A No74 telescopic sight for the L1A1

[Peter Laidler]

Anyone seen one of these before or even recognise it? It's the proposed No74 telescopic sight trialed during the late 60’s for the L1A1 rifle. Not as a ‘sniper rifle’ as such but more of an Infantry Marksmans rifle. It never got past the trials stage as in 1969 the trials team came to the opinion that the lack of pin-point accuracy of the rifle, even new rifles could not justify further expense.

This one was on the 1968/9 trials and the Design Office number is marked on the cover bracket. Incidentally, the rubber eye cup was a friction fit over the tube and extendable for eye relief. The end caps were plastic bungs pushed into the ocular and OG ends and retained with a nylon cord - a bit like those used today on the L11 and 12 binoculars

At that time, 1969 and ominously at the same time, another rifle was being trialed at Warminster that could do an even better job............

We had to wait for another couple of years before the next sight came on stream. The SUIT. Good sight but poor mount leading to the SUIT initials being lent to the phrase Shooter Usually In Trouble

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