No.42 Scope

[Malcolm_A]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me the date at which the No.42 scope went into production?
I am trying to bottom out the mythology around its supposed use in Aux. Unit and SOE .22 ‘sniper’ rifles. I appreciate the arguments (not least from Peter Laidler on this Forum) on how poorly it would have performed. The famous illustration showing a No.42 on a ‘silenced’ Winchester 74 from a supposed ‘SOE manual’ is also now known to be a mock-up of 1991. I also suspect Parker Hale might have knocked some up out of war surplus to make an impressive-looking rifle for post-war sales. Nonetheless, its use on the Winchester 74 has been reported from four, possibly five, Aux Unit patrols and cannot, I think, be dismissed simply as ‘false memory syndrome’. I wonder if it might have been briefly issued as part of a trial - ultimately unsuccessful for obvious reasons (incapable of adjustment beyond what was on the PH mount) in the later war period. Does anyone, therefore, know when the No.42 sight might first have been available?
Malcolm

Information

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[Scout Sniper]

Although i do not have the information on when production began, the earliest dated example i have seen is 1942.

On a side note, i have seen a No.42 with a post and rail which appeared to be original as the sealing putty was still present around the lenses on both ends. I have only ever seen one in this configuration which from memory the illustration in question implies it had post and rail.

[Malcolm_A]

Many thanks for response. The suggestion of 1942 is useful as the main run of rifles was made up in March 1942 and began distribution in April. I thought the No.42 scope might have been later. My No.42 also has a post and rail.

[Scout Sniper]

Post and rail No.42's are very rare, its usually just a vertical wire.

[muffett.2008]

I have H.B.M.C S/N 1674 with crosshairs.

[Surpmil]

As there was nothing else on hand, presumably the No42 was an option, though of course the real problem was that the PH rings it is shown as set up in had no provision for adjustment!

So unless PH worked some magic when setting them up (if indeed they did), it would be a case of finding out where the MPI was for your particular rifle and then remembering to hold off the point of aim as required!

Better than nothing?

The whole idea suggests an afterthought as when the rifles were bought from the USA, some sort of commercial scope and mounts could have been ordered for them, not to mention the obvious Maxim silencers.

[Malcolm_A]

My No.42 sight with post and crossrail is marked
TEL STG No. 42 Mk1.
H.H.S. O.S. 617. GA.
Reg. No. 5269

Don’t know if this helps with date?

[Nigel]

I have a Winchester 74 with a No.42 scope fitted. It has the vertical post and single cross-hair. The Parker Hale mounts do have provision for windage adjustments so it is quite straightforward to zero. There are two zero points for elevation - the first where the bullet crosses the line of sight and the second when the bullet passes back through that line of sight. The crossing points are partly determined by the height of the sights above the bore. I have a pre-war Mauser .22 with high mounts/rings so that the bolt handle clears the scope. The crossing points are 25 yards and 50 meters. Quite handy when shooting on an indoor range and then taking it outside for running boar. I can see that the Winchester 74/No.42 combination would have been very effective and quite sturdy.

[Scout Sniper]

Pictures or it doesn't exist!!

Be nice to see it please...

[Micheal Doyne]

I have a Winchester 74 with a No.42 scope fitted. It has the vertical post and single cross-hair. The Parker Hale mounts do have provision for windage adjustments so it is quite straightforward to zero. There are two zero points for elevation - the first where the bullet crosses the line of sight and the second when the bullet passes back through that line of sight. The crossing points are partly determined by the height of the sights above the bore. I have a pre-war Mauser .22 with high mounts/rings so that the bolt handle clears the scope. The crossing points are 25 yards and 50 meters. Quite handy when shooting on an indoor range and then taking it outside for running boar. I can see that the Winchester 74/No.42 combination would have been very effective and quite sturdy.

I’d love to see some photos of the Winchester 74/No.42!