British Pattern 1914 (T)A Martin telescopic sighted rifles

[breakeyp]

Alex Martin set up a few Pattern 1914s with WWI Aldis telescopic sights prior to WWII.

Side by side comparison shows that the work was not interchangeable in my opinion.

[Promo]

No wonder I can't find one if so many of them are with you .. very interesting to note the different shapes on the various parts, they really were of unique manufacture.

[Roger Payne]

Out of curiosity Paul, are the cheekpieces made from birch? I have one rifle with a (common) Aldis, but know where there's one mounting a William Evans scope. The problem is persuading the current owner to relinquish it......!

I think the production figure generally quoted is a first batch of 400, which was completed, followed by a second batch of the same number, but which was cancelled after the delivery of the first 21, making a total of 421 in all.

[Warren]

I cannot ID the wood on mine but it almost looks like burl walnut.
I'll try and get one of the chaps at the wood shop to ID the wood for me.
I have an assortment of unfinished cheekpieces from a WW II wartime factory and they run from pine to maple and walnut.

[Roger Payne]

Warren, was the factory in Canada or the UK? Never seen a British 'piece in walnut or pine; only birch, ash (?), & beech. Beech by far & away most common. Have only seen Canadian 'pieces in walnut. I have a theory that a lot of the early British ones may have been birch; just like so many 44 dated rifles are fitted with ash examples.

[breakeyp]

It took awhile to get back to my storage area. One rifle seems to have a birch/beech cheek piece as it has no visible grain and is stained to match the stock. The other has faint close together grain that could be walnut.