Three scope optic???

[me6_130]

I just don't know what this is. Not German, for sure. Seller states it might be for a Russian tank...or an Italian one... Can anyone identify it?

Carles

[Mikedenmark]

This is not really a serious message, but maybe the optic is of alien origin.

It could be this trinocular on this battlerock:
http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20180228

I think, it is one of the weirdest optics I have seen yet. The optics shown, not the image of the battlerock.

Update: I took another look. It may be something that will do the same job as a german rundblickfernrohr. Just guessing here. And for high angle shooting.

[me6_130]

Well, perhaps some more pics might help:

Carles

[Mikedenmark]

Is the little turnable thing on top in the latest photo mounted on something that is horizontal if measured against the large mounting dovetail?
If so, does either ocular contains a bubble? Like in a bubble sextant?
I am hinting at the possibility that the little thing on top is for levelling whatever this goes on.

Or are there 2 different reticles? I can see there are two mounts for lamps.

The lamp mount dimensions may be a clue to nationality.

[me6_130]

I'm not really sure. It is something I have spotted at the internet, so I only have the pics. Price is not too high but not knowing what it is I don't know if worth buying. I'll try to contact seller and ask for the dimensions of the light mount.

Carles

[Mikedenmark]

I think it ought to be cheap. Interesting, but not something I would pay a lot to get.

Anyway. Thank you for the guessing game. It is always fun to see something unusual.

[me6_130]

Well, I have just found this other one that seems of the same family.

Carles

[me6_130]

more pics:

Carles

[me6_130]

There is a nice article about Russian tank periscopes and optics...but nothing looks like the one I posted:

https://heroesandgenerals.com/forums...nd-periscopes/


Carles

[Mikedenmark]

It is true nothing match, but your very nice link do have sort of a match.
The commander scope shown on page 1 and 6, (Commanders Panoramic sight (panorama) mod. 1933 PTK) has a reticle, with a layout that must be a cousin to the one you show here.
From center out, in 4 directions, it has a similar scale. Different digits, but basic layout is the same.

So, possibly the optic here may also be for a commander/observer.
A wild guess would be it was russian for either one of the early small tanks, or the armoured cars like BA3 or BA6. I think the BA 10 and 20 were too modern for this optic.

[me6_130]

Well, a BA-6 could fit, as there were some in Spain during the Civil War. The problem is finding the right info about the optics. There were some BT-5 here also.


http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Fuerz.../Blindados.htm

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww..._BA-3_BA-6.php

Carles

[Mikedenmark]

It may also be for a BA-27.
IF it is indeed russian. But the use of armoured cars in russia for scouting and the reticle suggest it very well may be.

Quite a few of those cars still exist. I found this:
search for: surviving_russian_armoured_cars.pdf

But then again, many are restorations. And in my experience, many vehicle guys loves to restore and run the cars, but the finer details does not appeal som much.

I haven´t been able to find interieur photo´s of any of these old cars. Let alone manuals with illustrations.

I would almost say: Buy the optic, then go on find out what it is.

[me6_130]

I don't know if any BA-27 came to Spain in the Civil War. It will be difficult to find some period docs that show the specific optic. I try to stick to German WWII optics related to MG34s or PzKpfw III-IV so, unless I discover what that optic is...I don't think I will go for it. If it is what we imagine, I might buy it, just as a curiosity.

I will soon come up with another optic I can't classify...

Carles

[Mikedenmark]

Please bring on more riddles.

I admit, it looks lousy... but just the same, it is probably super rare.
And if the price is more than negligible, then that weight against buying.

Or you could post it somewhere on a board where there are russians participating. Chances are good someone will know it.
( I did find a drawing of the internal parts of the BA-10, only to find the original homepage was closed down. So, drawings do exist somewhere. The thumpnail image I saw was too small to be a help.)

But yes, more riddles please.