N° 8 Mk I trainer fitted with an A. J. Parker 8/53 sight attachment

[Didier]

Yes your No8 is set up to have you to screw a PH5D sight to the left side of the receiver .

Now finding one and being able to afford it is another matter altogether !
Were these PH sights rather the exception or the rule at the time when No. 8 trainers were in service? They must have added considerably to the cost of the rifle, so I suppose they must have been used for small-bore competition rather than the basic training of cadets. As regards small-bore competition, I would be interested to know which of these sights were officially acknowledged for participation.

Information

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[RobD]

For a selection of sights with prices, see Untitled 1

[Strangely Brown]

Now finding one and being able to afford it is another matter altogether !
Were these PH sights rather the exception or the rule at the time when No. 8 trainers were in service? They must have added considerably to the cost of the rifle, so I suppose they must have been used for small-bore competition rather than the basic training of cadets. As regards small-bore competition, I would be interested to know which of these sights were officially acknowledged for participation.

Didier,

They were purchased privately by the cadet force the No.8's belonged to; my own county cadet force in the 1960's had No.8's but with the plain issued leaf sight that the 8/53 fits onto.
Many of the public schools cadet forces (CCF) were better funded and had the 8/53; I don't think a distinction was made in competition between the various sights as these were mainly used at 25 metres so not offering a huge advantage.

[Nigel]

Back in 1981 when, as a cadet, I shot a No.8 in the Country Life competition there were two distinct classes. Class A Cup was for No.8 rifles fitted with Match sights. We used the PH 5D with aperture/globe foresights. 93 units entered this class. Class B Cup was for the as issued rear sights with blade foresights - 60 units entered this class.

[Strangely Brown]

Back in 1981 when, as a cadet, I shot a No.8 in the Country Life competition there were two distinct classes. Class A Cup was for No.8 rifles fitted with Match sights. We used the PH 5D with aperture/globe foresights. 93 units entered this class. Class B Cup was for the as issued rear sights with blade foresights - 60 units entered this class.

Thanks for the correction Nigel; the only match I recall was Sussex ACF in the early 1960's shot against a private school.
The concept of competitive shooting was something we rarely did!