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Armorer's Tools:
Bore Viewers
| It
wasn't too long after someone discovered that a rifled bore improved
accuracy that someone else figured out that keeping the bore clean
was the best way to maintain accuracy. The Reflector, Mirror, Small-arms, .303-inch makes its first appearance in The List of Changes in British War Materials in March 1891 (LoC 6374). The drawing and text describe it as brass, with a glass reflector mirror set at 45 degrees and outfitted with a brass outer case attached by a brass chain. We will define this description as a TYPE ONE bore reflector. |
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| The
next entry is almost twenty-five years
later, in December 1915 (LoC 17687) introducing Reflectors,
mirror, S.A. (Small Arms), .303-inch-Adaptor,
Mark I for
use with the Canadian Ross rifle and the new Pattern
of 1914 (P'14) rifle. This reflector, with adaptor, is now officially approved for general use with all .303 inch arms. We will define this description as a TYPE TWO bore reflector. |
TYPE
ONE |
TYPE
TWO
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| The reflector, with adaptor (TYPE TWO) is approved for Naval Service in October 1917 (LoC 20131). In August 1925 all reflectors, including those used for machine guns (LoC 7338) are restricted to issuance/use by armourers only. (LoC A-1184) | ||
| There
is even less information about the makers of
bore viewers than there is about oilers. Like the brass oilers,
virtually all of these bore viewers are stamped with a manufacturer's
code or initials. Surprisingly, with the exception of RSAF-Enfield,
none of these production codes match any of those
found on oilers. We have collected a number of bore viewers with different marks. These are organized by type and mark, followed by our comments and observations. We welcome any new information that you have to offer. We are also very interested in acquiring bore viewers with any new marks. |
EFD |
Type
One; RSAF
Enfield inspection. This unit, 1.6" in
length, matches the description found in the 1891 LoC,
although the 4" chain is one inch shorter than specified. PIC |
EFD F |
Type Two ; stamped EFD (RSAF Enfield) in 1/8" letters on the side of the hinge. The hinge is an exceptionally fine piece of machining. 1.6" case body with a 2.75" handle and medium gauge chain 5.5" long. This unit closely matches the description in the 1915 LoC for all .303 arms, including Canada's Ross Rifle. Broad arrow marked on case end and on handle. The handle hinge body is also clearly stamped with the letter F. PIC |
EFD G |
Type Two ; stamped EFD (RSAF Enfield) in 1/8" letters on the side of the hinge. Same as above except the handle hinge body is clearly stamped with the letter G. PIC |
EFD M |
Type Two ; stamped EFD (RSAF Enfield) in 1/8" letters on the side of the hinge. Same as above except the handle hinge body is clearly stamped with the letter M. PIC |
EFD O |
Type Two ; stamped EFD (RSAF Enfield) in 1/8" letters on the side of the hinge. Same as above except the handle hinge body is clearly stamped with the letter O. PIC |
LAUDER
CO. 1915 |
Type
One; stamped LAUDER CO. 1915 on center body cover
and Canadian broad-arrow marked on the end. Exceptionally
nice workmanship; the body of this unit is 2.25" in
length and the fine gauge chain is almost 6.5" long. We suspect that
this unit was originally intended for Canada's Ross Rifle. PIC |
MMCC
1915 |
Type
One; stamped MMCC 1915 in tiny 1/16" letters on
the end along with an early style Canadian broad-arrow mark. The
body is 2.25" in length
and the medium gauge chain is 6" long. Again, we suspect
that this unit was originally intended for Canada's Ross Rifle. PIC |
MMCC
1915 |
Type
Two;
stamped MMCC 1916 in
1/16" letters on the
end. Early style Canadian broad-arrow
mark on the 1.6" case body. The
2.75" handle has a well-crafted hinge; the medium
gauge
chain
is
5" long.
This unit closely matches the description
in the 1915
LoC for
all .303 arms, including Canada's Ross Rifle. PIC |
CFBC
1916 |
Type
One;
stamped CFBC 1916 in 1/8" letters
on the end. Early style Canadian broad-arrow mark on the case
body. The
body is 2.25" in length
and the medium gauge chain is 6.5" long. We suspect
that this unit was originally intended for Canada's Ross Rifle. PIC |
CFBC
1916 |
Type
Two;
stamped CFBC 1916 in 1/8" letters on the
end. Early style Canadian broad-arrow mark on the 1.6" case body. The
2.75" handle has a well-crafted hinge; the medium
gauge
chain
is
5" long.
This unit closely matches the description in the 1915
LoC for
all .303 arms, including Canada's Ross Rifle. PIC |
GILBERT |
Type
One; Birmingham
Small Arms Co. inspection marked. This
unit, 1.6" in
length, matches the description found
in the 1891 LoC,
although the 6" chain is one inch longer
than specified. This is the only unit ever reported
with a BSA inspection stamp. PIC |
GILBERT
|
Type
Two;
stamped GILBERT in tiny 1/16" letters
on the case body; broad arrow marked on case end and on handle.
The body is 1.6" in length
and the medium gauge chain is 5" long. The hinge is very similar
to the EFD Type Two viewer, an equally sophisticated piece of tooling. PIC |
F&S
|
Type
Two;
stamped F&S in 1/8" letters
on the hinge body; broad arrow marked on case end and on
handle. The body is 1.6" in length
and the medium gauge chain is 5" long. The hinge is a simple tab
pinned in place. PIC |
MANROY
F&S |
Type
Two;
stamped MANROY on the outer case in two locations. For
a while we thought we had discovered another maker's mark -
until we noticed F&S stamped on the hinge
body. In all
respects identical to the F&S above. Lettering
on case is first-class work, lined
up and even. We surmise that MANROY is
the name of the armourer. PIC |
LW
1917 |
Type
Two;
stamped LW 1917 in 1/8" letters
on the handle hinge base; broad arrow marked on case end and
on handle. The body is 1.6" in length
and the medium gauge chain is 5" long, the hinge very similar
to the EFD Type Two viewer, an equally sophisticated piece
of tooling. PIC |
LW
1918 |
Type
Two;
stamped LW 1918 in 1/8" letters
on the handle hinge base; broad arrow marked on case end and
on handle. The body is 1.6" in length
and the medium gauge chain is 5" long, the hinge very similar
to the EFD Type Two viewer, an equally sophisticated piece
of tooling. PIC |
.22
CALIBER
|
Type
One;
stamped RoNo 616772 in
1/8" letters
on the case; no broad arrow
or other identifying marks. The medium gauge chain
is made of stamped and folded links, unlike the simple
round wire noted on .303 caliber bore viewers. PIC |
.22
CALIBER
|
Type
One;
Identical to the one above; no broad
arrow or any other identifying marks whatever. The
unit has the chain made from simple round wire noted
on .303 caliber bore viewers. PIC |
.50
CALIBER
ELE Co Ld 1940 |
Type
Two;
Identical to the .303 family of viewers,
except clearly marked VICKERS
.5 INCH MG;
broad arrow and Navy marked, dated 1940. Maker
ELE Co Ld. unknown. PIC |