Help with scoping a No1 MkIII

[tsquared82]

Hello,
I've been fortunate enough to come across a wealth of new old stock parts from a new in the wax barrel and stock, to all the little bits that make up everything else. (I'll likely post a separate thread with its entire build and restoration)

Anyhow... the question at hand. I anticipate buying a reproduction P14 detachable scope mount for the rifle. Does anyone know of, or have access to, the plans for machining the charging bridge and where to drill and tap the holes?

Thank you all for your help.
Attachment 71176

Information

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[Roger Payne]

From memory the drawings are shown on about page 80 or 81 in Ian Skennerton's book 'The British Sniper'. Copies of the book are around, but it has been out of print for some years, so it may cost you.

[Peter Laidler]

What I'm at a loss understanding is that the title says you need help scoping a No1 Mk3( - which others call a SMLE)

Para 1 says that you have found a complete/in parts new rifle that you intend to make up into a complete scoped (?) rifle. So far, so good..........

Then in para 2 it reads like you want to get a set of P'14 scope mounts to fit the (I presume) No1 rifle you mention in the heading/title. It ain't going to happen.

[Maxwell Smart]

From memory the drawings are shown on about page 80 or 81 in Ian Skennerton's book 'The British Sniper'. Copies of the book are around, but it has been out of print for some years, so it may cost you.

Memory pretty good; page 80 has the drawings for the P-14 overhead scope mounts

---------- Post added at 05:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:04 AM ----------

With those reproduction mounts, how does one get the scope tube into them?

I can only see one opening in the clamp - is the material that flexible it can be pressed apart that far?

[Peter Laidler]

You have to totally strip the telescopic sight, insert the tube, partially reassemble it to make sure that the graticle post is exactly upright. Then you lock the clamp rings. Remove the tele and rings, ACCURATELY mark the telescope where the rings fit. Remove rings, tin and solder both, sweat together and clamp-up. And if you haven't machined the surfaces or alignment for the base parts of the mounts, take apart and start again because it will place an unacceptable strain on the tube - doing it properly this time*! When correct, re-blue or black and finally reassemble telescope

Yep, corrected a total bodge-up a month ago! Some enthusiastic amateurs simply have no idea or concept of mechanical and optical axis and the importance of collimation. Aren't you glad they simplified the No4?

But Tsquared ain't mounting those mount bases on an SMLE!
* If anyone is really interested, ask

[tsquared82]

You have to totally strip the telescopic sight, insert the tube, partially reassemble it to make sure that the graticle post is exactly upright. Then you lock the clamp rings. Remove the tele and rings, ACCURATELY mark the telescope where the rings fit. Remove rings, tin and solder both, sweat together and clamp-up. And if you haven't machined the surfaces or alignment for the base parts of the mounts, take apart and start again because it will place an unacceptable strain on the tube - doing it properly this time*! When correct, re-blue or black and finally reassemble telescope

Yep, corrected a total bodge-up a month ago! Some enthusiastic amateurs simply have no idea or concept of mechanical and optical axis and the importance of collimation. Aren't you glad they simplified the No4?

But Tsquared ain't mounting those mount bases on an SMLE!
* If anyone is really interested, ask

Well, this all seams like a straight foreword, although difficult, operation. You'll have to forgive my crossing of SMLE with a No1. But none the less, why is it you state that these scope mounts will not fit? I've seen plenty online images of the altered receiver for which to affix these bases. From what I gather from your post, have you experience in mounting such scopes to the rifle? Where would you suggest one start in the process? I'm not all that interested in a scope mount that simply clamps onto the charging bridge nor screws into the entire length of the receiver.

If it absolutely would not fit for reasons unknown to me... Which scope base would you recommend that still resembles, or is, a period mount? Detachable hopefully.

[mike1967]

You'll have to forgive my crossing of SMLE with a No1

With all due respect I'm still confused as to which rifle your referring tsquared. Are you sure those particular mounts were fitted to a No1 MkIII?, you may be confusing it with the Australian No1 MkIII HT rifle which are similar but not the same.

[tbonesmith]

I think the issue is that the P14 scope mounts do not fit the No1Mk111. The bases for a Lithgow HT are not currently commercially produced and while the P14 bases look like the bases for the HT, they are not the same and as far as I am aware will not fit.

[Maxwell Smart]

According to the blurb on his website, Ian Skennerton seems to have updated the salient information from the 1984 book "The British Sniper" into one of his SAIS booklets. This might have a more clear image of the mount diagram.

[Bindi2]

P14 mounts do not fit a No1 Mk3. If you want a shooter with a scope find a Field mount for a No1Mk3. Down side is you have to drill and thread the receiver to suit and they only take 1" tubes.