Reply With QuoteWhat is it that you think you need exactly ? From the pic's I can find, the Falcon seems to have a normal dovetail rail.
They need to be a perfect match & completely parallel
Has not one but two workbenches in his shed
Apologies if I have asked this before, I did search my Username and nothing came up.
Last summer I was give a Webley Falcon and a pile of scope mounts to try and get working as time went one I found out that it used an older type of mount so nothing off the shelf in the modern day is going to fit, since then it's been amongst the pondering of can I file out a set to match as I've likely not the funds or luck to get a genuine set up.
What I want to know is how precise do I need to be to matching measurements?
I'll be using mostly hand tools so I don't have the luxuries of fine adjustment that say a mill has and I also don't want to waste what could be otherwise of use to someone so I want to make sure before I start.
I am a complete novice when it comes to scopes as I generally shoot Irons although the further into my 30s I get the more it seems optical assistance is required.
You'll Shoot your eye out Kid
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What is it that you think you need exactly ? From the pic's I can find, the Falcon seems to have a normal dovetail rail.
They need to be a perfect match & completely parallel
Has not one but two workbenches in his shed
It looks normal until you try to mount a conventional one on it, it's 11mm wide but has a deeper curve which there are vintage mounts that match but funds what they are and rarity I'm better making one fit if I can.
What I need to know is measureent wise how close do I need to be, I'm pretty much going to be going by trial and error by hand so theres a chance there maybe a maginal difference in the mounts sizing, I need to know if this will cause problems i.e both mounts need to match with 1/1000th etc or is roughly right ok?
You'll Shoot your eye out Kid
Registered User
Yeah you are correct re the rail being not quite suitable for modern mounts. The scopes from the period mostly were low powered affairs with integral mounts, and the mounts resembled a pair claw pincers more than the modern profiles.
Now if budget doesn’t stretch to a period Webley or BSA scope, I hate to say it, the cheaper fixed power tubes from the likes of Richter Optic, so for example the 4x20 Crystal, are in a strange sort of way suitable. Spec-wise very much the type of thing you’d have got in the day and lightweight too. Obviously not a great field of view and being a sub-tenner scope don’t expect the world. I’ve got 4 of them on small vintage Webley rifles, and for plinking they do the job as scopes fine.
If you want to take a file to modern mounts, all I can say is try your best and see. Most mounts are made from precision drawn aluminium profile, which won’t be too tight a tolerance. You’ll know it’s right assuming 1) you don’t crimp the tube and 2) the pellet doesn’t cross from one side of POA to the other at different distances.
Last edited by ashf9999; Yesterday at 01:44 AM.
Owns three Roy orbison albums
If you're thinking of filing some metal away to give more clearance for the compression tube then the alignment shouldn't be affected. If you are filing the mounts to make them fit a wider rail then I'd suggest you only file the movable sides, that way you'll always have two factory made fixed edges for alignment.
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So If I understand correctly; the convex profile of the actual dovetail is too tall, as modern mounts have a flat profile between the clamps so you need a more concave profile ?
I've got a pair of single strap 25mm with a slight concave profile you can have, not a great pic due to the shadow but can be seen compared to the flat of the 30mm,
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Assuming the scenario is as per AB's hypothesis.... I had this with a sharp ace... I just filed a concave section in the centre of their underbelly... and it's defo not a critical dimension, just needs to clear...
Always looking for any cheap, interesting, knackered "project" guns. Thanks, JB.
Has not one but two workbenches in his shed
Yes that's correct, I'm fileing the concave area or taking a dremel grinder to the center of the mount as the sides are fine it seems.
Thanks AB but I've already got a pile of them, when I first got the Falcon it blew its front sight off (since repaired although a bit messy on second occasion but not tempting fate by grinding to neat edges) and a couple of kind Gents sent me a pile of spares so I've got enough to kit a small arsenal (although once I sort this I will give the surplus to those who need it as doesn't make sense stockpiling them even with multiple rifles).
Once I finish the Berettas clear coating I'll give it a quick go before the BSAs on the table, guessing with the tolerances then they can be adjusted out when zeroing the scope?
You'll Shoot your eye out Kid
I'm not falling for this again........
Have a look around, forums, etc for a suitable period scope. 4x20 or similar. They usually come with pressed steel mounts that will fit the curved top dovetail on the falcon. my own Falcon came with a strange little 3-7x20 OHTA scope.
Has not one but two workbenches in his shed
One day maybe, Mrs now wants to send my laptop in for repair so budgets probably fully eaten (was a high end machine when new so parts are probably still high end) so it will have to be make my own for now, going to clear coat tonight and then once appointments done tomorrow I'll start work.
You'll Shoot your eye out Kid
I'm not falling for this again........
Item number 234231891409 on the bay. £11.49 and it's from our sponsor so you know it will turn up. Got to be better than taking a file to a set of alloy mounts that probably cost way more than that. I say this as somebody with a milling machine and lathe, it just ain't worth the hassle.
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Indeed. Just a different badge on the same scope I mentioned earlier. As said, I have 4 of the Richter Optic badged ones and they are fine for the purpose and close to the period type.Originally Posted by Captain Bongo
Has not one but two workbenches in his shed
I don't doubt the sponsor, BBS wouldn't be the age it is if they were no good and they're cheapest around for BBs, I can't see the mounts that well side on, I guess if somone has one to comapre I can measure the depth although I would to still have to run it by the Mrs to avoid Dog turd suprise being my next meal, actual mounts I have don't owe me anything as they were given to me and I'd never sell them on, I'd give them away in kind if they had no use to me.
You'll Shoot your eye out Kid
Has not one but two workbenches in his shed
From the bottom edge of the dovetail 'wing' to the top of the Curve the engineers rule makes it to be about 2mm, not sure how to measure the actual degree of Curveture.
You'll Shoot your eye out Kid
Registered User
A profile gauge would do it,
but the MK1 eyeball & some care rubbing down should be OK.
Try taping/holding a thin strip of wet, wet & dry (600-800) along the rail,
on the mount remove the loose clamp, locate the other dove tail as a guide & rub it down on the w & d, swap sides with the mount a few times to keep it level back to front
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