WW1 'Periscope Prism company' sniper scope???

[Roger Payne]

May I start Thursday with an apology & an explanation? To borrow Madzi's expression, I've just had a 'eureka moment', at least in a minor sense....

I was pretty certain that both the Aldis scopes destined for the P'14 & the SMLE in the claw mounts were attributable to the PPCo, at least to the confirmation of fitting. It was a shock when I looked at my example off a SMLE (one of those illustrated in an earlier posting) to find that there was no 'Fitted by....' on the scope tube. This perplexed me, until the penny dropped this morning. The SMLE/Aldis/Claw Mount scope WAS overtly attributed to the PPCo., but it was marked NOT on the scope tube. (I had not looked at the scope in question for some time & had forgotten about the location of markings). The chapter & verse on the scopes destined for the SMLE was engraved on the leg of the rear mount. I cannot remember from memory if it was in precisely the same format as engraved on the tubes of the scopes destined for the P'14, but I think it was, or it only differed slightly. Significantly, the date engraved on these, at least on the sole example of which I am aware, is 1919. This again, was behind my earlier comment that I believe the two systems were set up approximately contemporaneously, or perhaps the SMLE system immediately after the P'14's.

I have a photograph of an engraved part set of the SMLE claw mounts stored somewhere that the late Bruce Gorton sent to me about twenty five years ago. At this time we discussed this system a lot. I had mentioned my 'three quarters set' as being finished but in the white & devoid of markings, which prompted him to send me the photograph. I am afraid I cannot remember if the marked part set belonged to Bruce, or was simply one that he was aware of, but I'm sure I still have the photograph somewhere & I will endeavour to find it & attempt to reproduce it here for the interest of anyone who might be.....

But first I must go to Birmingham Proof House, & then keep my wife happy by putting the vacuum cleaner round..........so, until later


(I would suspect that I was developing dementia were it not for the fact that my memory has always been terrible! Apologies for not recalling this sooner.......).

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