An Unusual No32 Scope....

[Roger Payne]

On Friday evening last, my pal Dave T & I drove over to the house of an old acquaintance who had been a friendly collecting rival thirty years ago, amassing a modest sized but high quality collection of over twenty No32 scopes. We had gradually lost touch with him over the years as his health had not been the best. To cut a long story short, sadly he passed away last year, but totally unbeknown to me had instructed his son to contact me upon his death to sort out buying his collection! Well, it has nearly bankrupted us but Dave & I were in a position to do a deal with the son, who is a thoroughly decent chap - he even let us drive away with the whole lot in the back of my car, trusting us to pay him many thousands of pounds (which we have since done!). Most of the scopes are standard UK mfr Mk1's, with a sprinkling of Mk2's & Mk3's, & a solitary Mk2/1. There is also a couple of Israeli scopes in there as well, for good measure.

The photo's show a Mk2/1 that bears none of the usual makers markings, designation, serial number etc. It would be tempting to say that it has just been skimmed to remove them, & then reblued.........except I don't think it has. I dropped a micrometer across it at several points along the length of the scope tube, & it very consistently measures one inch dead (well, actually, about one inch & half a thou to be pedantic). Further, I've seen a few UIC 2/1's over the years, & the blueing on this scope looks 'right' for one of those, as does the style of the numerals on the range & deflection scales. It is a little odd that the top of the range drum looks more like a run of production replacement from a Mk3 (it looks very Taylor Hobson & Co to me), though I suspect the deflection drum is probably totally factory original.

What is it then? The answer is, I don't know, but I think it probably is a UIC produced telescope. Is it a tool room sample? Is it a pre-production prototype, or is it one that got made up at the end of the war perhaps, from unfinished parts? I'd be interested to see what others think about this scope. It most certainly isn't a modern copy....Mike stopped actively collecting long before any commercial copies existed. Attachment 105665Attachment 105666Attachment 105667Attachment 105668Attachment 105669Attachment 105670


Sorry, a couple of the photo's aren't as sharp as I'd have liked.

Information

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[CINDERS]

Glad they went to the right person Roger they have found a good home no doubt the PM's will be coming it must have been pretty hard on the son but at least the scopes may eventually find their way back onto some T's that are missing scopes who knows may be some Angels in there!!!!

[Gil Boyd]

Roger,
My first impression was a No32 Mk3 on first glance and I too would agree it looks definately like a Taylor Hobson family piece from around 44/45 but without any OS number or other marking it could have been removed from the line before that took place in this particualr case for whatever reason............nice piece though and hope it finds a rifle soon.

[Roy W]

It can't be a Mk3, it has offset turrets

[Roger Payne]

Sorry chaps I may not have expressed myself clearly at first. It IS a 2/1, but the top of the range drum (the knurled bit) is different ever so slightly to that on the deflection drum. I meant that I think the deflection adjuster is probably original, & the range mode example is a replacement, possibly from a production Mk3, quite possibly from a THCo production Mk3. I wasn't meaning that the scope as a whole is a Mk3, it isn't, I'm pretty sure it's a UIC manufactured Mk2/1.

[Lance]

Nice scope! I am leaning towards a post war left over assembly. By the way, did he have scope # 1186 or 7975 in his collection? Still haven't found them yet!

[Promo]

Hi Roger, this was the sample that RSM originally produced when they started with their reproduction No. 32 scopes. It is not worth a penny. You should get rid of it quickly. I'd of course help you and take it for a hunny so you will not loose too much money

[Lee Enfield]

I would think repaired rear tube from No.53?

[Roger Payne]

Lance, you are the eternal optimist! I will be away shortly for a few days (wife & family around) but will let Colin have the serials* in case he can match-make for anybody.

*when I get back

[bros]

Sorry I can't help you Roger with any of the info you require.........but you must have been like a "kid in a candy store".

Hopefully some matches can be made for a "family reunion".

Any REL scopes in the mix?

Regards.
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