+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: L42A1 and the Swift Spotting Scope

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member waco16's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 06:08 PM
    Location
    South West, UK
    Posts
    330
    Real Name
    Neil Pearce
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM

    L42A1 and the Swift Spotting Scope

    There's been plenty of posts on the Swift spotting scope used in the later days of the L42, but rarely any photographs showing them in use

    Came across this interesting one taken during the Falklands campaign along with the L42

    Note also the IWS being used on the M16icon
    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.

  2. The Following 6 Members Say Thank You to waco16 For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Contributing Member blurrededge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 06:07 PM
    Location
    Essex Coast
    Posts
    123
    Real Name
    Matt Larkin
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM
    Great photo! for several reasons, I've certainly not seen it before.

  5. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  6. #3
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM
    A picture tells a thousand words.......... one piece of kit stands out in that picture that tells me they maybe something special.

  7. #4
    Legacy Member 55recce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Last On
    09-13-2023 @ 08:41 PM
    Posts
    82
    Real Name
    David
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:38 AM
    With the AR15s and soft head gear I assume they are SAS. What does the guy reclining top right have on his head? Assume it is some sort of comms gear.

    BTW I picked up a nice cased Swift scope with tripod and camera adapter for $29 on ebay. Not military issue (no NSN) but otherwise identical. Of course it cost a bit to ship to Canadaicon but still in my collection for less than $100 Canadian. A bit of work with a printer and I was able to reproduce the labels on the outside of the case using photos for reference.

  8. #5
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by 55recce View Post
    With the AR15s and soft head gear I assume they are SAS. What does the guy reclining top right have on his head? Assume it is some sort of comms gear.
    They are the big give aways (The comms gear, I thought was a single sided headset used with the clansman radio but expanding the picture looks more like the headsets for the Racal 5080 (also can be used on all the clansman radios), but there is one bit of kit there that certainly points towards the "Regiment"
    Last edited by bigduke6; 01-18-2020 at 03:29 AM.

  9. #6
    Contributing Member waco16's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 06:08 PM
    Location
    South West, UK
    Posts
    330
    Real Name
    Neil Pearce
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by bigduke6 View Post
    They are the big give aways (The comms gear, I thought was a single sided headset used with the clansman radio but expanding the picture looks more like the headsets for the Racal 5080 (also can be used on all the clansman radios), but there is one bit of kit there that certainly points towards the "Regiment"
    I think the M16icon's point in that direction too..........

    ---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 AM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by 55recce View Post
    With the AR15s and soft head gear I assume they are SAS. What does the guy reclining top right have on his head? Assume it is some sort of comms gear.

    BTW I picked up a nice cased Swift scope with tripod and camera adapter for $29 on ebay. Not military issue (no NSN) but otherwise identical. Of course it cost a bit to ship to Canadaicon but still in my collection for less than $100 Canadian. A bit of work with a printer and I was able to reproduce the labels on the outside of the case using photos for reference.
    There were no military markings on the issue swifts, other than (occasionally) stick on labels, same goes for the very 'civilian' case they were issued in...
    Someone has resurrected an old post 'Britishicon Army Spotting Scopes' that shows mine fresh from MOD disposal.
    Only IDs were small square labels on the tripod and NSN numbers on the case
    Last edited by waco16; 01-18-2020 at 02:18 PM. Reason: spelling mistake!

  10. #7
    Legacy Member chosenman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Last On
    11-28-2023 @ 12:50 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    346
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM
    I have one with broad arrow marks. One on the mount on the underside of the scope and one on the tripod.
    Nice picture Neil!!!

  11. Thank You to chosenman For This Useful Post:


  12. #8
    Legacy Member P51Mustang's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Last On
    12-20-2020 @ 09:58 AM
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    69
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:38 AM
    Was the 2nd M16icon for another member or was it a secondary weapon for the sniper?

  13. #9
    Legacy Member Strangely Brown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 12:05 PM
    Location
    Wiltshire UK
    Age
    72
    Posts
    551
    Real Name
    Mick Kelly
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM
    After I came out of the army in 1974 I spent the rest of my working life in the photo trade; mainly the second hand side of it and over the years had quite a few ex military Swift Spotting scopes pass through the shop.
    A number of them still had Dyno tape stickers on giving away their past ownership....which we would rip off and clean up with lighter fuel to hide any past involvement with the military to get a better price!

    On another matter regarding procurement I was once told to buy a couple of spotting scopes for use in Belfast's gas works and Telephone House because the ones we had were crap! (my memory is a little dim but I'm sure they were Scout regiment scopes) I was tasked to do this being one of the regimental Int photographers and therefore supposedly knowing all about optics.
    I asked what sort of deal the shop could do for the army and was given a price, I then returned with a cheque from regimental funds and took away the two scopes.
    They were Greenkat scopes which I had seen advertised in Guns Review back in the day, if they were in Guns Review they had to be good!
    We also bought other stuff like photographic lighting and darkroom equipment that was just left for the next regiment to use.
    Mick

  14. Thank You to Strangely Brown For This Useful Post:


  15. #10
    Contributing Member
    bigduke6's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:09 PM
    Location
    North West England,UK
    Posts
    3,279
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:38 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by waco16 View Post
    I think the M16icon's point in that direction too..........
    Its what I meant in the big give aways......, but no one has spotted the other bit of kit......

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Swift MKII Telemaster model 841, Spotter scope, NSN 6650995277191
    By kenty in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 10-08-2018, 11:50 PM
  2. L42A1 sniper accessories...spotting scope
    By Warren in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 01-14-2014, 03:49 PM
  3. More info on spotting scope?
    By jaltom in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-28-2010, 03:55 PM
  4. L42A1 spotting scope; sniper training manual
    By RobD in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 05-02-2010, 12:20 PM
  5. Mk2 spotting scope value
    By WW2GURU in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 11-03-2008, 11:35 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks