Sloppy Sam himself, Sgt. Don. B. (Sam) Urquhart, in Korea. The rifle is a rare No. 4 MK. I* (T) made by Small Arms Limited, Long Branch (two words) Ontario in 1945. The scope is a C No. 67 MK. I.
NOTE: Contrary to what some collectors are writing, there is NO such thing as a “C67” or “C No. 67” rifle. The RIFLE is a Long Branch No. 4 Mk. I* (T), usually in the 80L8xxx serial number range and the SCOPE is a C No.67 Mk. I. Please use the correct terminology.
No. 4 Mk. I* (T) 80L8006 with C No 67 Mk I scope 52-C at a rifle range 2018 August.
The C No. 67 Mk. I is one of the rarest of the Canadian made sniper scopes.
In 1943-1944 Canada experimented with some new sniper scopes that were simpler and lighter than the British No. 32 telescope that Research Enterprises Limited (R.E.L. ; REL) was then manufacturing for the No. 4 MK. I* (T) sniper rifles being manufactured nearby at Long Branch at Small Arms Limited (and later by Canadian Arsenals Limited).
The experimental scopes were in 3.5X (3-1/2 power of enlargement) and 5X. The 3.5X were called “Gimball” at first, apparently due to the different reticle system. About 16 experimental scopes were made in 1943 and 1994. I own the first one made in 1944, Gimball 3.5X serial number EXP. 01-44
Although the testing troops in the U.K. loved the 5X scope and recommended it highly, the British “powers that be” said no, it was too powerful. The scope was ahead of its time. This was nonsense of course and today sniper scopes magnify to much higher levels e.g. 16X.
R.E.L. then went into limited production and manufactured 104 of the 3.5X scopes. The British numbered these in the system as C No. 32 MK. 4. Canada objected saying that they were a totally new design, not a variation of the No. 32 scope. When the Canadian Army officially adopted the scope, the nomenclature was changed to C No. 67 MK. I. Most of the scopes appear to have had the old model numbers milled out and new numbers added.
Of the 104 scopes made:
10 scopes went to the U.K.
2 scopes went to India
2 scopes went to Australia
2 scopes went to the USA
88 scopes stayed in Canada. One, serial number not known to me, was fitted to a presentation sporter style No. 4 Mk. I* rifle given to Major Hahn. Most of the No. 32 Mk. 4 / C No. 67 Mk. I scopes were fitted to the 80L8xxx series of No. 4 Mk. I* (T) sniper rifles. Clive Law believed that 100 were so mounted but I suspect that it is probably about 85. .
KNOWN FATES OF C No. 67 Mk. I TELESCOPES:
# 1-C turned up in the U.K. and is now in a Canadian collection.
# 2-C on 80L8055 in a private collection.
# 9-C on 73L7794 then 80L8007 in the U.K. Present status unknown.
# 10-C on 80L8004. Sent to U.K. for trials. Was in the Pattern Room. Now preserved at Warminster in England.
# 28-C in bracket 80L8045. Scope, bracket and mount survive in a private collection in the U.K.
# 52-C turned up in Winnipeg in the barracks box of a Korean War veteran and it is now in my collection. Now paired up with 80L8006.
# 57-C found near Ottawa on Scout Sniper Rifle serial number ASC-43-3
# 63-C survives.
# 69-C DESTROYED by a bad armourer.
# 72-C on 80L8032. Tested in the U.K. Had bright aluminum caps on turrets. Present status not known.
# 83-C Present status not known.
# 86-C with bracket 80L8061 (rifle believed surrendered to, and destroyed by, police in Ireland), Scope is now in the Jim Hawes’ Collection. Bracket, tool, scope case and eye shield are now with 52-C on rifle 80L8006 in Colin M. Stevens’ collection.
# 104-C, the last one made, survives in a private Canadian collection and appears to have never been mounted on a rifle.
I WOULD WELCOME CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS.
HISTORICAL PHOTOS
Canadian Small Arms Limited Long Branch No. 4 MK. I* (T) with a C No 67 MK I scope. (Pattern Room Collection TMSS1914 p32)
1945-01-12 Third Snipers’ Course at Camp Borden, Ontario, Canada. Note the variety of No. 4 (T) rifles. The two rigfles on the left appear to be 2 out of the 350 Long Branch No. 4 MK. I (T) Trade Pattern fitted with the Lyman Alaskan No. 32 TP MK. I scopel then a regular No. 4 MK. I* (T) then a “Scout” Sniper Experimental Long Branch with C No. 67 MK. I scopeand Monte Carlo butt; and the last one appears to be a No. 4 MK. I* (T) with C No. 67 MK. I scope. The men in the back row appear to be Observers who would team up with the snipers. (Private collection CheesyCigar on Milsurps.com )
DETAIL – 1945-01-12 Third Snipers’ Course at Camp Borden, Ontario, Canada. Note the variety of No. 4 (T) rifles. “Scout” Sniper Experimental Long Branch with C No. 67 MK. I scope and Monte Carlo butt; and the last one appears to be a No. 4 MK. I* (T) with C No. 67 MK. I scope. (Private collection CheesyCigar on Milsurps.com)
Korea – PPCLI sniper with C No 67 Mk I scope
Two Canadian snipers in Korea. The one on our left has a Canadian made No. 4 MK.I* (T) with a Canadian R.E.L. made C No. 67 MK. I scope. The man on the right has a Canadian made No. 4 MK. I*(T) Trade Pattern with U.S. made Alaskan No. 32 TP MK. I scope. (L&AC PA-213879)
Sloppy Sam himself, Sgt. Don. B. (Sam) Urquhart, in Korea. The rifle is a rare No. 4 MK. I* (T) made by Small Arms Limited, Long Branch (two words) Ontario in 1945. The scope is a C No. 67 MK. I.
“Pop” Wheeler (left) from the Pioneer Platoon of 1 PPCLI and his son Jake Wheeler, sniper in Sloppy Sam’s Sniper Section. Jake has a Canadian made No. 4 MK. I* (T) with C No. 67 MK. I scope. Korea, 1952 by Paul E. Tomelin
(L&AC PA 128844 MIKAN 3397766)
C No 32 MK 4 later called the C No 67 MK 1 rifle scope, made by REL Canada.
Bracket Telescope C MK I for telescope C No 67 MK I
C No. 67 Mk. I serial number 52-C in Colin MacGregor Stevens’ Collection which is exactly halfway through the production
No. 4 Mk. I* (T) 80L8006 with C No 67 Mk I scope 52-C at a range, 2018 August.
No. 4 Mk. I* (T) 80L8006 with C No 67 Mk I scope 52-C at a rifle range 2018 August.
C No. 67 Mk. I serial number 52-C mounted on rifle 80L8006. the rubber eye shield is turned the wrong way in this photo.
C No 67 Mk I scope 86 as received 2018-08. It came with the carrying case and special tool as well.
C No 67 Mk I scope 86-C as received August 2018. This is the original eye shield and it appears to be simply made from an inner tube, possibly off of a motorcycle. This is the ONLY surviving original rubber eye shield that I know of.
REL C No 67 MK I scope SN 52-C markings.
REL C No 67 MK I scope SN 52-C showing the markings.
REL C No 67 MK I scope SN 52-C markings.
C No 67 Mk I scope 86-C as received August 2018.
REL C No 67 MK I scope SN 52-C with turret caps removed.
REL C No 67 MK I scope SN 52-C showing a turret cap removed.
REL C No 67 MK I scope SN 52-C windage turret with cap removed.
REL C No 67 MK I scope SN 52-C – Underside of turret caps showing one of the two screwdrivers removed. To replace it, the small slot is slipped under the overhang on the right, and the screwdriver is pushed down until it snaps under the left edge. To remove it, a bullet or screwdriver is pressed against the left clip edge.
View through the C No. 67 Mk. I scope. It is actually much clearer than the image shows.
C No 67 Mk I scope 86-C as received August 2018. This is the special scope case C No. 19, Stencilled on the outside is RIFLE /
80L8061 / 86C. I only know of one other C No. 19 scope case.
C No 67 Mk I scope 86-C as received August 2018. This is the special scope case C No. 19, It is marked “R.E.L. / CANADA 1945 /| 1-C” meaning that this is the very first case made in the short production run.
C No 67 Mk I scope 86-C as received August 2018. This is the special scope case C No. 19 with the special tool that was carried in the scope case. They are shown here before cleaning.
C No 67 Mk I scope 86-C as received August 2018. This is the special tool that was carried in the scope case .it is shown here before cleaning and there is a piece broken off of the wide blade.
