Lee Enfield Field Instrument ?????

[Son]

Ok, now just call me sceptical, but with a title like that I had to have a look at the auction.
Firstly, I have no association with the item or the seller.
I am wondering what the item actually is. Reading the description I would say that "Field" is the brand name (makers of scope mounts here many moons ago) and not the military use as suggested.

Any ideas?

Lee Enfield .303 SMLE Field Instrument | eBay

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

All I can say is that regarding the three raised bushes (2 together and one separate) that are retained by grub screws (see pic 2) look like they're drilling bushes that can be replaced when they become ovalised or oversize, thus making it a driulling jig or fixture. But I can't see any connection with telescopes. I think that the maker being 'instrument makers' is a bit of a red herring in respect to the jig thinggy. But you never know.....

[Badger]

I found a couple of things ….

An old auction ..

Arms, Militaria and Collectibles
Auction, Saturday, 9 April 2011

Item 560 Rifle ‘scope with mount. Mount marked “Field Instrument Co. Melbourne Aust.”, ‘scope has brass knobs, optics ok, surface covered in light rust.

An old post on another forum ..

Hi , Field instruments were made in Melbourne and are well and truly gone. The scopes were good solid well made pieces that ended up on a lot of Aust firearms at the time, which mainly included Lithgow 22's and Lee enfield 303's. They also made a side mount to suit the SMLE to mount them. They should have no problem standing up to a small centrefire.

cheers
Deano

Hope that helps somewhat …

Regards,
Doug

[Beerhunter]

I agree with Peter. I just looks like a jig of some sort to me.

[browningautorifle]

Looks like it will put the holes in the right place for a TO-1 scope mount on a LE. One in the charger bridge and two in the barrel ring. Field? Well, I guess that would be the first wrong description on Ebay...

[Bindi2]

Looks like it will put the holes in the right place for a TO-1 scope mount on a LE. One in the charger bridge and two in the barrel ring. Field? Well, I guess that would be the first wrong description on Ebay...

Looks to me to be the jig to drill the holes in the receiver wall to mount the plate that the scope mount screwed to.

[browningautorifle]

It would help to have it in hand. One minute and a reciever and we'd know.

[jmoore]

"The item is marked with a Field Instruments Co MELBOURNE AUST
This item is used for mounting and working with scopes whilst in the field"


That is a mighty interesting logic exercise. Does the fact that it was built by "Field Instruments Co." imply that everything that the company made was for use in "the field"? Or is the rust on the "instrument" the clue that it was used "in the field"? Maybe the factory was in a field?
Just dang...

I was in the "field" (actually the woods) most of the day. Maybe it's time to go home...

[browningautorifle]

I was in the "field" (actually the woods) most of the day.

But...are you all rusty like that?

I don't think this item's any thing special. Another bench tool. We have enough armourers here that they would know of it first hand.

[muffett.2008]

Spotted it also, The Field Instrument Co, was pretty big in the early years, they manufactured sights and scopes, including mounts for just about everything, their work was quite good.
I agree, it looks like the jig to drill receivers.