Unusual No32 Scope Bracket - possibly Dutch.

[Roger Payne]

A few years ago I turned up an unusual No32 bracket which came from a Dutch collector/dealer, who gave it a definite provenance to the Dutch armed forces, it being manufactured for them probably in the 1950's. It was of general interest but not something that I wanted to keep as it was a non-Commonwealth item of post WW2 manufacture, so I sold it via a dealer pal in the South West of England. Two weeks ago I was over on the Somme at a French arms fair when I noticed a No32 bracket in a dealer's cabinet. Lo & behold it only turned out to be another exactly the same as the previous one. It wasn't outrageously dear so I bought it. They are very similar to UK Dalgleish brackets, apart from the castings being a little neater. Both examples that I have owned bear a logo set in the casting around half way along the main 'strut' of the bracket. It looks like M&S or something similar. (In fact IMHO it bears a superficial similarity to the Smith & Wesson logo).

I can't be sure that these brackets are Dutch, although the first came from a source that maintained this to be the case, & the Dutch certainly made No32 Mk3 scopes & scope tins too, to keep serviceable their rifles supplied by the UK/Canada. Both of the ones I have seen are most definitely not modern reproductions, but if anyone knows for sure their provenance I'd love to know.

I shan't hold on to this one either, but at least I remembered to take some photo's of it while I've got it!Attachment 105351Attachment 105350Attachment 105349Attachment 105348

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.