My "new" spotting scope!

[marlinman93]

Picked this up at our collector gun show this morning. A 1890 era French Scelsi 36x long-range spotting scope. With a British made wooden tripod. These were used in match shooting and they were also sold to the French government during WWI to be used for artillery spotting.





It's missing two of the three steel points for the ends of the legs, so I'll make up three and replace them all so they match. Optics on this 130 yr. old scope are excellent!

[gamekeeper]

That would be quite a conversation piece at the range...

[2ndovc]

Cool!

That was cutting edge in those days. I've seen a couple of the same vintage that had surprisingly clear lenses.

jb

[Ray]

Deleted.

[AJMD429]

Great story.

I need to read it again (like so many great books... < sigh > ).

Cool telescope too...

[Ray]

Deleted.

[marlinman93]

Yeah Ray, I'm pretty confident you're the only one who has that thought!

Although these same telescopes were used in the old Echo Shield World Long Range matches, and the American Creedmoor matches. So "Creed's Moor" which became the Creedmoor 1000 yd. range does tie into your thoughts.

I have a few pictures taken from newspapers like Harper's Weekly in 1874-76 era, with images from the Creedmoor matches, and showing a number of these scopes and tripods in use at the matches.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.ph ... es?start=1

[GunnyMack]

Might be a bit tough to pack up a mountain while elk hunting but on the line you are going to get lots of ooo's and ah's . Neat find, just think of its history... if it could only speak.

[Bill in Oregon]

Vall, you'll need that scope as part of your kit for the 150th anniversary of the Creedmoor match of 1874.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3617071 ... &ref=notif

[marlinman93]

Vall, you'll need that scope as part of your kit for the 150th anniversary of the Creedmoor match of 1874.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3617071 ... &ref=notif

Are they going to allow cartridge rifles in that? I had heard that NMLRA was going to restrict participation to only muzzleloaders for the 150th event?

[Bill in Oregon]

Vall, yes, it will be cartridge rifles vs. the Irish muzzleloaders. There will certainly be period Sharps and Remington cartridge guns in play, as well as a number of original Rigbys. Some of the best shooters in the world post on the FB page.

[marlinman93]

Vall, yes, it will be cartridge rifles vs. the Irish muzzleloaders. There will certainly be period Sharps and Remington cartridge guns in play, as well as a number of original Rigbys. Some of the best shooters in the world post on the FB page.

Just joined the FB page to follow the event and future coverage. Thanks!

[Bill in Oregon]

Outstanding, Vall!
I would love to be there with a muzzleloader, but short of that, just to watch a great match.
I see that Lee Shaver just shot a perfect 40 at 1,000 yards with his iron-sighted muzzleloader, and the commentator said it might be the first time in a century ...

[marlinman93]

Outstanding, Vall!
I would love to be there with a muzzleloader, but short of that, just to watch a great match.
I see that Lee Shaver just shot a perfect 40 at 1,000 yards with his iron-sighted muzzleloader, and the commentator said it might be the first time in a century ...

Yes, and with a Ferris ML of his own making too. Not sure there's anything more rewarding than winning and doing it with something you made!
I'm just starting my first inroads to loading BP myself. Always been a smokeless powder shooter, even in all my 1800's rifles. But I'm going to give BP my best try, and see if I can make loads and shoot them well enough to compete at our gun club's BPCR matches.
Right now I'm in the buying phase, and with the help of good friends I'm trying to only buy things I'm sure I'll use. One friend sold me a couple pounds of 2f Old Ensford yesterday, which was the toughest part of the equation to find! Have Walters wads coming, and some cleaning and wiping supplies on the way. Hope to make up my first loads next week, and get to the range if this darn rain ever lets up!

[Blaine]

Am I the only one who immediately thought of Doyle's literary character mister frankland of lafter hall in the "hound of the baskervilles" ?

Thanks for the reminder.
I watched the Peter Cushing's version again last night. Most excellent.