Tripping Over (T)'s - Savage Less Telescope

[rayg]

[QUOTE=martin08;351042]
But sometimes I am a too much of a stickler on the purist end. Even if I find a correct bracket and scope, they will never transform my No. 4 into a full-fledged (T) in my mind. If H&H would have finished the optics fitting, I would be in hot pursuit of the right stuff.

I'm afraid I think the same as Martin does. As a collector, I look for a gun that is still in as much of it's original off the line assembled state as possible, Almost all of my guns in my collection are as such. A purist's sickness I guess.
I had a mint unfired," Less telescope" Rifle like Martin's but with a MkIII scope on it that of course wasn't right but it came in a Less telescope marked chest with the scope and mount's numbers on it and the case.
A nice set, nothing wrong with it and would have been fully acceptable for most anyone else, but not me.
I now have a fully matching "T" with a matching scope and mount in a matching case and in a matching numbered chest that satisfies my quest fully.
There are many variables to collecting, from the purist, to the shooter, and to just an all around collector. In the end, we all enjoy which one we are. Ray

[browningautorifle]

I should be so lucky as to "Stumble" across a few of these...

[bigduke6]

Have to agree with Brian (post #29), to me sticking a cheap end reproduction on is a stop gap, until an original one arrives with a scope, they are still out there and would complete the rifle in question and I doubt you would complain about the price in 10 years , if no bracket could be found I,d go for a Roger Payne one, I can vouch for them as I,ve got two.....

Understand the purist thing and take my hat of to them, but bits and pieces dry up but using a cheap bracket to me is like driving around in a Rolls Royce with a metal coat hanger as an Ariel, does the job but takes the shine off the whole car.....

Don't get me wrong, I,m building up a Mauser Sniper with a ZF4 scope so need a repro swept back bracket, to find an original would be finding a needle in a very large hay stack, as the rifle is only being built to show the operation of the conversion kit I have, but if one ever come my way I,d snap it up, would it be worth it on a built up rifle NO..... but you never know whats round the corner, maybe an old Mauser that was a swept back sniper ?? who knows, at least I'd have the original kit to go on it, all part of the collecting process for some of us, buying bits to complete the jigsaw.

[CINDERS]

Post #33 ~ I guess this strengthens my point on the parts drying up as it has to be a finite thing, no one has been producing bits and bobs for the lee service rifle line for eons so what is out there has to dry up and the prices balloon upwards just look at the cost of say just a bog standard magazine for a 303 bet they did not cost the asking price they are getting today for them from that site? Everything remotely connected with milsurp gear has gone to the stratosphere in price look at the prices for say a full set of front sights for either lee service rifle and if a M47C stamp should be on them then triple the price
Me I have given up trying to assemble a full CES for my T as logistically my location just about puts me at the nether regions of the market and the costs to get stuff here would be intrusive to say the least guess I will be happy with what I have even though it took me nearly 20 years to attain one I finally have one, the world surely is a big place.