303 sniper

[bradtx]

jmoore, If there is ever a coat of arms designed for Lee-Enfield collectors it'll have to have "nunquam narro nunquam" on a banner somewhere!

Brad

[sjt351]

numbers on rifle are m47c ,1944, h34955,TR, and T on the reciever, but the barrel ,reciever, pads, magazine ,are all battleship grey is this any help

[Peter Laidler]

Is this battleship grey PAINT or a deep grey phosphate?

[limpetmine]

I had to get #2 child with the 108 average in Latin to read this to me.
Never say never.....
We should get Eddie H. to make a banner...

jmoore, If there is ever a coat of arms designed for Lee-Enfield collectors it'll have to have "nunquam narro nunquam" on a banner somewhere!

Brad

[Roger Payne]

Steve,
There are most definitely some late Watson Mk1 scopes that are dated 1944. I did hear that the William Watson factory was bomb damaged courtesy of the Luftwaffe & was late in changing over from Mk1 to Mk2 scopes, though I am not sure if this has been corroborated.......Peter, know anything about this?

ATB

[Peter Laidler]

You're right about that of course DRP, there was a bunch of WW Mk1telescopes dated 1944. But to be honest, I don't think it mattered too much to the sniper whether he got a Mk1 or 2 telescope although the instructors were definately aware that the '...newer, more easily adjustable Mk2 telescope...' was coming on stream. FINER adjustmnent perhaps, but certainly not easier adjustment I'd suggest, but there you go!

I look at it as a newer pattern Bedford or Land Rover. Something that is coming on stream but you'll still have the old ones until..... And they weren't going to stop Mk1 production and waste all the parts. Canada had the obvious solution in using the prepared/in-hand Mk1 tubes and fitted Mk2 clicker plates, making them effectively Mk2's....... but calling them Mk1A's

The short answer is that I don't think that they'd be allowed to waste the parts that were in hand but WW seem to be the last of the Mk1's don't they

[sjt351]

Pics of rifle ...

[Peter Laidler]

One interesting point to come out of sjt's photos is that his WW 1942 dated Mk1 telescope number 1950 is that you can see that the 2 of 1942 has over-engraved the previous 1 of its original date of 1941. This clearly gives the scope number collectors an idea of when annual production changed.....1941 - 42 was approx 1950. That is a production run of 950 telescopes for 1941.....

I have also seen this on Watson 2108............

God, it's snowing too.................

[jmoore]

The gray paint is certainly not how it left H&H. Check the finish in areas where its not painted, such as under the handguards or similar. Definitely, done after it left service, as the exit proof marks on the muzzle are painted over. So, what's under the gray? More paint (camo or suncorite?), blue, or phosphate...?

What exactly is the mark on the right front of the action body, fwd of the ejection port? "*1"?

I also have a "dual" dated scope, but I think the number's a bit lower. Will check.

[CnRcollector]

Just to add to the collected knowledge and confusion:

Here is my 1944 T, which has the number of a Mk 1 HBM scope clearly marked on the butt stock.

I don't have that scope, but sure wish I did. Been looking for it since 2003, when I realized what the rifle was.

Would like to know the story on this one.