WW1 Vickers Night Sights

[Peter Wells]

I am very fortunate to have two sets of sights in my collection - the No1 set (without shields as ilustrated in GOL fig 564 and the No2 (with shields fig 566) - both well used in their neat little tin boxes.

While checking over the latter No2 set (ex IMA) a few things came to my notice:

1) the front and rear sights are obviously mismatched

2) the front being unconverted Enfield mnfr - 'EFD' and early crow's foot on front of shield and same early crow's foot over crown over 'E' over 'AS' (?) on front of block. Still has tritium tube and blade in place. All in order here.

3) the rear has what appears to be a poorly stamped 'RFI' over 'D' on rear of shield and later style crow's foot and 2 on front of block. Converted as per right side of fig 566.

Myself having never seen or heard of Indian mnfr of night sights it would be interesting to know if they are known by others on this forum.

Regards to all.

[Richard Fisher]

Hi Peter,

I'll see if I can have a look at mine when I go up to the collection later on. I also have a set from IMA, as well as a couple of sets from elsewhere. It doesn't surprise me that the ex-IMA items are Indian stamped, if not produced, as that is where the majority of their material has come from.

Regards

Richard

[Peter Wells]

Hi Richard

I would be interested to know when you get a chance. I wasn't aware that IMA was sourcing stuff ex India - thankfully they (India) aren't smitten by the idiot bug that says all things ex military MUST be destroyed!

Cheers

[Richard Fisher]

Hi Peter,

Didn't get a chance yesterday but possibly later in the week.

Certainly a large number of Vickers MGs came from India a few years ago by IMA.

Rich