№ 32 / № 42 - Scope Graticule Replacement

[Scout Sniper]

Got any of those graticle tubes going handy? One of the only bits not used in a 32!
Then i could keep mine as is and fit another spare in.

[Roy W]

Roy, you’d probably want to hang me from the nearest yardarm then........I have a large cardboard box FULL of No42 & No53 tubes that I’ve nadgered over the years in order to pinch the lenses to complete needy No32’s. Other parts come in handy too, such as the segments, ocular lens retaining rings, & even the tubes themselves. Thanks to a trick taught to me by Peter years ago, even a No32 with a rusted through or torn ocular housing can be repaired with a little ‘grafting’.

I get that completely Roger. In this case though, where it was required as a 'prop' I thought a repro No.32 would look better, because even as a prop it still doesn't look like a 4T? And if it is just a prop, then why the need for a specific graticle? Each to their own.

[Roger Payne]

Yes, I see your point & if it were me I’d do as you suggest. But, as you rightly say, each to his/her own.

And if the OP decides his conversion is a failure I’ll still give him double his money for the scope so long as the lenses are good! ;-)

[Scout Sniper]

Just want to clear a few things up...

I have a deactivated No.4, im making it into a rough sniper rifle for MY collection. Its not fully 100% accurate, tbh im not overly bothered, its just a project and im having fun. I dont want a reproduction scope, aint happening. Rather tape a toilet roll on top of it.

My scope may not be correct but its original 1943. I can live with that, i actually think its more a crime owning a No32 on a deac and it should be getting used.

As for this Graticule modification, i would just like to see a post and rail when looking through the glass. The vertical line made no sense on a sniper.

I have been collecting Sniper Bits and bobs for a few years but cash is tight. Everything i own i got for a bargain.

Heres a picture of my collection, the scope is merely resting in place but you get the idea.

Hopefully things make a bit more sense, i should have been clearer in my post. I do really appreciate everybody's help, input and criticism.

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[Peter Laidler]

I was a bit puzzled about mounting a No42 or 53 in the bracket because the tube dia of the No42/53 is 1.025"(?) while the No32 tube dia is exactly 1".

[Scout Sniper]

The bracket was machined to fit the No.42.

By resting in place i meant the scope mount to action, not machined the pads to fit yet. Will be doing that soon.

Have you seen the No.42 currently for sale on eBay. He hasnt noticed and tightened up the scope in the mount. Stands proud by a mile.

Picture of mine, then the eBay one.

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[Scout Sniper]

So i have been very lucky! I managed to get my hands on a new tube from a very kind forum member. Thank you Roger Payne!

This has now changed it from a graticle to a reticle. The new tube is the version Peter previously mentioned with an etched glass duplex cross wire.

The tube slide right in but the locating pins do not line up and make the crosshair wonky. Luckily the glass plate although pinned has kidney shaped screw slots allowing it to be repositioned and re pinned. Easy job.

The etch does show signs of wear and the lines are broken in places but this seems to be common on old military etched glass.
Looks good tho and now when looking through the glass you see a pleasing crosshair with a bit of character.
Obviously i would love it to be perfect as it was an optically perfect scope, but i have the bonus that i can slide the old tube back in and its back to standard.

Here are pictures of the tube itself showing how small and delicate the glass is, the sight picture and blank sky to show the lines.

The second picture sighting the houses, the milky flare on the bottom right of the glass is just reflection from another window behind.



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[Peter Laidler]

I don't know whether anyone else has noticed it on the No42's and 53's, that the external anti rotation positioning stud can be found around any left or right sector of the underside in relation to the 12 o'clock position of the segment cover plate. Always in the same longitudinal position of course. It didn't really matter in the great scheme of things because the inner tube and cross-wire or reticle plate was simply rotated and finally positioned on final assembly. But if you have a bunch of No42's or 53's in your hand, look at the stud position in relation to the segment cover plate.

Re the thread above. I would be interested to know if you had to correct the optical parallax and focus after you'd fitted the new inner sleeve. Because a new sleeve/grat/reticle will affect the focus and the ........... anyway!

[Scout Sniper]

The focus appears to be no different to how it was before. The image is incredibly crisp, i have noticed the edges are more clean then when the single wire was installed. The top and bottom of the wire would appear slightly blurry.

As for the optical parallax, im unsure of this answer. But using a range finder and my eyes i estimate the parallax to be around the 250 yard mark.

[Scout Sniper]

Been having a play around, and thought I would share my progress. I'm still not happy with it but getting better.

The post is just so small it's almost impossible to work with!!

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