No32 MkI Scope questions.

[madcratebuilder]

I have read several on-line articles about the 32/1 and have just some general knowledge about them. I acquired a No4 TR and have a few questions about the scope.

Marked H.B.M. Co. and OS. 466A. REG(?). No. 4024

The windage and elevation knobs turn very free with a very a positive click, so I'm assuming it was been taken apart and serviced at one time. Glass appears clean on the inside with maybe just a touch of etching on the bottom of the rear lens, like you would see from moisture that has dried inside a scope.

The scope mount is marked

NO92 C36311

The clamps Z53 and Z54

I think this is a early scope from 1940 or so.

The scope # on the stock is 18871 and the rifle is a 1944 BSA. I assume that the rifle would have had a No32 MkII or MkIII scope. Is that correct?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[PrinzEugen]

I think the first 6,000 serial nos were originally produced for the Bren gun (a project which never got off the ground). Up to 3,700 ish they went on the trials rifles, and after then were fitted to normal 4ts. HBM Co = Houghton Butcher Manufacturing Company, and I could be wrong but I don't think they ever dated their scopes.

The scope mount: n92 = made by Dalglish of Glasgow. The C36311 would be the rifle number it was fitted to.

[Peter Laidler]

Looks like it's been treated to a quick blow job with a can of Halfords finest matt black paint that has covered the range and deflection markings and obliterated the index marks. You can reasonable assume that the last place it was serviced wasn't an instrument shop at a REME workshops!

look at the sky from the front (the objective) lens and it should be as clean as a whistle inside. Then mount it on the rifle, aimed at a distant aiming point (a DAP). Make sure it's stilll and solidly held and without touching the sight in any way, look through it and move your head/eye slightly left and right. The point of the graticle MUST remain on the same focal plane at all times. If it appears to move, well, it shouldn't and you have parallax. But I expect that it'll be OK.

Someone in England was offering an external overhaul service a few years ago. It consisted of stuffing a bit of round tapered wood into the front shade and covering the ocular lens with a dob of plastercine, then shoving the whole thing into a bead blaster. Once bead blasted, it was given a few coats of Halfords finest barbecue black and returned.....complete with the bead blasting grip eating away at the insides of the range and deflection drums. You see, in spite of everything the British enterprisal spirit still lives on

[madcratebuilder]

I'm sure it has a repaint from a previous life. Paint is worn off on sharp edges and knobs. So on the deflection markings and index marks, what was the original condition?

Talk about cheap paint, q-tip and clp is taking it off.

[Peter Laidler]

The index marks on the range and deflection drums should be highlighted in white to make them visible. Ie, the 0 to 10 and the same with the 16 -0- 16 on the deflection. Also, the little index mark on the plate should be a black triangle on a white metal nickel plate. But the previous owner has painted them over.

[madcratebuilder]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to talk to the seller about a possible price adjustment. I have a three day return privilege.
Other wise you have another rebuild coming your way.

Was it normal for the mount cap screws to be staked. All eight are staked. The screw slots are full of crud that's hard as a rock. I'm going to work at getting them cleaned out so I can get the correct size tip into them. I don't believe someone Bubba'd this scope like this. I guess if theirs a buck to be made some folks well do anything.

[Roger Payne]

Just as an aside a very few of the first HBM Co scopes were in fact dated. I don't know how many, but suspect it was only something like 50 or 60. Have seen a couple but never owned one.

If it's black finish on a scope of that vintage then it's been refinished. The early scopes of that era (1941/42ish) were all originally blued.

ATB.

[Surpmil]

A relevant photo:

[Peter Laidler]

Has anyone else noticed that on the Mk1's and 2's, the little WD arow is usually filed in place with a fine 3-corner needle file.

As the photo by surpmil shows, there were several engraving formats for the first telescoipes, even by the same manufacturer, until a final format was fixed

[Badger]

We have a Watson Mk1 displayed in the library.........

I can't quite tell about the arrow being filed from the pics, but it looks that way. I'll get it out later for a better close-up. Interesting ...

1941 No.32 Mk1 Sniper Scope (click here)
(Mfg by William Watson & Sons for the No.4 Mk1(T) Enfield Sniper Rifle)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Badger