No 32 scope

[Ridolpho]

I bought one of these repros for the right price ($600 Can) a few years ago. Apparently Taiwanese, it's kind of laughable as they totally botched up the markings but managed to perfectly duplicate the infuriating Mk I adjustment procedure! It is used on an equally laughable repro (ie fake) No. 4(T) and the combo shoots as well as my pair of real ones. I don't know the round count so far but well beyond a couple of hundred. And frankly, if I just want to do a little plinking on the back-40 or go to a shoot when it's going to rain cats and dogs this is the one that comes out. While my real No. 32's are undoubtedly very rugged machines, they have both been serviced in the possession of previous owners (one by Warren, one by Peter) and are currently in fine shape and I don't see any good coming from unnecessary usage.

Ridolpho

[Jerry Bourne]

Hi Ridolpho,

A very good point. I have used my Watson scope quite a bit but am always cautious about whether consistently shooting with it will ultimately be its downfall. I might contact WWA again tomorrow and see if they're prepared to do me a "Repro priced" deal. If they were happy to reimburse me half the price or thereabouts, I might keep it and use it instead of the much more valuable original and I could happily live with that. Good shout!

Many thanks

Jerry

[bigduke6]

Jerry, The repro tins are available, a few dealers have had them in the past, although they are the wrong colour the tin itself is good and with a paint of deep Bronze green you would never know apart from the engraving.

Good to see you will get a refund.

[Robert303]

Peter, I know what you mean having gone round a show with an antique pistol dealer who kept pointing out 'Faults' on various pistols. He'd spent a lifetime handling them just as you have with No32 scopes. However there are the beginers, like me, who have to try to pick up as many tips as possible if we are to have any chance.

[Flying10uk]

This Post is not aimed at Jerry or anyone else in particular. I find it hard to understand why people part with £800 of their hard earned money on something that they know insufficient about to know if they are getting a good deal or not. For something costing this sort of money surely it's preferable to do one's homework before buying and not after. Personally, I wouldn't trust myself to buy a scope like this and costing this kind of money because I don't know enough about them. If I decided that I did need a scope such as this in my life I would research the matter thoroughly beforehand and ask people who do know about them for HELP.

When growing up money was always in very short supply and one of Mother's favourite sayings to my brother and I was: Fools and their money are soon parted.

[CINDERS]

# 21 says it all in a finite world if a repro shoots and looks as good as the real deal then whats the fuss as why wear out your real T just for fun. Yes it may take a few 0000nd rounds but why risk it if I could afford to have a faithful replica built I would and shoot the pants off it. Nope if your happy to be honest about a repro it functions as it should then why worry about returning it.

Yes flea bay some good things happen but it is fraught with train wrecks; a deal that is say 1/2 the cost of a real scope & bracket I would be asking questions guess its a bit like some one saying I have a BUGATTI VERYON for $30K. Businesses are not that slow they cannot use the web to research original prices or items, not being familiar with the ACT you quote the business could be within their rights dependent on the time passed from when you purchased it and used it more than once to refuse a refund your very lucky to have a business like that to deal with. I bet their armourer studies up on No.32's now he may have got a bit of a frying
Over here I am pretty sure the business if it was after 30 days and you had used it a fair bit they would most likely say stiff cheese bloke.......
# 25 is pretty close to the money. Just my take on things

[Jerry Bourne]

Unfortunately WWA are based in Stafford and I am in Poole. All I had to go on was the description listed in their online magazine which read "British No32 Mk1 Sniper Telescopic Sight by HBM Co complete with mount for No4 rifle, serial numbered and broad arrow marked, in its fitted metal carrying case complete with adjusting tool. Used condition with light surface wear, the tin repainted". The photos could not be enlarged to give any finite detail. Bearing in mind that WWA are a dealership that's been in operation since 1979 and after company checking and trawling through associated blogs about them, concluded that they were a bona fide and reputable collectable arms dealer. Knowing "enough" about No32 scopes to think "that wont be around for long at that price" and after speaking to their "armourer" about markings on the scope and it being confirmed that he thought it to be original, I decided to take a "punt". Ok this time it didn't pay off, but I knew I had the Consumer rights act behind me (which I have enforced and won in the past) to offer me a level of protection. Sometimes, taking a punt pays off (I got my Watson scope off Ebay which PL repaired) and effectively paid less than half, all up, of the overall going price. Similarly, I purchased a Jaeger flintlock used by the Prince of Oranges regiment (1 of a 1000) just prior to the battle of Waterloo for stupid money. Had it authenticated (Royal Armouries) and actually use it down the range. In essence, sometimes you have to take a chance. Cover your backside as best as you can and go for it, especially when the item is considered scarce. Everybody makes mistakes and sometimes you pay for them but the person who has never made a mistake has never made anything.

[Flying10uk]

The catalogue description doesn't state that the scope is reproduction but that doesn't somehow mean that it's original by default. The description doesn't state one way or the other on whether or not the scope is original or reproduction. If the word "original" had been included in the description and it could be proved in a court of law that it was in fact reproduction then one may have a case under trade description laws.

A very simple yet effective method, in a case like this, in order to find out if the item is original or repro is to email the company selling the item. This will normally provoke an email response and thus the answer in writing which can be used as evidence (I believe?). Keep the question very simple and easy to understand.

[philb]

lowest price I paid for a pukka No32 was £75, but it was knackered, Peter did his magic on it and it was like new, even made a new reticule ( graticule ) , had it on my LB No4, which I made into a T model using info from Peters book, bracket n pads supplied by Peter and fitted by Fultons of Bisley. It would shoot 3.5 inch groups at 600 yds using ww2 ammo ( witnessed )

[Badger]

It would shoot 3.5 inch groups at 600 yds using ww2 ammo ( witnessed )

Wow ... 1/2 MoA groups at 600 yards with a WWII sniper rifle ..

Absolutely incredible...

Regards,
Doug