WW1 SMLE with Winchester A5 build

Printable View

25-12-2023, 07:23 AM
FRST

9 Attachment(s)

WW1 SMLE with Winchester A5 build

Always been keen on one of these -a brit WW1 SMLE with a sniper scope. After looking into the three main versions the Winchester A5 version looked the most achievable:
Attachment 240158
Attachment 240159
Attachment 240160

Earlier this year I got a bunch of photos of originals and started to craft up the scope mounting brackets. Main tool was the ol' eyeometer...

Attachment 240161
Attachment 240162

The scope was bought from the US and arrived last week, so made some major progress. It is still quite clear, but the crosshairs are a bit warped, but will do the trick. Overall not bad for something designed in 1907.
Attachment 240163

I still need a screw on the scope mount bracket that was missing. Also need to blue it all. Very pleased- the scope is in the correct spot elevation wise near the bottom of the turret travel at 100m zero with all the elevation adjustment I could ever need.

Looking forward to shooting it.
Attachment 240164
Attachment 240165
Attachment 240166
25-12-2023, 07:26 AM
FRST

3 Attachment(s)

Attachment 240167
Attachment 240168
Attachment 240169
25-12-2023, 07:59 AM
Fssprecision

Nice job, well done
25-12-2023, 08:28 AM
akaroa1

Nice work

If you can do that with an eyeometer then you can replace the crosshairs on the A5

I've had a few vintage scopes apart ( not an actual A5 ) and it's not that scary in there
With modern adhesives like Loctite 401 it should be pretty easy and there are multiple options for the hairs themselves
25-12-2023, 08:31 AM
AR7

Hi I agree with FSS on the workmanship
but really enjoy you guys getting into making something different and solving all those problems that come up
Happy Xmas holidays to all
25-12-2023, 09:35 AM
Barry the hunter

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRST

Attachment 240167
Attachment 240168
Attachment 240169

nice work my Grandfather FE Ovenden was a world war one sniper served at Gallipoli and I believe also France - I have a photo of him with his snipers division taken in Wellington one is holding very similar looking rig
25-12-2023, 11:31 AM
-BW-

That’s awesome. Great work
25-12-2023, 01:01 PM
Russian 22.

Nice, there was a guy in the Hutt who serviced scopes. I forget his name but he was very well priced and would be able to fix the crosshairs.
25-12-2023, 04:07 PM
Shamus_

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Nice, there was a guy in the Hutt who serviced scopes. I forget his name but he was very well priced and would be able to fix the crosshairs.

Andrew Rackstraw but I am pretty sure he is now retired
25-12-2023, 05:51 PM
FRST

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

nice work my Grandfather FE Ovenden was a world war one sniper served at Gallipoli and I believe also France - I have a photo of him with his snipers division taken in Wellington one is holding very similar looking rig

Would love to see that photo, awesome history
25-12-2023, 05:56 PM
Barry the hunter

1 Attachment(s)

Attachment 240215
25-12-2023, 05:58 PM
Barry the hunter

I just cant make it work if you give me a cell phone number I will attach it to a text and see if you can put it up
25-12-2023, 06:52 PM
Kimber 7mm-08

Great job! Timely reminder I need to sort out my aldis scope, purdey mounted smle at some point.
25-12-2023, 08:47 PM
akaroa1

@FRST well it's been over 12 hours so how does it shoot ?

No excuses
25-12-2023, 08:52 PM
Barry the hunter

any one if you want to see the photo I will attach to text and see if some kind sole can put it up snipers Division I believe Wellington Regiment taken before being sent to Gallipoli
25-12-2023, 09:17 PM
FRST

Sent u a private message Barry
25-12-2023, 09:18 PM
FRST

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaroa1

@FRST well it's been over 12 hours so how does it shoot ?

No excuses

Range is closed on Christmas day haha!

I'll get there soon mate
25-12-2023, 09:30 PM
FRST

1 Attachment(s)

Awesome photo from Barry. Which one is your great Grandad mate?

Those SMLE snipers look like the PP&Co scope versions.

Attachment 240226
25-12-2023, 09:42 PM
Barry the hunter

the very young looking chap second row from top on left as we look at it on screen - he lived to eighty odd with shrapnel behind his eye from Gallipoli - was a painter at Gisborne hospital all his working life - shot for Gisborne full bore - and loved cars - his wife died very young but they had 7 children -never talked about the war much but did say France was a total shithole
26-12-2023, 11:47 AM
JohnDuxbury

That is...actually really cool.
26-12-2023, 12:42 PM
makka

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamus_

Andrew Rackstraw but I am pretty sure he is now retired

I believe he still potters around doing a few scopes and vintage speedo/tacho's. He lives round the corner from me and my father in law helps him out from time to time
27-12-2023, 06:32 PM
No.3

Quote:

Originally Posted by makka

I believe he still potters around doing a few scopes and vintage speedo/tacho's. He lives round the corner from me and my father in law helps him out from time to time

Be worthwhile asking as he's one of a dying breed unfortunately. If Andrew is able to sort a few older scopes he'd make a lot of guys happy.
27-12-2023, 06:33 PM
No.3

And BTW, bloody nice work on that rifle - even as a repro job that would be worth a bloody pretty penny.
30-12-2023, 01:08 PM
FRST

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaroa1

@FRST well it's been over 12 hours so how does it shoot ?
No excuses

First session with the scope went ok. Only had a few rounds. After a few sighters this was the 3 shot group at 100m:

Attachment 240515

Ran out of ammo to get it totally spot on, but it's a good start. Happy with the mounts. Thankfully, nothing moved or came loose.