Target Sights - Target Sights - Bolt on Goodies Through the AgesBolt on Goodies Through the Ages

for the Lee Enfield rifle for the Lee Enfield rifle familyfamily

In memoriamIn memoriam

Nic WestonNic Weston1515thth December 2007 December 2007

RIPRIP

without whom this lecture will be less without whom this lecture will be less comprehensive and much less eruditecomprehensive and much less erudite

Target sights on Service RiflesTarget sights on Service Rifles

Service relevance and rulesService relevance and rules

Engineering constraintsEngineering constraints

Target accuracyTarget accuracy

Service rifles for teenage eyesService rifles for teenage eyes

Target shooting with ageing eyesTarget shooting with ageing eyes– E.g. 2004 NRA debate about clearing lenses E.g. 2004 NRA debate about clearing lenses

with Eagle Eyewith Eagle Eye

AgendaAgenda

‘‘Long Lee’ Long Lee’

SMLESMLE

Rifle No.4 & derivativesRifle No.4 & derivatives

Reading and using target sightsReading and using target sights

‘‘Long’ LeeLong’ Lee

No windage No windage adjustmentadjustment

Elevation slider – Elevation slider – friction fitfriction fit

Imprecise adjustmentImprecise adjustment

V-notch V-notch

A G Parker 1885A G Parker 1885Windage allowancesWindage allowancesAiming offAiming offNo markingsNo markings

VentometersVentometers

Unidentified Alex Martin Parker’s

O’Hare

Portable vernier scalesPortable vernier scales

Initially – elevationInitially – elevationlater - windage as welllater - windage as well

Martin ventometer on MLEMartin ventometer on MLE

Elevation 5 degrees of windage

MLE windage slidesMLE windage slides

MLE extended sight bed by LR TippingMLE extended sight bed by LR Tipping

3” closer to the eye

Peddie-ParkerPeddie-Parker

No gunsmithing No gunsmithing replacementreplacementDesigned by Designed by PeddiePeddieManufactured by Manufactured by VickersVickersFast elevation Fast elevation movementmovementFine adjustment Fine adjustment to windage & to windage & elevationelevationChoice of V or Choice of V or apertureapertureDistance and Distance and verniervernier

Peddie patentsPeddie patents

1908 1909

SutherlandSutherland

•No gunsmithing

•Windage and elevation (fast)

•Distance but no vernier

unidentifiedunidentified

No gunsmithingNo gunsmithing

Windage & elevation with vernierWindage & elevation with vernier

and at the sharp endand at the sharp end

Martin 1909 Galilean foresight for MLE•Magnifies x2, generally needs a clearing lens at rear

•Folds down into round container

Martin patent 1910Martin patent 1910

SMLE Mk ISMLE Mk I

•Sophisticated for a service sight•Zero windage & elevation; reset windage blind•Heat resisting bone grips

SMLE original sightsSMLE original sights

Sightbed: Mk 1 top, Mk 2-4 belowForesight block

Mk 1 Mk 2 Mk 3 Mk4

Mk 5 aperture rearsight

Sight accessoriesSight accessories

Aperture replaces Mk 4 blade (modern)

Foresight windage adjuster (PH)

Aim corrector

Accessory sightsAccessory sights

Folding aperture sight replaces Volley sight armFolding aperture sight replaces Volley sight armNo gunsmithingNo gunsmithingRetains original sights for service competitionsRetains original sights for service competitionsCloser to eye = greater sight radiusCloser to eye = greater sight radiusInvented by ? (perhaps Martin, later BSA)Invented by ? (perhaps Martin, later BSA)

Parts of an SMLE folding sightParts of an SMLE folding sight

A.A. Eyepiece socketEyepiece socket

B.B. Windage adjusterWindage adjuster

C.C. Elevation adjusterElevation adjuster

D.D. Windage vernier scaleWindage vernier scale

E.E. Elevation fast adjustElevation fast adjust

F.F. Dumbell springDumbell spring

G.G. Pivot point clamp screwPivot point clamp screw

H.H. BracketBracket

I.I. Volley eyepieceVolley eyepiece

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

BSA model 9 (1907)BSA model 9 (1907)

Possibly the first SMLE Possibly the first SMLE folding sightfolding sight

1907 patent date1907 patent date

No clicks on windage or No clicks on windage or elevationelevation

Windage zeroWindage zero

Fast adjust elevationFast adjust elevation

Volley aperture to comply Volley aperture to comply with military ruleswith military rules

BSA 9c (1911)BSA 9c (1911)

FoldingFolding½ minute clicks½ minute clicksZero adjustment on Zero adjustment on elevation vernierelevation vernierNo zero on elevation No zero on elevation range scalerange scaleBetter ergonomics butBetter ergonomics butNo fast adjust elevationNo fast adjust elevationMore robustMore robustNo volley apertureNo volley aperture

AG Parker 9g AG Parker 9g

FoldingFolding

Very similar to AGP 9cVery similar to AGP 9c

C. 1912C. 1912

Fast adjust elevationFast adjust elevation

½ minute clicks½ minute clicks

Zero adjustment on Zero adjustment on elevation vernierelevation vernier

No zero on elevation No zero on elevation range scalerange scale

Alf J Parker “Twin zero” (TZ)Alf J Parker “Twin zero” (TZ)

FoldingFolding

Zero scales on windage Zero scales on windage and elevationand elevation

½ minute clicks½ minute clicks

Extremely robustExtremely robust

Adjuster screws have Adjuster screws have compensation for wearcompensation for wear

Arm joint locks for rigidityArm joint locks for rigidity

AG Parker ‘Raj’AG Parker ‘Raj’

Made individually in AGP Made individually in AGP toolroomtoolroom

Fitted to bespoke SMLEs Fitted to bespoke SMLEs for export to ‘The Raj’for export to ‘The Raj’

Elegant, lightweight, very Elegant, lightweight, very high qualityhigh quality

Ivory scale platesIvory scale plates

1/2 minute clicks1/2 minute clicks

No distance scaleNo distance scale

No zero adjustmentNo zero adjustment

London Smallarms Co (LSA)London Smallarms Co (LSA)

1909 patent1909 patent

2 alternative elevation 2 alternative elevation adjustmentsadjustments

No zero adjustmentNo zero adjustment

No clicksNo clicks

Fixed apertureFixed aperture

LightweightLightweight

Westley Richards Westley Richards

1901 & 05 patents 1901 & 05 patents claimed, but do not claimed, but do not appear to relate to this appear to relate to this designdesign

1 min clicks on windage1 min clicks on windage

No clicks on elevationNo clicks on elevation

Vernier only, no distanceVernier only, no distance

LightweightLightweight

Fragile hinge detent Fragile hinge detent (possible to circumvent (possible to circumvent patent?)patent?)

Parker Hale model 13Parker Hale model 13

Windage arm foldsWindage arm folds

Based on the PH Based on the PH ‘Sportarget’ ‘Sportarget’ mechanismmechanism

¼ min clicks¼ min clicks

Vernier only, no Vernier only, no distance scaledistance scale

Ed-MottEd-Mott

FoldingFolding

½ min clicks½ min clicks

Fast adjust elevationFast adjust elevation

Weak elbow jointWeak elbow joint

Zero on windageZero on windage

Distance and vernierDistance and vernier

Mues ‘Special’Mues ‘Special’

FoldingFolding

AustralianAustralian

½ min clicks½ min clicks

Zero on windageZero on windage

Distance & Distance & vernier scalesvernier scales

Fast adjust Fast adjust elevationelevation

Robust and rigidRobust and rigid

AG Parker ‘Plus 5’AG Parker ‘Plus 5’

Possibly the best Possibly the best folding SMLE sight folding SMLE sight mademade

‘‘No compromise’ No compromise’ design - everything design - everything engineered for rigidityengineered for rigidity

½ min clicks½ min clicks

Zero on both Zero on both windage & elevationwindage & elevation

Distance and vernierDistance and vernier

Integral bracketIntegral bracket

And there were other folding And there were other folding designs ……designs ……

I was unable to find examples of:I was unable to find examples of:– BSA – TippinsBSA – Tippins– Fenby-HaleFenby-Hale– BSA Parker (from original Parker-Ross)BSA Parker (from original Parker-Ross)– others?others?

Rigid sights on SMLERigid sights on SMLE

Suitable for ‘target rifle’ competitionsSuitable for ‘target rifle’ competitions

No moving parts to wearNo moving parts to wear

More rigidMore rigid

Generally mounted permanentlyGenerally mounted permanently

Easier to makeEasier to make

AG Parker model 5AG Parker model 5

RigidRigidIntegral bracketIntegral bracket½ min clicks½ min clicksZero on windage & Zero on windage & elevation (crude)elevation (crude)Distance and vernierDistance and vernierQuick release for Quick release for windage arm for fast windage arm for fast elevation and safer elevation and safer storagestorage

Parker Hale model 5AParker Hale model 5A

Refined development Refined development of model 5of model 5Rigid with integral Rigid with integral bracketbracket½ min clicks½ min clicksZero on windage & Zero on windage & elevationelevationDistance and vernierDistance and vernierQuick release for Quick release for windage arm for fast windage arm for fast elevation and safer elevation and safer storagestorage

Alf J Parker TZ1Alf J Parker TZ1

Rigid with integral bracketRigid with integral bracket½ min clicks½ min clicksZero on windage & Zero on windage & elevationelevationDistance and vernierDistance and vernierQuick release for Quick release for windage arm for fast windage arm for fast elevation and safer elevation and safer storagestorage

I have not so far been able to find I have not so far been able to find an example to photographan example to photograph

NRA ‘Guildford’ NRA ‘Guildford’ NRA economy designNRA economy design

Versatile with mounts forVersatile with mounts for– SMLE Mk1SMLE Mk1– SMLE Mk3SMLE Mk3– P14/P17P14/P17– Rifle No 4Rifle No 4

Vernier only, no distancesVernier only, no distances

Zero on windage only Zero on windage only

Fixed apertureFixed aperture

½ min clicks½ min clicks

No fast elevationNo fast elevation

FragileFragile

MuesMues

RigidRigid

Fits on volley sight Fits on volley sight bracketbracket

½ min clicks½ min clicks

Zero on windage Zero on windage & elevation& elevation

Distance and Distance and verniervernier

CentralCentral

AustralianAustralianBrackets and scale Brackets and scale plates for SMLE or No.4plates for SMLE or No.4Integral 3-hole apertureIntegral 3-hole aperture1/3 min clicks elevation1/3 min clicks elevation¼ min clicks windage¼ min clicks windageZero on wind & Zero on wind & elevationelevationDistance and vernierDistance and vernier

RawsonRawson

AustralianAustralian

Brackets and scale Brackets and scale plates for SMLE or plates for SMLE or No.4No.4

Accepts PH aperturesAccepts PH apertures

¼ min clicks¼ min clicks

Zero on wind & Zero on wind & elevationelevation

Distance and vernierDistance and vernier

LaneLane

AustralianAustralian

Brackets and scale plates Brackets and scale plates for SMLE or No.4for SMLE or No.4

Accepts PH aperturesAccepts PH apertures

½ min clicks½ min clicks

Zero on wind & elevationZero on wind & elevation

Distance and vernierDistance and vernier

No vernier on windageNo vernier on windage

Mounting bracketsMounting brackets

UnidentifiedUnidentified

JNT sportingJNT sporting

New ZealandNew Zealand

Rigid and durable Rigid and durable constructionconstruction

Simple windage and Simple windage and elevation adjustmentselevation adjustments

Simple ‘battle’ Simple ‘battle’ apertureaperture

Parker Hale experimental for MoDParker Hale experimental for MoD

Marked ‘PH X .22’Marked ‘PH X .22’Found on N Ireland B-Found on N Ireland B-Special .22 SMLESpecial .22 SMLEGives No4 aperture to Gives No4 aperture to SMLESMLERequires tapping 2 holes Requires tapping 2 holes and relieve stockand relieve stockVery strong and ‘squaddy Very strong and ‘squaddy proof’proof’

Australian WW2 conversionAustralian WW2 conversion

Civilian target sighted Civilian target sighted SMLEs handed in to SMLEs handed in to support the servicessupport the services

No service sightsNo service sights

Heavy target barrelsHeavy target barrels

This sight fitted to barrel This sight fitted to barrel in front of knoxformin front of knoxform

Gives No4-like apertureGives No4-like aperture

Made by CentralMade by Central

ForesightsForesights

Central variable width blades

Brinell foresight blades Alf J Parker foresight

Foresight elements

and at the sharp endand at the sharp end

Martin 1915 Galilean foresight for SMLE

Rifle No 4 original sightsRifle No 4 original sights

No4 foresight adjuster and blades

No5 foresight adjuster

Service rearsightsService rearsights

Singer Mk 1 Mk2 Mk3 Mk4 C Mk4

No4T No5 No7&8 Target

Parker Hale 8/53Parker Hale 8/53

Attaches to original Attaches to original service sight by stud service sight by stud through aperturethrough aperture

No gunsmithingNo gunsmithing

New aperture New aperture threaded for PH threaded for PH

+/- 20 mins windage+/- 20 mins windage

Reduced travel on Reduced travel on elevation c.200-600elevation c.200-600

Parker Hale PH4Parker Hale PH4

No gunsmith No gunsmith replacement for replacement for original sightoriginal sight

½ min clicks½ min clicks

Windage zeroWindage zero

Elevation distance Elevation distance & vernier& vernier

Threaded for PH Threaded for PH eyepieceseyepieces

Folds down as Folds down as originaloriginal

Parker Hale ‘Target’ Parker Hale ‘Target’ conversion of No.4 Mk 1 rearsightconversion of No.4 Mk 1 rearsight

Replaces original pivot pin with a threaded stud to provide simple windage adjustment

Replacement sights on No4Replacement sights on No4

A.A. Ejector screw Ejector screw secures sight secures sight basebase

B.B. Fast release for Fast release for windage armwindage arm

C.C. Windage arm Windage arm dovetaildovetail

D.D. Nut through Nut through original sight original sight pivot secures pivot secures sight basesight base

A B C D

Parker Hale 5cParker Hale 5c

Mechanism very similar Mechanism very similar to SMLE PH5ato SMLE PH5a½ min clicks in 303½ min clicks in 303¼ min clicks in 308¼ min clicks in 308Zero adjustment on Zero adjustment on windage & elevationwindage & elevationDistance and vernierDistance and vernierFast windage release for Fast windage release for safe storagesafe storageBase can be aluminium Base can be aluminium or steelor steel

D.O.W.57D.O.W.57

Made under licence Made under licence from Parker Hale by from Parker Hale by Delphos Ordnance Delphos Ordnance Works in South Works in South AfricaAfricaIdentical to PH 5C Identical to PH 5C Marked D.O.W.57 Marked D.O.W.57 on scale plate, ‘SA’ on scale plate, ‘SA’ over crossed rifle & over crossed rifle & rocket on armrocket on armProofmarked “arrow Proofmarked “arrow within U” for SA within U” for SA Army service target Army service target shootingshooting

Parker Hale 5c parkerisedParker Hale 5c parkerised

Matt grey/green Matt grey/green phosphated finishphosphated finish

Possibly intended for Possibly intended for sniper or sniper or camouflaged use?camouflaged use?

Bigger adjuster knobsBigger adjuster knobs

Use with gloved Use with gloved hands?hands?

Alf J Parker TZ 4/47Alf J Parker TZ 4/47

½ min clicks in 303½ min clicks in 303

Zero adjustment on Zero adjustment on windage and windage and elevationelevation

Distance and vernierDistance and vernier

Fast windage release Fast windage release for safe storagefor safe storage

Other target sights for No 4sOther target sights for No 4s

All of the rigid arm sights shown for the All of the rigid arm sights shown for the SMLE had base plates to fit No 4:SMLE had base plates to fit No 4:– CentralCentral– RawsonRawson– LaneLane– NRA GuildfordNRA Guildford

308 / 7.62 Enfields308 / 7.62 Enfields

Most of the 303 accessory sights were Most of the 303 accessory sights were also fitted to 308 Enfield conversionsalso fitted to 308 Enfield conversions– PH 5c (now ¼ min clicks)PH 5c (now ¼ min clicks)– AJP 4/80 (as 4/47 but ¼ min clicks)AJP 4/80 (as 4/47 but ¼ min clicks)

Some new makes also made 308 sights Some new makes also made 308 sights for No 4sfor No 4se.g Wilkes, Redfield, Premiere.g Wilkes, Redfield, Premier

John Wilkes Redfield (USA)John Wilkes Redfield (USA)

PremierPremier

AustralianAustralian

Fabricated from steel Fabricated from steel pressings (this pressings (this example appears to example appears to have a bent windage have a bent windage arm)arm)

Eyepieces – single apertureEyepieces – single aperture

Most British and Most British and Commonwealth sights took Commonwealth sights took standard Parker threadsstandard Parker threadsSingle apertures came in a Single apertures came in a range of aperture sizes to range of aperture sizes to suit eyes and lightsuit eyes and lightLarge surrounds cut out Large surrounds cut out lightlightSmall surrounds give Small surrounds give clearanceclearanceLong shanks increase Long shanks increase clearanceclearanceShort shanks can lock Short shanks can lock elevationelevationSome take corrective lensesSome take corrective lenses

Variable aperturesVariable apertures

Most made by Most made by AGP, AJP, PH, AGP, AJP, PH, BSABSA

6 hole rotating6 hole rotating

3 hole sliding3 hole sliding

IrisIris

FiltersFilters

Lens holdersLens holders

Vernier sights and minute of angleVernier sights and minute of angle

For practical purposes one minute of angle moves the For practical purposes one minute of angle moves the point of impact by one inch per hundred yardspoint of impact by one inch per hundred yards– 1” at 100 yards1” at 100 yards– 6” at 600 yards etc.6” at 600 yards etc.

A vernier scale makes it possible to read your windage A vernier scale makes it possible to read your windage or elevation setting to ¼ minutes (i.e. just 1½” at 600 or elevation setting to ¼ minutes (i.e. just 1½” at 600 yards!)yards!)Rifle score books have diagrams marked up in 1 minute Rifle score books have diagrams marked up in 1 minute grids, so you can readily adjust your groupgrids, so you can readily adjust your groupLearn to love verniers for better scores and less wasted Learn to love verniers for better scores and less wasted ammunitionammunition

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

Any questions?Any questions?

Tony CattermoleTony Cattermole