Lyman Scope

[Giove]

I have the opportunity to buy this scope. It seems legit to me.
What do you think?

Thanks.
Giancarlo

Information

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[Brian Dick]

It's a commercial Lyman Alaskan sleeved, (7/8" up to 1"), into a No.32 bracket which appears to be original. The scope is not from a C No.4 Mk.1* (TP) rifle. The Canadian contract telescopes had distinct serial numbers with an "S" suffix. The original "TP", (Trade Pattern), rifles were in the 74L range and the bases and mounts were a Griffin and Howe style made in Canada. The scope tin looks original to me but I could be wrong. Did the Italians replace some of their No.32 scopes with the Lyman? Definitely an oddity. Whether it was done during military service or afterwards remains to be seen.

[Lee Enfield]

The rifle serial number alone should tell you to "run away".

[Roy W]

Were there any 79L 4T's?

The bracket number doesn't look right, the Canadian ones I have are engraved, not stamped.

It looks like a British bracket.

[Brian Dick]

It has no relation whatsoever to an original Long Branch built No.4Mk.1*T. The bracket is definitely British and appears original. I've seen M1D sniper rifles built in Italy during their time in service with a combination of original and domestic parts. They aren't necessarily American built M1D rifles either. Given the fact that the Italians had a lot of Long Branch rifles post WW2, could the Italians have scratch-built No.4 snipers too? I'm skeptical of saying "never" but where would one research and find out? I know their M1D rifles are very well done. The telescope mounts made in Italy are every bit as nice as the American ones and actually better finished.

[Roger Payne]

Giancarlo, I think Brian & the others are right on the nail. The scope is a commercial Alaskan 'All Weather' in a sleeved original Rose Brothers bracket. You can see the 'JG' examiner's mark reasonably clearly. The bracket also shows the typical shape & casting features of Rose Brothers. It would be nice to see the scope tin lid, but from the views provided it may well be an original. Is it all off an Italian converted rifle?

[Surpmil]

And if all that wasn't proof enough, the Lymans were never used with that type of No.8 Case anyway, unless Italy decided to do so? Note the lack of clearance at the objective end of the scope.

[Giove]

Thank you all.

I thought the scope was one of those (or a copy of that) described in "Without Warning" (page 43), but actually the bracket is British, not Canadian (hence a bad copy).

I don't think that the scope in question is Italian. The regular scope for the Italian L.E. sniper are these:

[breakeyp]

T following rifle number stenciled on the lid is a bit strange.

[Roger Payne]

The scope tin lid markings look rather like others I've seen on kit that has spent time in the land where my favourite dish (curry) comes from!"