A "Parker Hale" spotting scope currently for sale on eBay

[Flying10uk]

I wondered what members thoughts are on this spotting scope currently for sale on eBay? I have no idea if this is a fair price or not?

RARE WW2 1942 DATED PARKER HALE LEE ENFIELD SNIPER SPOTTER SCOPE MOUNT | eBay

Information

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[Surpmil]

Pre-WWII range telescope re-purposed as a military instrument. Unertl and B&L both made some very fine range scopes before WWII, particularly Unertl.

This might be a better buy: Ex MOD Army M49 Spotting Scope with Protective Case [CL20] | eBay

The M49 Spotting Scope, also known as the M49 Observation Telescope, is a multipurpose scope system used primarily for long range marksmanship observation. It can also be used for observing the effects of artillery fires and other general purposes.

The M49 is a fixed 20-power telescope with an eyepiece focus. It has a field of view of 2 degrees and an exit pupil diameter of 0.108 inches. The M49 is an erect image instrument that is magnified by the lenses in the eyepiece.

The M49 does not have an adjustable sunshade; however, the front end of the body tube extends approximately three-quarters of an inch beyond the objective providing a permanent sunshade.

The telescope is focused by turning the knurled focusing sleeve.

United Scientific Instruments Ltd was founded in 1964 as a supplier of defence and related equipments to Governments and Government agencies worldwide. Under the guidance of the then Managing Director, Mr Peter Levene, the company soon established itself as an organisation which could be depended upon to supply impartial advice as to the user's requirements, supported by quality and the cost effective and timely supply of equipment. The current Managing Director, Mr Michael Cooper, joined the company in 1966.

Owing to the company's early achievements it began to acquire a number of defence manufacturing companies. These companies, Avimo Ltd (UK); Helio Mirror Co. Ltd. (UK); Optic Electronic Corp (USA); Nitec Corp (USA); Avimo Singapore: Arab International Optronics (Egypt) and Sopolem (France) were consolidated into United Scientific Holdings.

Whilst these companies concentrated on the design, development and manufacture of equipment, United Scientific Instruments continued in its primary role and became the focal point within the group for sales, marketing and contract administration. In 1981, United Scientific Holdings acquired Alvis Ltd, the U.K. manufacturer of the CVR(T) range of vehicles. In 1987, Mr Peter Levene became the defence procurement adviser to the then Minister of Defence. This was quickly followed by his appointment as Chief of Defence Procurement, a post which he held for some six years.

Looks like the UK MoD might have used them, rebadged?

And who in the British Army was using these if the poor snipers were still using the old "Telescope, Scout, Regiment"?

[Flying10uk]

I do have some B&L 7X50 naval binoculars which seem good quality.

[philb]

no chance at that price

[Peter Laidler]

If you look carefully at the telescopes for sale in the antique shops and ebay, plenty of them are or seem to be re-worked Sct Regt scopes with the designation linished/polished out with the large retailing store marked on. Army and Navy and AJ Parker markings were two that spring to mind I got a couple cheap just for their spare parts value but one of them turned out to be so good that I replaced the re-marked 3rd draw with an old Sct Regt scope 3rd draw (easier said than done I should add!) and re-sold it on as a perfect, almost mint Sct Regt scope. The problem/trouble with doing this is that it's difficult to identify a suitable re-marked donor unless the seller does good photos and gives an equally good description with measurements.

[Surpmil]

Outfits like Broadhurst, Clarkson & Fuller kept on making the same patterns for decades after the war(s). Would have been very easy for them to replace the 3rd draw on surplus scopes and sell them on as their own.