Aldis Parts Scopes Pickup

[hatrick]

So I just picked these up mostly for parts but kind of got a nice surprise. I suspected the tube was an earlier Aldis with chopped Purdey mounts and sure enough it is. Sad that someone cut the bottom of the mounts off and then tried to cut the rings off. Fortunately they only nicked the tube which I think is fixable with a touch of micro welding. It still has the reticle assembly inside which is also a nice plus with intact reticle wires.

The scope has me scratching my head a bit as it looks like an Aldis but has absolutely no markings anywhere or signs of removed markings. Also it’s longer than any Aldis I’ve ever seen at 13”. The seller said it was non functional and only for parts but to my surprise it seems to be working just fine. It is missing the ring on the front objective housing so I guess I’ll start looking around to see if anyone has a spare.

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.

[hatrick]

More pictures

[hatrick]

Final pics

[Surpmil]

I used to own that chopped up Purdey tube; where it went after leaving here I'm not quite sure!

The other one resembles the commercial model that Aldis tried to flog after WWII, if you please, using surplus parts and a new tube. Yours may be an earlier version as most of them have a cruder drum that appears to have been made for the purpose.

All in all, another example of the same old failure to invest in new products and innovations, with the inevitable result of corporate extinction.

[hatrick]

What a small world that you were the previous owner of the Purdey tube. I had a feeling the scope was a civilian model but it threw me off having more military parts and not like the one in this post.

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=44245

I wonder if I could use the internals from the civy scope to restore the tube? I’d still need to find that missing front ring. I’m not quite sure what I want to do with these yet.

[Roger Payne]

Whilst the optics probably wouldn't be directly interchangeable (differing focal lengths, for a start), you might already have a usable range drum for your Aldis Purdey tube. As has been pointed out the 'civvy' Aldis has a military pattern range drum (1 to 6 range grads). The military pattern drums vary somewhat in themselves over production history, but that shown could probably be fitted. Getting the rest of the bits would be the problematic part!

[Surpmil]

The reticule assembly should push out if all the screws are removed. Have a look inside the tube with a flashlight just to ensure there are no dents that will interfere. I suspect you'll need to push it out the long way. I'm pretty sure I gave that tube a de-rusting in vinegar many moons ago, so I must have removed the reticule assembly to do so, which means it will come out. Of course no point doing so until you're ready to do something with the tube. You've got the most important bits there: the tube and the reticule assembly. Given drawings and lens specifications, the rest could be duplicated and lenses sourced. But if that kind of project isn't your thing, and you don't have another Aldis No2 or 3 to work from, perhaps better passed on to someone who does?.

The rings are soft soldered on so you should be able to get those off easily once the reticule is out. Once you have their ID, turn a brass rod to that OD +/- and get them TIG welded back together while clamped over the rod. Then it would be a choice whether to TIG or silver solder the missing "legs" from the rings. TIG if done slowly and carefully might be best as silver solder always shows through browning.

There's only time for so many projects though!

[Warren]

Aldis scopes with markings removed are no novelty.
Many had a name on them from the gun trade and were removed by the next gunmaker who mounted the scope to his rifle.
Many tubes, if you look closely, you will find the remains of two or three gunmakers or serial numbers on the tube.
As to parts of another scope fitting, you never know until you try.
Most of the old scopes were made by serial construction and not parallel so they were individually made. Even scopes you think are totally interchangeable will give you a surprise.

[browningautorifle]

As to parts of another scope fitting, you never know until you try.

I wondered if you might have some insight into this one, if you'd reworked a couple.

[Warren]

You have no idea in the variance and even the No.32 scopes. Even some of the threads are different.
Many parts are different in that unless you check them carefully you will twist something off that is held in by a minuscule 10BA grub screw.
I get stuff in all the time with the brass screws galled right off to nothing. Even turrets that have been destroyed by vise grips...you would not believe it.
The earlier stuff like the Patt:18 and the Aldis, among others, were hand build and the difference can be incredible.
More than once I have been over at the local optical lab trimming lenses to fit.