Help to identify an R.E.L. accessory box

[jhawes]

Anyone ever seen one of these? If so, the purpose?

At first glance it appears to be a sniper accessory box for a No. 4 Mk 1 T sniper rifle.
Also, some sort of rel chit?

It is well made and appears to be period

Thanks, Jim

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Hmmm? That is a puzzler.
- The scope was always called a No.32, not a No.4. That is the rifle.

- From my research, in 1943 Long Branch delivered 71 sniper rifles with Canadian-made Research Enterprises Ltd. (REL) C No.32 MK.1 scopes, possibly in the 34L###x serial number range. Any three-digit serial number would be automatically suspect.

- Secondly, the REL plant was slavish in complying with UK specifications. Delivery of Canadian No.4T rifles was always short because the plants refused to do anything that did not exactly comply with the specification.

- Finally, the issue accessory box for the No.32 was the No.8 tin, or No.8 MK.2 rubberized canvas sleeve. The only wooden accessory is the No.15 chest.

 

[mr.e moose]

Looks like a employee tool crib tag. The box could have held some sort of tool the REL plant used in manufacturing one of their many products. They produced many other items besides scopes ranging from binoculars to radar systems.

 

[NavyShooter]

Looking at the depth of the box, I'd say it is *not* more than an inch or so of internal depth?

You also note on the front cover that the Nomenclature is for the "Box, Accessories, No 4 MK 1"

So it is an accessory for the No4 MK 1, not the No4 MK 1(T)

What accessories would be an inch thick, 8 inches long, and 6 inches wide.

I'm thinking a gauge set?

A target sight set?

I think the key is the part number 915-C

I suspect it is not a cleaning kit, as it's too 'clean' for that. Not likely a bayonet, nor magazine. I doubt it'd be for a sling.

Noting the set of four holes in the bottom of the box, I'm thinking there was once a fitted insert in there to hold something, particularly where there is no visible wear inside the bottom of the box.

 

[green]

Or it is a No4 Mki box, the nomenclature of the box nothing to do with the rifle.

 

[AP]

......

What accessories would be an inch thick, 8 inches long, and 6 inches wide.

Mmmmm..... A Box of Punch Double Coronas?? But I think the 4 pin holes provide a clue..dont know what though!

 

[37patt]

I have the exact same box as well.

Mine has the number 191-C on it and the insert that yours is missing. It also has a British 'Broad Arrow' between the date and the number.

The insert has eight holes that measure 1 9/16" in diameter, that portion of the block sits towards the front of the box, and at the rear are three small blocks that divide the rear part into four rectangular spaces each 1 11/16" wide by 11/16" deep. All the spaces are 1/2" deep.

The lid has two strips of felt that cover the top of the circular holes.

I've had mine for about 6 years now and still no identification on it. It is very possible that it held optical inserts or target sight inserts of some sort but nothing positive yet. With two different numbers on the lid now I am leaning towards a sight accessory box to some unknown optical sight.

Hopefully someone here knows!

 

[NavyShooter]

37patt,

Can you post a photo of yours with the inset?

NS

 

[jhawes]

Things we know.....
in WWII, R.E.L. did the optics for the Canadian military, including the sniper rifle No. 4 Mk1 (T)

Canadian/British rifles were designated No. 4 Mk1

The only rifles with a ###C designation were the No. 4 Mk1 (T)'s

I personally have four of them marked on the wrist with 35C, 78C, 219C, 314C and soon 227C

 

[37patt]

Would love to post a picture, but have given up on that whole affair. I find it just too aggravating.

 

[Lee Enfield]

its "Box No4, MkI"

not "Box, Rifle No4, MkI"

nothing to do with the rifle, could easily have been used for Radar components, Radio, binoculars or range finding equipment ect.

REL was NOT a one trick pony.

I have one too...

 

[wheaty]

REL made a HUGE number of optical devices for both Canada and Britain during the war.
I very much doubt the box has anything to do with the No.4(T) sniper rifle or the scope.
Canada made a huge amount of naval sighting devices and gunnery proximiters during the war but unfortunately all the data was destroyed in a basement flood in the early 1950's.
REL made some of the most sophisticated devices of the day and our optical glass was second to none. Canada had never poured a billet of optical glass until WW II and REL glass became almost as good as any quality German glass maker of the day.
The amount of secret work carried on at REL will never be totally known.

 

[AP]

REL made a HUGE number of optical devices for both Canada and Britain during the war.
I very much doubt the box has anything to do with the No.4(T) sniper rifle or the scope.
Canada made a huge amount of naval sighting devices and gunnery proximiters during the war but unfortunately all the data was destroyed in a basement flood in the early 1950's.
REL made some of the most sophisticated devices of the day and our optical glass was second to none. Canada had never poured a billet of optical glass until WW II and REL glass became almost as good as any quality German glass maker of the day.
The amount of secret work carried on at REL will never be totally known.

That's very interesting about the glass..I had always assumed it came from Bausch and Lomb or Kodak...both across the lake in Rochester. Was any of this production capability maintained? I wonder if when Leitz set up in Midland in the early '50's if any of this capacity was exploited by Walter Mandler. Some may not know that Leitz in Midland developed numerous classified optical 'products' for US DoD ...and DND. As an aside it is common to presume that Canadian and US optical quality did not equal the high end German (and Japanese) products...that is simply not true.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

That's very interesting about the glass..I had always assumed it came from Bausch and Lomb or Kodak...both across the lake in Rochester. Was any of this production capability maintained? I wonder if when Leitz set up in Midland in the early '50's if any of this capacity was exploited by Walter Mandler. Some may not know that Leitz in Midland developed numerous classified optical 'products' for US DoD ...and DND. As an aside it is common to presume that Canadian and US optical quality did not equal the high end German (and Japanese) products...that is simply not true.

I have a pair of Fairchild K20 oblique aerial photography cameras in the collection. Once the Americans set their minds and their industry to a problem, they are unstoppable!

The wood of the box looks like mahogany or teak. Most good naval things are made from one or the other of these woods. Likewise for the little brass hinges. As a point of reference, slotted screws might be old hardware stock or another slavish adherence to the specification. If it was made for Canada or the builders were half a wit smart, they'd have modified the drawing for Robertsons.

 

[cantom]

Here is my R.E.L. box. Looks like it held gauges or tools of some sort.

I looked for one of these after seeing several threads about them.

 

[wolf19534]

Almost looks like a box that once held a depth micrometer

 

[freedomintheskies]

Wolf for the win!

 

[QM 8687]

It is for the No 32 Adjusting Tool. I have an accessories box from the man who made them in 1943. The tool will fit perfect in these boxes. Not some cheap plywood with bent nails shaped for a depth micrometer, a later add on no doubt.