HT update - Scope arrived

[BLAAA303]

Well just got back from site to some odds and ends in the mail.

As noted from the initial pics in the other thread the scope is no beauty queen.

The "smudge" in the lense is a chipped lense its still functional however if it was to be used as you can see through the damaged lens quite clearly the pic doesn't do it justice just took to show the damage.
Cross hair looks corroded also.
Also appears the rear claw mount on the rifle side was removed from the rifle via a saw or grinder at some stage and cut through the dove tail.

She's currently taking a bath in some "rust bucket" I'll chuck some pics of that a little later also when it's finished doing its thing.

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.

[Peter Laidler]

Some No32's and L1A1's were a LOT worse than that, believe me. It it were mine, I'd lightly bead blast it out, phosphate it and paint it as per usual. The pitting is what it is and is part of its past. The only way you'll remove it is by abrasion. And that means removing metal - which is the very last thing that you need.

[henry r]

Yep thats a bit crunchy but with some love and maybe a custom lense it should be saveable.

Btw you did check the stuff its soaking in is ok for glass.

[BLAAA303]

Yeh its a product called "Rust Bucket"

I've plugged and sealed everything up with blue tac before I put her in.
Max paranoia that's if stuff something up so was pretty cautious about it.

Fingers crossed!

[mike1967]

I recognise them two PH5s.

[BLAAA303]

I recognise them two PH5s.

Im a sucker for PH Aperture sights (any for that matter as long as its direct Bolt on stuff with no mods to the rifle) have 3x PH5A 1x AGP Plus 5 also. Heap of adjustable Iris's
Kinda fell down the rabbit hole with them and been collecting them over recent times.
If I got them form you mate thank you kindly! And they've gone to a good home and will be put to use and looked after

---------- Post added at 12:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 AM ----------

And these are the results of the Rust bucket Bath.

Worked amazingly well to the point all the screws could be undone by just beyond hand tight.

The mount that was seized tight in came off with ease even the little keeper screen backed out very easily.















---------- Post added at 12:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 AM ----------

[Gil Boyd]

Good luck with that. I have never had great success with blasters, but the metal looks as if it could take another blast, and thick enough to take the deep pits out for you.
Looking forward to the photos

[tonyd]

that came up ok, i got given some citric based rust remover and it does a good job a bit like that. now ya just need to get some automotive rust converter and kill what rust remains. were these scopes originally painted or blued?

[Gil Boyd]

One for Peter L to answer, but I suspect blued as it was consistant and would have been less time consuming.

[Roger Payne]

Both UK & Aussie scopes were originally blued.

It'll make a lovely, but demanding, restoration project. Whilst the originals were blued might I suggest that it might not be the best option cosmetically, unless you have a modicum of skill with a Swiss file & are prepared to spend about 8 hours with the scope tube on your lap gently rocking the file over the pitting in order to lose most of it without leaving a visible flat on the tube? It drives me nuts (I have just suncorited a No32 Mk1 tube that was badly pitted until I spent 7 to 8 hours striking it up by hand, so as to preserve the markings & remove the minimum of metal. It also got bead blasted & parked before I painted it & it is now good to go). Bluing looks great so long as it is a perfectly smooth surface that is blued. It'll look terrible if you blue over pitting - in which case I would suncorite it. You can rub the suncorite down with fine wire wool & apply several progressive thin coats that do not look too dissimilar to bluing, so long as you get it right. It'll also tend to fill in some of the worst pitts.

Just my .02c. Good luck with the restoration, whichever way you decide to do it, & keep us posted!