No32 and 42/53 scopes.......further

[Peter Laidler]

Not strictly Lee Enfield I suppose but I've had a PM from a forumer who has been following the 'fake - repro' No32 thread. He's commented on the fact that while everyone seems to be searching for a spare No42 or 53 scope, the optics are not truly interchangeable and '.....would I care to comment'? I'll let you into a little secret. They're not!

While that's true, it's not strictly correct so before it gets complicated, I'll tell you exactly what IS FULLY interchangable. I say FULLY INTERCHANGEABLE but that might probably include a degree of hand fitting:
Erector cell
The serrated brass or sintered alloy segment
Brass segment cover*
Front shade
No42 ocular lens retaining ring

As for the rest, we come to the knub of the matter. The No42 and 53 OG lens is fully interchangeable with the No32 Mk1 and 2. BUT it's about .017" narrower in diameter than the OG lens for the Mk3 and L1A1. If you use the No42/53 lens 'as is' in your needy Mk3 or L1A1 then don't bother trying to zero the rifle so long as the barrel has a hole down the middle. This is because the image that you see (yes, you see an image.....) and aim at will move with the loosness of the smaller diameter object glass. Do not let this worry you because knowing this, you can shim it so that it is a tight but sliding fit in your Mk3/L1A1 tube. In fact to overcome this and keep needy Mk3/L1A1's on the rifle range while using N042/53 OG lenses, I have larger diameter housings (called lens cells) manufactured.

Ocular or eye lenses. No42 fully interchangeable with the Mk1 and 2 scopes. No53 fully interchangeable with the Mk3 and L1A1. Providing with both, that they're a matched set. However, if you have a set of larger dia. (No42/Mk1/2) ocular lenses and a needy Mk3 or L1A1 scope then we can fit them by inserting and securing a collar at the bottom and then inserting the lenses directly into the tube. Not correct, but invisible and the scope is saved! What's even better is that if you do find a complete lens cell in the future, it's reversible

If you've got a needy Mk1 and/or Mk2 with broken/damaged large diameter lenses directly into the tube but a set of smaller diameter No53 lenses, then this is easy to rectify by removing the internal seating collar from the tube and inserting the whole lens cell. Or if not, then a specially made housing that carries the lenses.

The long and short answer is that whatever telescope(s) you have just get either of the No42/53 scopes that is available. If you have either, you're home and dry, safe in the knowledge that whatever happens, your valuable No32, whatever the Mk/type can be saved
*Segment covers always need hand fitting. Only 4 screw type fitted to No42/53. Short of a 2 screw type...., get filing!

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