Canadian Sniper Scope rifle sniping telescope WW2 R.E.L (eBay)

[m4carbine]

JR,

The last stand that Salter had sold for $790.00

[Surpmil]

Well, seems I know where that one is! Am I right you need an eye cup for it? Same one as the REL 6x30 binos (valleysniper's observation BTW) Perhaps the same as the 7x50s as well(?)

It would be nice to see a scan of that RCEME tag on it sometime...

I suspect more the Stands, Instrument, C No47 went hors de combat than the scopes did - or maybe just more were pinched by target shooting soldiers to use with their own scopes...!

It's a bit OT, but it is interesting to contrast how many of these scopes have turned up out of the 500 odd made compared to the 500 Warner & Swasey scopes: less than a dozen of those known. I suspect they were scrapped for the considerable amount of brass they contain, in 1944 or 45. "Without Warning" mentions that this was recommended by a responsible officer in 1944 as they were felt to no longer be needed. Barring one or two WWI bring-backs, the rest of those in existence are probably from the 80 or more sent over to the UK in 1939/40. Otherwise, we'd see a few more of them surfacing I think, considering only 150 or so got to France in WWI.

And yes, I think they were all shipped with matching numbers originally. The No26(?) scope and case that made such a high price were matching and obviously had not gone through three decades of Canadian Army service like most have done.

[John R.]

Well, seems I know where that one is! Am I right you need an eye cup for it? Same one as the REL 6x50 binos (valleysniper's observation BTW) Perhaps the same as the 7x50s as well(?)

It would be nice to see a scan of that RCEME tag on it sometime...

I suspect more the Stands, Instrument, C No47 went hors de combat than the scopes did - or maybe just more were pinched by target shooting soldiers to use with their own scopes...!

It's a bit OT, but it is interesting to contrast how many of these scopes have turned up out of the 500 odd made compared to the 500 Warner & Swasey scopes: less than a dozen of those known. I suspect they were scrapped for the considerable amount of brass they contain, in 1944 or 45. "Without Warning" mentions that this was recommended by a responsible officer in 1944 as they were felt to no longer be needed. Barring one or two WWI bring-backs, the rest of those in existence are probably from the 80 or more sent over to the UK in 1939/40. Otherwise, we'd see a few more of them surfacing I think, considering only 150 or so got to France in WWI.

And yes, I think they were all shipped with matching numbers originally. The No26(?) scope and case that made such a high price were matching and obviously had not gone through three decades of Canadian Army service like most have done.

I will attempt to scan the RCEME tag and post it here.Failing the scan I'll do a verbatim quote.

The vendor tells me that it isn't all that legible however.

I shall give finding a "Stand,Instrument ,C No47" My best shot too. Apparently the scopes optics are clean and bright so that at least is a plus.

A very close friend here in Vancouver has the same REL Spotting Scope with the can but the objective lens is AWOL.He did manage to get the original optical specs/dwg or whatever but we now hope to use mine as a pattern and resurrect his.

My scope is No 444-C with the can being 9-C. My friend's scope is 405-C and he has to dig out the can.

I had hoped that the scope and can would fit in the No15 Transit Chest (C/|\ 1943 K ML) that goes with my LB 1944 T.I have a CDN marked Telescope Scout Reg't that DOES fit but the REL with can is too damned FAT.(Story of my life)

Lots of fun this collecting CDN Sniper kit is all I can say.Thankfully I got most of it before prices went through the ionosphere.Like the CDN$1250 PLUS one REL Spotting Scope and can went for in 2005

Cheers,

JR

[Badger]

For future reference in case anyone wants to compare something they find against all correct examples, check the article written by stencollector titled 1944 Canadian Telescope, Observing, Sniper's Cmk1 in the Canada - Knowledge Library.

It also contains a 30+ picture photo montage of two different examples including the stand.

Regards,
Badger

[Surpmil]

The objective lens for the REL T.O.S. may well be the same doublet as used on the REL 7x50 binoculars. I have a couple of NOS objectives I think are from those, though they might be something American too. Let me know.

[Warren]

JohnR; MANY years ago I had a case (12 to 15) of the scope cases (only) and all had been "demilitarized" by a hard whack on one end of the tube. Just enough to break the plastic cover and make a good sized mark. All appeared to have been used and many did not have the top and the case numbers matching. Most had slings with names and numbers on the sling. There was a number of scopes floating around at the time, but all were in what we would call "bog standard" and many had been ridden hard and put away wet. Scratched lenses and what looked like a home made spanner to open them up. Reason for opening them up and why ??????????

[Surpmil]

Measured up and eyeballed the binocular objectives and the objective in my REL TOS. The objective diameter is 52mm and it appears to be a single slightly convex lens. I think it may well be half the doublet that makes up the objective for the REL 7x50 binoculars. But that is only my GUESS until we uncement one and try it in someone's scope. The REL TOS objective is held in a separate housing from which I did not try to remove it.

[John R.]

As previously noted the vendor NEGLECTED to inform me that the eyeguard/eyecup was AWOL

Our friend "SURPMIL" alluded to the fact that a firm called "SURPLUS SHED" in Fleetwood, PA 19522 Tel:877-778-7758 OR 610-926-0978 "MIGHT" have the solution...THEY DO!!

Phone and ask for... Item Lookup Code B-1033, DESCRIPTION, Universal 6x30 Bino Eyeguard/Eyecup .It is the EXACT same eyeguard found on the REL Spotting Scope.

Ten of them set me back CAD$16.01 DELIVERED(one was chipped and another was similar but NOT identical to the one on my friend's Scope)which gave me eight almost mint/new ones.My friend's ALSO had a chip out of it but was an original.We now have new ones installed on our scopes and 6 spares.

Should you need a replacement you can get one identical to the original from the Surplus Shed and the price is certainly VERY friendly too.

Cheers,

JR

[Surpmil]

As previously noted the vendor NEGLECTED to inform me that the eyeguard/eyecup was AWOL

Our friend "SURPMIL" alluded to the fact that a firm called "SURPLUS SHED" in Fleetwood, PA 19522 Tel:877-778-7758 OR 610-926-0978 "MIGHT" have the solution...THEY DO!!

Cheers,

JR

Actually that was Valleysniper's discovery, not mine.