No4 backsights........

[Peter Laidler]

I can honestly say that of all the No5's I've ever seen, I've never seen that before and that is the sort of thing you'd definately notice. But never say never as they say. But that bring the next obvious question, How does the leaf sit down onto the bridge charger guide when what we call the 'landing platform' part of the sight (alongside the knob.....) has been machined away

In case anyone hasn't picked it out due to the dark pics, the rear of the leaf has been dovetailed.

[Patrick Chadwick]

All the No8 sights seem to have a big hole by the way! I have had a look at the technical inspection standards and Page 3, issue 1 of Oct 1955 states that the No4,5 and 8 rifle: Aperture for battlesight diameter .020" Aperture of slide .010". Must not exceed .104" There it is. From this, the EMER being the first issue and not an updated issue, you'd never imagine that there was a manufactured smaller hole diameter.

It's a wonderful world! Battle sights for a No. 8. Sounds daft, but if you take the point of view that the purpose was to get used to the sight picture through a battle sight, then the observation that all (???) No. 8s have a large hole would suggest that this was the standard, and small holes were the anomaly.

(Sorry Peter, didn't want to spoil your sleep too much!)

Patrick

[Peter Laidler]

While on the subject, I remember being told to be on the range at a particular time when one of the Company were shooting No8's. This was in order to zero a rifle to a particular chap............... And being the dedicated snipers Armourer and all that....., anyway.....

The shots were in a horizontal line along the bottom of the target. To be honest, the bloke was useless. HE couldn't in all probability hit a cows arse with a cricket bat. Anyway, I got down to have a go and it seemed to be OK, given the hopeless case that I am...... At the time, I thought that he was using the battle sight, but NO!

It turned out that this clown was using the foresight protector as the foresight.......... I mean....., not just, say, the left one, but both of them, whichever he saw first! He was the Company Commanders driver but must have been totally blind the dozy half wit!

He married an absolutely stunningly beautiful and rich German girl from Dusseldorf and now lives in Germany. He's probably causing mayhem on the autobahn as we speak Pat!