13/6' & 'ET 10-14/1') The tripod caries three labels: 'S/N 523', 'Part of Serial No 82-20895' (I assume this was a previous scope this tripod was issued with) and 'ET 15/2 5/3.
These scopes have a variable 15 - 60x zoom with separate focussing knob.
They were issued at the end of the L42 and early L96A1 era's, and were optically very good but didn't stand up to desert conditions very well and were replaced with a British variant of the M49.

There were not usually military markings on the issue swifts, other than (occasionally) stick on labels - the same goes for the very 'civilian' case they were issued in...
The images show the one in my collection- exactly as it came from MoD disposal.
Only IDs were small square labels on the tripod and NSN numbers on the case

[Peter Laidler]

Interesting little question and thread. These were a two-off buy for the UK MoD. It wasn't specifically issued for the L42 or the L96 but it did find its way into the CES, almost by default. Those that found their way into the rifle CES came as a simple telescope - some in a softee case, but not always. The sniper version, as I recall, had some parts of the adjustments fixed and the mounting bracket underneath was removed and the screw holes replaced with red painted screws. Quite why was a bit of a mystery because they didn't act as desiccation screws. Also, the casings were a matt khaki colour.

Quite a good telescope.......... That is, until Gulf War 1. They simply could NOT be kept dust proof. It got inside and into the silicon greased internal adjustment threads. I have one somewhere that I'll photograph is anyone is really interested. Spare parts were almost impossible to get except for the front and rear covers. Another problem was that the OG lens retainer ring was easy to jamb into place and when that happened, it was toast. Alec Lindsay was good at working on them but even he was exasperated with them - eventually!

They fitted nicely into the 81mm mortar round tube so OK if you were doing static obs over a target area from a hide. I never saw one of the commercial types as shown above but knew that they were around. A rep from SWIFT optics came to see us about spares but the contract to supply didn't include spares except for the end caps and the black screw-on ocular eye piece. Not a lot of good when the mechanical focussing train had dried up!

[Surpmil]

Seems a pity a tree screw mounting couldn't have been provided After all, the Davidson had one in 1915.
Not to mention a kill-flash for the objective. .