SMLE WWI Sniper with PPCo dovetail mount and scope

**Promo** · 05-26-2022 11:34 AM

First of all (and most important): this is NOT an original WWI Sniper rifle. But it was made up using an original WWI scope base, an original scope with its original mount (that I've had for years, also comes with its matching numbers scope can) and an original Enfield made 1911 dating ShtLE Mk.III that is all matching numbers (the one that fitted the condition of the base the best). But since finding those is impossible, nearly all I've seen are anyway made up (either the same way or with reproduction bases) and I anyway had all parts required I decided I'd have it done myself. And I'm posting this here since who knows what will happen once I'm gone, therefore for all to see, even in future, this is a sniper assembled on original parts in 2022.

The "conversion" was outcarried by a very skilled friend of mine. He manually filed the receiver to accomodate the base, then soldered it to the receiver and finally affixed them with the correct threaded screws (thanks again at this stage to Roger Payne icon

for helping me out with screws, saved some work!) and filed the ends perfectly so it is invisible from the inside of the receiver.

Having it in hands it is quite weird and one wonders how they were actually able to aim with a scope offset this much. No surprise the British icon

Snipers in WWI preferred the No. 3 T

. What though is quite surprising how tight and well a scope mount with simply a dovetail and some springs can hold a scope tightly in place - plus even will interchange with what isn't its original base. Also for those who look close, check the original Enfield Examiner stamp on the scope base, located between the second and the third screw (from left).

PS: the original base back then came with the original scope ring as well, interestingly one of the very few ones PPCo made for Aldis scopes. So if one day a correct pattern Aldis turns up I might be tempted to reunite the base with its original rings.