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2/3/2013 11:11:29 PM EDT
I've got a used Redfield 3x9 wide field.  The scopes came out around 1970, and mine appears to be of that approximate vintgage.  I don't know if any of them would have sent to RVN to be attached to an M-16A1 as a secondary weapon on a sniper team, but it would at least be period correct to attach to my 603 clone.  Can anyone provide some insight as to what type of scope mount would have been used at the time, and where I might be able to find such a mount, when attaching optics other than a Colt 3x20 scope?

Thanks,
Battlesight
2/4/2013 2:29:20 AM EDT
[#1]
Someone will be along directly to address some specifics, but Garry Fellers specializes in all manner of old sights, mounts and rings.  You will have to call him to see what he has; his on-line product list is representative only;  he worships not at the altar of High Tech and instantaneous gratification:

http://garyfellers.com/

The book Old Gunsights and Rifle Scopes by Nick Stroebel is quite exhaustive as to what was available and when.  Still in print and available on Amazon.  His older books, that separated the two, are getting to be quite collectible if you should stumble across them.

Stroebel
2/4/2013 5:55:41 AM EDT
[#2]
Peter Senich's book " The Long Range War - Sniping in Vietnam" has an excellent chapter on the use of mounts for the M16. There were a few maufacturers, but the majority of mounts used were field expedient "cobbled" together with whatever parts the soldier came up with. Weaver bases, rings etc. were used in conjunction with a block that fit in the sight channel and mounted with a threaded rod and and various fasteners. I would think one of the more common mounts found today in addition to a set of Weaver rings would work fine. Just use the gloss rings. In 1970 they were not offered with a matte finish.
2/4/2013 6:33:04 AM EDT
[#3]
for an early scope/rds mount, I would say just get the generic carry handle mount with weaver rings, that would likely be most common type found in the '70's (that's what I had back then)
ETA: I may still have it..I'll dig around and post pics if I find it


or if you are extremely lucky you may find a strap type mount...but very rare now



later on (don't know what year these started) would be the ARMS mounts





ETA II: I was just talking with my brother, and he says we had these on our rifles back then, he also says we later traded them in for the ARMS mounts because they wouldn't fit our A2 HBAR's

Leatherwood (ours were cut for the straight slip ring, not the delta as in this pic)

2/4/2013 4:08:23 PM EDT
[#4]












A little work on an ARMS mount and some Weaver rings could make a nice easy retro mount
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