Help required

[jb303]

Hi everyone,

Just purchased a SMLE 1917 HT with bases but no scope, would anyone out there Know of anyone who has a Australian Optical Company Scope PATT 1918 with rings.

Any help would be appreciated.

cheers

JB303

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.

[RJW NZ]

Watch ebay Australia there's been two in recent weeks with mounts, or Brian Dick BDL ltd in the US might be able to help.

[Son]

Hi everyone,

Just purchased a SMLE 1917 HT with bases but no scope, would anyone out there Know of anyone who has a Australian Optical Company Scope PATT 1918 with rings.

Any help would be appreciated.

cheers

JB303

Hi JB and welcome to the forum. You'll find quite an assortment of nationalities here all enjoying their Lee Enfield addiction together. I see you are a Sydneysider- I'm a little north west of you in the Hunter Valley. There's quite a few fellow aussies here, and a few of us also have Lithgow snipers. As for a scope, there has been a couple on ebay recently, the prices probably seem a bit over the top, but I'm afraid the demand for them is setting the dollars they are going for.

If there's anything you'd like to know about your rifle, just ask. I have been gathering information on them for quite a few years and have a database with over 120 rifles and/or scopes in it. I have a short list of questions if you would like to contribute you rifle's info (it may already be here...)

I'll ask around about a scope.

Cheers,
Brad.

[jb303]

Brad,

Thank you so much for your reply, The SMLE that I have is the 1917 ht,This rifle is not one of those recorded in Ian Skennertons book "The Lee Enfield Story". The bases are original & are numbered 1965, this number is one of the sets left over after HT production ceased. The Bolt matches the receiver and the barrel is non matching & bayonet boss is un numbered. The serial number is 79385. Any info that you might have would be appreciated and I would be happy to help out as needed for fellow member as much as I can.

Thanks again.

John

[LithgowHT]

Yep you purchased that rifle from ************* .....
I always have reservations with him, the rifles are always "completely original!" But.......
For instance your HT serial was not listed in Ian's book, at the time he also sold a .22 Lithgow trainer in "excellent condition!" but no armourer marks on the side.
Both these reasons leave doubt in the eyes of a collector for authenticity.
Maybe I'm just annoyed that he promised me first option on a HT he was selling however just sold it to someone else without even a courtesy call...
And yes I'm in the market for a high mount scope for my rifle also.

The scope on ebay now is sold by the ebay user snipers corner or something.
I believe the person listing this is *********************
It's a low mount with non-matching rings and bases. One word of warning, buyer beware.

[Son]

Yep you purchased that rifle from ************* .....
I always have reservations with him, the rifles are always "completely original!" But.......
For instance your HT serial was not listed in Ian's book, at the time he also sold a .22 Lithgow trainer in "excellent condition!" but no armourer marks on the side.
Both these reasons leave doubt in the eyes of a collector for authenticity.
Maybe I'm just annoyed that he promised me first option on a HT he was selling however just sold it to someone else without even a courtesy call...
And yes I'm in the market for a high mount scope for my rifle also.

The scope on ebay now is sold by the ebay user snipers corner or something.
I believe the person listing this is *********************
It's a low mount with non-matching rings and bases. One word of warning, buyer beware.

A little word of caution- here, publically. You need to be very carefull putting peoples names and addresses up on a public forum without their knowledge or consent. To then cast muck on them in this way is extremely poor form.

I would ask you to have your posting deleted, and try to act with a little more maturity in future.

[Son]

Thankyou CSP admin, my apologies for repeating the info, I should have Xed it out of the quote myself.

Ok, Lithgow HT. I see from your posts on the other forum you are just up into canetoad country! I'm in the middle of cockroach territory, so day trips to go shooting probably aren't on the cards. Still, willing to discuss these fine rifles.... any chance of posting a couple of pics of yours?

[LithgowHT]

Sure as soon as I dig it out of the safe, camera's on the fritz also.
Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers, I was just trying to warn people of some unscrupulous sellers passing mutton off as lamb. Been caught myself once for a pretty penny (thousands).