+ Reply to Thread
Page 3 of 6 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 5 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 60

Thread: Anyone Seen These Drawings Before?

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #21
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    06:01 AM
    I had one of those Hensholdt scope assemblies, complete with the "FN special" dust covers back in the "good old days".

    Quite a light scope, but handled a prodigious quantity of rounds fired under it and held zero fine.

    The biggest weakness was the light-weight method of attaching the scope to the mount.

    It is very reminiscent of a late WW2 Germanicon system for the K(G?)- 43 sniper variants, be they the odd, square-bodied ZF-4 or the more conventional ZFK-31/1 unit.

    This latter item: here,

    The thin, spring-steel retaining straps tend to crack and fail, just as they did on my old Hensholdt on that late and lamented L1A1. The "repair" is to make new straps from THIN spring steel sheet, not unlike a wide mainspring from a large clock.

    It occurred to me at some stage that such a piece of kit was probably a bit extravagant for a "bush gun" used for hunting feral critters from the back of a motorbike, so I grabbed a spare NEW dust cover, "spread" it about a millimeter and then silver-soldered a pair of steel base-blocks to the top. This assembly was then set up on a barreled action and the PH style dovetails machined, more-or less to to bore alignment. The scope for this job was one of Leupold's lovely, very light, 2-7 variables.

    This was one of my standard "bush" setups until I sold it to help raise the deposit for a house. A few years after that, our beloved leaders made owners of such rifles "offers that couldn't be refused". The Hensholdt scope and mount, complete with original "hard' canvas case, ended up with a collector of such things.
    Last edited by Bruce_in_Oz; 09-02-2016 at 02:55 AM.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #22
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Today @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:01 PM
    Bloody politicians Bruce and their knee jerk policies! While my Lithgow and Enfield L1's are straight pull builds, I do enjoy owning them and my .22lr conversion kit (despite official grumbling regarding them over the years) and there is a certain pleasure in sticking ones middle finger up at "the man"!

    It's such a shame that the Australianicon ban was so very comprehensive..

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #23
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:01 PM
    All points taken on board. But it just begs the next question of course. Why manufacture new solid top covers to cater for the telescope need if modified standard ones were even moderately successful? And to get some idea of the rotary loading of a telescope on a recoiling rifle, just bear in mind that even on a No4T and L42, the recoil can AND DOES shear the 3x front pad screws and/or stretches them to breaking point and/or shears the front mounting spigot clean off even when the clamp screw is present. Don't believe it...........? Then why did this problem cause the 2x trials (pin and then bush) to attempt to rectify the situation?

    Just my opinion of course. Not based on any real practice of course I agree. But just metallurgy, maths and experience

    NB: The absolute tightness of the cover is only really relevant to retaining the collimated accuracy of the telescope. A longitudinally loose cover COULD in theory add an amount of additional inertia/momentum to the weight of the tele but it'd be marginal

  6. #24
    Contributing Member Woodsy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Last On
    03-21-2024 @ 11:53 PM
    Location
    Central Otago, New Zealand
    Posts
    395
    Real Name
    Rod
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:01 AM
    This is a photo of the scope set-up on my FAL Sniper. As you can see the Hensoldt sight is attached by a sturdy Stanag mount, rather than the flimsy metal strap system. The dust cover is a purpose-built stamping rather than a modified standard one. i don't have any photos of my L1A1 dust cover mounts (I just made 'em and sold 'em) but I can supply drawings if needed. I purchased 1,000 L1A1's from the NZicon Army in 1988 when they went to the AUG. I fully rebuilt the few that had tired barrels (well over 900 were fully serviceable) and supplied them in .243, 7mm/08, and .308 with various weight barrels as required (target rifles, bush carbines, hunting rifles), with scope mount dust covers, muzzle brakes, suppressors, etc.

  7. The Following 3 Members Say Thank You to Woodsy For This Useful Post:


  8. #25
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Today @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:01 PM
    That is a very sturdy looking mounting system, good job and many thanks for posting the picture. I wonder if my ex NZ Lithgowicon (AD64 example) was one that went through your hands on its way to the UKicon?

  9. #26
    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 04:54 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    2,237
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    06:01 AM
    Peter makes a good point about the ultimate "robustness" of such arrangements on the L1A1. Probably not "soldier-proof" enough for some folk who are sometimes more than a little casual about equipment that others paid for.

    The mounting system on the H&K rifles is quite robust, if a little bulky, and designed into the system, pretty much from the beginning. It holds zero after multiple mounts and dismounts and prodigious quantities of rounds downrange. You are advised to maintain the rubber boot on the rear of the scope to avoid engraving an extra "eyebrow" during shooting. I copped it once whilst hunting pigs in the Channel Country in Queensland. The action was rather chaotic on one occasion: the porkers were running towards me, very close and fast. I dropped my head height to use the iron sights THROUGH the scope mount. Only ever did that once! More fond? memories of "the good old days".

    I never found a mount for the SiG AMT in Oz, probably couldn't have afforded one, anyway.

    A friend had a couple of the late-pattern AR-10 rifles with the specially slotted carrying handle and the correct optics. They were quite nice to shoot and the mounts held zero very well.

    Another thing I discovered was that the SKS was absolutely brutal on scopes. "Cheap" entry-level Tascos and "Brand-X" jobs would pop their reticules after a distressingly small number of ball rounds. Quality scope brands, (worth three or four times the price of the rifle), held up well, as one would hope.

    Another variation on the theme was a bunch of small "reflex" sights I saw on L1A1 dust covers, back in the 1980's. I didn't grab one at the time. Anyone remember them?

  10. Thank You to Bruce_in_Oz For This Useful Post:


  11. #27
    Legacy Member Sentryduty's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Last On
    02-07-2022 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Edmonton, AB, Canada
    Posts
    1,057
    Real Name
    Darren
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:01 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz View Post
    Another thing I discovered was that the SKS was absolutely brutal on scopes. "Cheap" entry-level Tascos and "Brand-X" jobs would pop their reticules after a distressingly small number of ball rounds. Quality scope brands, (worth three or four times the price of the rifle), held up well, as one would hope.
    Indeed, M14icon's also will eat cheap scopes, and are vicious on cheap or not robust mounting solutions.
    - Darren
    1 PL West Nova Scotia Regiment 2000-2003
    1 BN Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry 2003-2013

  12. #28
    Contributing Member Woodsy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Last On
    03-21-2024 @ 11:53 PM
    Location
    Central Otago, New Zealand
    Posts
    395
    Real Name
    Rod
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:01 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by mrclark303 View Post
    That is a very sturdy looking mounting system, good job and many thanks for posting the picture. I wonder if my ex NZ Lithgowicon (AD64 example) was one that went through your hands on its way to the UKicon?
    I doubt it as mine were sold locally. I do know that later batches were sold overseas. The NZ L1A1's were mostly AD59 through to AD64, with very small numbers in later years. The bulk of them were supplied in 61-62. I have a 59 in excellent original condition with the acceptance number NZ 43 (only the first thousand rifles were so marked) which is the only one I have kept from the 1,000. I suspect it is either ex Navy or Air Force judging by the condition, as the Army were pretty hard on their gear and virtually all of their early rifles had been upgraded with later parts (laminated fore-ends, plastic furniture, etc.) in a mix and match fashion as required to keep them serviceable.

    When I went to BOD Trentham to collect my rifles I saw many cases of new AUG's ex Steyr in Austriaicon, as Lithgow were not in production of them till later. The first 5,000 were Austrian manufacture with the NZ prefix on the serial number. The armourers had mistakenly issued NZ0001 to the field and had only just got it back to give to the Army museum. It was only two weeks old and was well scuffed up when they got it back. The Steyrs are now being replaced with the Lewis Machine Tool version of the AR15 in various iterations to suit the different services. Sadly, the Steyrs will either be destroyed or sold overseas. Probably not a bad thing as I think they are bloody awful anyway, and only marginally better than the SA80!

  13. Thank You to Woodsy For This Useful Post:


  14. #29
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:01 PM
    I wish that you'd had the opportunity to come over Rod, maybe when Colonel KA was the NZicon Liaison Officer here. He was a GOOD friend of ours. You could have had a half day or so on the FF or 100m range with the SA80-A2. I know that when I sing its praises people always say '...well you've got to say that haven't you...?' You know....., sing the party line and all that........ But it really is a different weapon now. I'm serious when I say that it was as good as anything else of the type. Ironically I'm meeting up with some of the old A2 REME trials team tomorrow. Have a good weekend

  15. #30
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Today @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:01 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Woodsy View Post
    I doubt it as mine were sold locally. I do know that later batches were sold overseas. The NZ L1A1's were mostly AD59 through to AD64, with very small numbers in later years. The bulk of them were supplied in 61-62. I have a 59 in excellent original condition with the acceptance number NZ 43 (only the first thousand rifles were so marked) which is the only one I have kept from the 1,000. I suspect it is either ex Navy or Air Force judging by the condition, as the Army were pretty hard on their gear and virtually all of their early rifles had been upgraded with later parts (laminated fore-ends, plastic furniture, etc.) in a mix and match fashion as required to keep them serviceable.

    When I went to BOD Trentham to collect my rifles I saw many cases of new AUG's ex Steyr in Austriaicon, as Lithgowicon were not in production of them till later. The first 5,000 were Austrian manufacture with the NZ prefix on the serial number. The armourers had mistakenly issued NZ0001 to the field and had only just got it back to give to the Army museum. It was only two weeks old and was well scuffed up when they got it back. The Steyrs are now being replaced with the Lewis Machine Tool version of the AR15 in various iterations to suit the different services. Sadly, the Steyrs will either be destroyed or sold overseas. Probably not a bad thing as I think they are bloody awful anyway, and only marginally better than the SA80!
    Having an NZ census marked AD59 is one hell of a rare beast,wow, well done Woodsy! Love to see some pics of her...

    I believe virtually all of the early NZ contact 1959 rifles had their receivers replaced, alas the NZ census numbers went with them..
    Last edited by mrclark303; 09-02-2016 at 05:43 PM.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 3 of 6 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 5 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Need original barrel drawings.
    By TactAdv in forum The Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun)
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 03-01-2016, 03:55 PM
  2. Delisle drawings
    By bradaz11 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-23-2015, 04:40 AM
  3. p14 drawings Anybody in vancouver? would this be accessible?
    By ssj in forum Pattern 1913/1914 and M1917 Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-14-2014, 09:59 PM
  4. Lee Enfield S.A.I.D ( drawings )
    By firingman in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-27-2010, 07:29 AM
  5. 1903 Drawings
    By mjwaterma in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 08-25-2009, 09:42 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks