Interesting curio.

[1066]

I've been clearing out my mothers house and came across a box of family stuff, old medals going back to the Crimean war and other such bits and pieces and found this with my grandads stuff from the 1914-18 war.

[TomH]

Armourers bore mirror?

[Alpha1]

Yes that's what I thought a bore viewer.

[1066]

Correct of course. I think this one, with the handle is "Reflector, mirror, MG". supplied in the spares kit for the Vickers/Lewis machine guns.
As granddad was in the machine gun corps in 1914-18 I guess that came home with him.

[Robert303]

They go for silly money on that website. They are also still very useful.

[450 Martini]

The Machine Gun Corps were informally known as the suicide club. They were always a target for artillery and it is known that some were killed on sight if captured.
Bore viewers are really nice bits of kit, in fact in my role as a Serjeant in a Great War living history group I carry one in my top right pocket of my Service Dress tunic next to my AB64. They are useful on inspection parades and woe betide anyone I find who fails to clean their vintage SMLE after firing corrosive blanks!

[ovenpaa]

Nice one 1066.

I have seen what I am sure are reproductions of bore viewers so it is great to see a true original and with provenance. I have a few items from my Grandfather who served with the Royal Engineers in the Great War, probably no value as such yet beyond value to me.

[Robert303]

Ovenpaa. That's interesting. I was not aware there were repros on the market hopefully mine are all genuine! It seems to be an increasing problem which is not so bad if the repros are marked as such or even where they have one date that can be noted but when they are designed to deceive it is a bigger problem.

[FredB]

In the 1980s, these were available at every Bisley arms fair---price £3. I still use mine quite a lot.
Fred

[1066]

Here's one from Henry Krank - No idea if they are genuine or repro. It does look exactly the same as the one I have.

The one I have is stamped with a broad arrow on the eye of the handle and F&S on the handle hinge.

http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?mai ... ts_id=8719