Milsurp After Hours

I know this is more in the accessories line, but I think this may interest certain people. I've just had a bore viewer arrive from Ebay, as I had sadly managed to break the mirror in one of mine. anyway, this appeared, and so I took a gamble. It is in perfect condition, and is clearly stamped with what I'm told is an Enfield Inspectors mark.



However, the but in this one is huge. Because it is. put simply, it is the width of my hand (4" approx), and has a rough diameter of .55" across the front of the tube. I've talked to a couple of members of the HBSA, and it has been mooted that such a beastie may well be for a Boys, although neither have ever encountered one.

has anyone ever heard/seen something similar? If I get round to it I will attach pictures later tonight. secondly, does anyone know where I might find a .303 bore viewer with the arm so I can fulfil my original intention?

Nick

Right, as I promised earlier I have got out the digital camera and taken photos. I've also included a scale in each to give an idea of scale.

that is a big one not sure what it was for but some one should know.

Is it dated?

Could it be for the .577/.450 Martini-Henry, by any chance?

Wanna sell it?!?

Nick,

Glad you included the scale because until I measured mine I didn't realise how large yours was.

I'd always imagined they were just a small arms item until I visited a museum that had one for a 9 inch naval gun. So if they made them for .303 and 9 inch then I imagine they were made for everything in between.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/w ... nmirro.jpg[/pic]

PS you might double your chances of a response by posting in the accoutrements forum with a link to this thread.

I too immediately thought Martini-Henry, Grant, until I checked the dimensions!

Skennerton's SAIS No 15 (Page 38) has a line drawing of the M-H bore viewer. The case measures 1.6" long and the reflector 1.5" with the chain being 5" long. The viewer also does not have the rod handle.

This thing is twice the overall length!

Brian

I'd go for the Boy's or one of the .45 Machine guns

Could fit a .577" Snider, however my money is on the Boys, lost memory that I knew something about these once.

Terry Abrahams had some I seem to remember at the Phoenix, could be worth a call.

I've got a handfull in a box some where but I can't lay my hands on them at present.

Methinks they are in the loft (along with some other stuff that I'm sure I have) but with daughter now at home all her worldies are there so I can't get at my stuff.

but I'm not sure how one like this would work, due the falling block and not being able to get a straight entry to the chamber. and thanks for the suggestion about the link, I will try that. It isn't dated, but on the left side of the joint for the arm is a crows foot that looks more WW1 than 2 (its quite shallow, and looks like a line-drawn bird upside down), over an inspectors mark which is the crown over E over 7H. those are the only markings. I'm still deciding what to do with it. at the moment I'm focussing on items for .303, so it is out of my field, but its one of those items you ask; whats the chances of seeing another?

Adam, do you mean a handful of the big ones, or a handful of the standard .303 ones?

Nick

Nick,

its the usual .303" ones that I have. Also thats what Terry Abrahams had.

If you can get a .450/.577 cartridge into the chamber you'd obviously get the viewer in.

If it was me I'd keep the .50 cal one as there is enough interest (wantonewantonewantone!) here to say to me that they are reasonably scarce.