Curious No32 MkIII, answers on a post card please????

[Simon]

Simon, it's the 15th.

Bugger!!! I can't make it.:@

---------- Post added at 07:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:27 AM ----------

You asked for an elaboration. 2nd para of mine: I think that photos 1 and 2 of chapter 1/page 1 of this thread amply illustrate in pictures far better that I could describe in words why I think that the fitting of these rings are a bit of butchery! The actual machining of the rings might well be perfect and the idea well thought out but the application of the rings on the tube with a soft soldered joint like that are not, in my opinion, the work of any trials team that I have ever had the experience of working with. Just my view of course. Put another more subtle way....... Same meat, different gravy, but what would you say if I, say, replaced an ocular end on your needy/rusty telescope with a snotty joint like that

1st para of mine: Yes they WERE soldered to the tube, but what a mess! It's what a plumber might call a snotty joint - see above
And the same method might be employed on an Africal safari rifle Simon, but with the best will in the world and upping the humour a tad, an africal safari shooter ain't being shot back at! And as I often say, target and game shooters ain't and never will be snipers!
Oh, Simon, really........... Please take it from me and every other 1st year machine shop apprentice that turning an exact ratio internal taper on a 1" or so length of steel is definately NOT a graduate job or even a skilled operators job, believe me. It's one of your very FIRST taper turning lathe work exercises. Machine a morse taper die nut holder!. And even easier ESPECIALLY when you have the main tube there from which to quickly set-up, turn the tool post to suit the taper (using a DTI if you REALLY need to) and away you go. EXACT first time. Part-off, slit the collar and there you have it. 10 mts max and exact first time! Skilled, it definately ain't! Any machinists disagree with this simple explanation?

Nope............ The friction held drums do nothing better than the standard on the Mk3 and L1A1 scopes - as time has proved. The presumably after-market enlarged rear rings/collar are well thought out , well machined and may well do the job as I accept, But the workmanship of the application to the tube is crap. Others might think it's perfect but that's just my view of course!

Thanks Peter,

I'm not saying that the mounts have anything at all to do with a trials team. Conversely though whoever produced them must have had at least some degree of training in a machine shop and also access to the correct equipment too. As you say they are well thought out and not just filed lumps of brass and that is why I don't believe the are the work a garden shed gunsmith.

Can't disagree with about the African game not shooting back but unfortunately for the Allies soldered rings didn't seem to hamper the Deutsche Sharfshutzen from going about his appointed task.