Opinions wanted on my M38...

[aramis]

Hi everyone, I picked this up and just wanted to double check that I've got the right thing before starting my E-11 build.

 

I think it's right, but am hoping the experts will chime in...it does seem to be a bit different than most of the M38's I see pictures of:

 

- the whole body is a subtle wrinkle finish, which appears to be original. Most that I've seen in pics have the large diameter ring at the end as a glossy, smoother finish. Mine is wrinkled everywhere...even on the adjuster screws at the other end.

 

- The text on the large diameter ring end seems correct, but it is not filled in with white. The text says:

TELESCOPE M38

M.H.R. CO. 1942 D.A.

NO. 30500

 

(I think most serial #'s I've seen were 6 digits instead of 5???)

 

- Most I've seen have the small diameter end open. Mine has an knurled eyepiece. However, this eyepiece is very easily removeable and the body is not threaded...so my assumption is that this is how every M38 started out, until someone lost the eyepiece somewhere along the way. Perhaps all of the eyepieces were intentionally removed when the original prop builders were making E-11's? See pics below with it intact and with the eyepiece, spring bar and ball removed. The ball is held in the body by the spring bar. The threads of the eyepiece spin on the ball, that acts a the body's threads. Or, you can just yank the eyepiece straight out since the spring bar is so weak.

 

So, all in all, I think I've got a low serial number original M38, that was lucky enough to have the eyepiece still with it...and perhaps the "early" ones came with an all-over wrinkle finish. Does that sound right? If not, please burst my bubble.

Edited June 11, 2014 by aramis

[Marv]

Its good!

[TK bondservnt[501st]]

Ive owned one of these before.

it has been repainted with a modern finish.

 

this type of scope was not used in sherman tanks... it was used on mobile guns and has a  different lensing system.

 

on a sherman tank azmuth finder you look through the large end and the focus is adjusted via the mounting system inside the tank.

this appears to rangefind backwards from the small end to the large end, backwards.

 

I believe this system was used on towed heavy guns, and was not the type used on e-11's due to the reversed optics.

--------------

 

here is more about the infra red night sights and mapping systems used in tank warfare

 

http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/21/The_Chieftains_hatch_Desert_M4/

Edited August 3, 2022 by gmrhodes13
link removed no longer working

[aramis]

Wow, thanks for the info. I never would have imagined that the military would have both scopes marked as M38 when they are technically different. That seems too easy to screw up.

 

Do "we" know for sure that the movie-used scopes could be seen through with the big end up to your eye? Just curious...I think the history of props is fascinating stuff. It would make sense the way they are mounted on tyhe E-11, but nobody in the movies actually looked through a scope IIRC. Perhaps the prop dept. just grabbed ones out of the pile, not even knowing some had reversed optics?

 

I'm going to plan on stripping the coating off, paint it properly and still use it...

[TK bondservnt[501st]]

it is  fun fact that most star wars scopes are mounted backwards on some blasters.  Int the case of the e-11 the sight direction is wide on the inside, and thin on the outside

in the tank application the offset from the thin direction with a smaller outside. the optics were designed for a low profile, with a smaller chance of through site

fragments.

 

I've owned the type of scope you have and it's been fun to learn where they came from.  I have 4 scopes right now. and they work wide end to small end

with no focus ring.

 

the purpose of the reverse optic with a focus ring is a longer and wider FOV  (fields of view)

 

just sand down the texture on the end with the numbers and keep the texture bumpy don't really have to remove all the paint.

remember to have fun!