M85 26mm Mount

[bravo2zero]

Hi, I have recently purchased a 26 mm scope mount for the M85 and as you can see from the photos the clamps and knobs are slightly different than the usual round ones and also the knobs are on the opposite side to many of the standard mounts. I thought at first this was aftermarket change but the more I study it this setup looks very original and authentic.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? Wondering if this is some type of trial or prototype mount. This is for a 26mm tube.Attachment 108843Attachment 108844Attachment 108845

Thoughts and views most welcome, thanks

Information

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[Lee Enfield]

Probably home improved.


https://www.berger-tools.co.uk/Hand_Knobs_Star_Knobs_Wing__Knurled_Thumb_Screws__ Nuts/

I have an experimental c3 one piece mount - kind of an interesting piece.

[Gil Boyd]

Certainly not a PH product or made for the M85 snipers rifle, and probably as Lee Enfield suggests, a home made product which I am sure did the job adequately well on certain rifles. They also stamped everything they produced with the telltale PH symbol

[bravo2zero]

I also raised this on a Facebook site and Steve Houghton has one exactly the same. Also Nigel Greenaway has some original PH brochures which show these and the different knobs. All in all it’s genuine

[Gil Boyd]

Have you got a photo of yours Steve, and is it also devoid of any PH stamps on the metalwork?
Be interested to see it associated to the M85.

[bravo2zero]

PH Brochure Attached

[bravo2zero]

Some marketing information attached although there are no standard PH markings other than X 26 underneath which is done by PH to denote 26 mm mount. The one inch mount just says 1

[bravo2zero]

It’s clear from the photos that the knobs are different to the standard round ones

[Gil Boyd]

This from Bill Smallwood:

The mounts didn't always have PH stamped on them, as some had PH on the long movable clamp part but not all.
The one in the image is stamped on the bottom, as all were with a 1 91INCH or 26 (26mm). It has an X, as some were marked with this as it was an experimental one of sorts.
Really hit and miss!!

[Lee Enfield]

It’s clear from the photos that the knobs are different to the standard round ones

It's clear from the photo that the "arctic" stocked rifle has knobs with 4 lobes.

Every time I see these type of oversize knobs, I wonder if the designers understood that scopes should never actually be removed unless there is a problem of some sort which requires it, and I also wonder if they have ever been off a range carrying gear which catches on branches and kit...

And when the knobs are on the bolt side....have they ever run a bolt under stress, from an imperfect position??