Query re Meus target sight

[KeaNick]

Hi

Whilst sorting through a deceased uncles workshop I found a plastic bag containing various Lee Enfield target sights. The odd one out was a MUES sight. I am trying to get some idea of it's age & what model number it might be. It has the letters HV stamped on the inside of the locking screw. Does this indicate it was for use with the Mk VII .303 round or some other purpose ?

Information

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[BushyFromOz]

I would stand to be corrected but I believe those Mues and were mostly post pre WW1 so I imagine the HV is that the elevation block and leadscrew has been adjusted for for Mk7 ammo

[muffett.2008]

You have a Mues light 3rd model,(improved old model) this was used post WW1,(1920) this sight is in it's standard(nose knocker) configuration.
It varies from the original Mues Patented sight of 1910,( patent No.18073/10) insomuch as the Elevation Screw is threaded thru a centre boss, as opposed to the half nut system of the original patent. Also the elevation fixed arm is duel marked, as opposed to only one marking on the original patent.
Also the windarm is different, being of the later mark with the ability to zero the wind vernier.
This sight is still setup with the short windarm, which means it was attached directly to the rifle, as opposed to using a mounting bracket and longer windarm to maintain the centreline.
The Mues Light model sights were made up until 1934 with only minor changes to the windarm, they were superceded by the Mues Special, the last of John Mues Folding sights.
After Mues lost his courtcase against William Dunne(Central Sights) he began to manufacture fixed arm sights, Climax in 1936 and the Kings in 1938.

[BushyFromOz]

Brilliant muffet. Any chance you could post a short list of aussie target rifle sights??

[KeaNick]

Thanks to both Bushy and Muffett for the information supplied - it certainly clarifies the situation re the MUES sight. I think I have the Parker Hale sights sorted - it just remains to sift through and identify the various other Lee Enfield parts left and packed away by Uncle Joe !

[muffett.2008]

Bushy, there's no such animal as a short list when talking Ozzie sights, we were more prolific with their design and manufacture than the Pom's.

[Mit]

Don't mean to hijack but feel it is in context.

I have this bracket;

Attachment 80329


It's marked MUES. I have attached my Motty sight both with and without it and it makes no real difference to the rigidity of the mount.

Muffett, is this the long arm bracket? What sight was it mated with?

[muffett.2008]

That is John Mues patented bracket 13568/28, by this time, bracket mounts were nearly always in use.
Mues was just dragging the chain, to finally produce a mount bracket 18 years after his sights first entered the market, gives an insight into the man.
His constant refusal to change with the times saw many sight manufacturers take a great market share, by 1928 there were several fixed arm sights of good quality being produced.

[Mit]

John MUES, 18 years to produce a mount bracket that doesn't really do anything....

Thanks Muffett, I have always wondered about the history of that piece.