There were and still are local EMER modifications and Harry is right, that they were sanctioned locally just so long as the stuff was returned to 'as issue' prior to its return (L39's are a good example.....) But lose a telescope, especially a serially numbered one matched by number to a rifle no less was just one step worse than losing a compass or a pair of binos but not quite in the suicidal depths league of losing a weapon. It was a board of enquiry no less. And an Army Board of Enquiry was not to ascertain guilt as in the normal course of the Judicial process. No......, you were already guilty, that's why you were hauled before the Court of Enquiry!. It was just to find out HOW guilty you were before you found yourself before the Company Commander or even worse, the Battalion Commander.

Nope....., I still recon this was a home made thinggy. It would be no good putting this thing onto your rifle if there wasn't even a chance of hitting a cows arsx with a cricket bat

Talking of Boards of Enquiry, remind me one day to tell about 'losing' the .300" Browning machine gun at Castlemartin tank ranges