Scope Mounts for Rook Rifles. Pictures please for ideas

[Heym SR20]

Happy New to all.

My little Rook Rifle is shooting well with open sights, in bright sunshine when I can see the sights. But I really need to mount a little vintage scope so that I can properly use it. I have worked up a load using the little 40gn bullets.

Given the Octagonal Barrel that tapers I am going to have to make some bases. Thinking simple dovetails with Parker Hale rings - which I have. But there is probably a more elegant solution. So please if you have a rook rifle mounted with a scope, please can you take it out and take some photos for my inspiration.

This is a vitally important job that you have to do - much much more important than all the other domestic chores, or indeed removing Christmas tree etc.

Happy New year and many thanks.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Just a couple of photos with Parker Hale base mounts.
None of my other Rooks had a scope mounted on them.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Did I send you pics of my two? - both H&H, one has PH bases & rings, the other has a custom made base that takes a one piece AKAH quick detach mount.

 

[ColinJ]

Mine has a base drilled and tapped onto the barrel. You can see it in the box of bits on the left.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Happy New to all.

My little Rook Rifle is shooting well with open sights, in bright sunshine when I can see the sights. But I really need to mount a little vintage scope so that I can properly use it. I have worked up a load using the little 40gn bullets.

Given the Octagonal Barrel that tapers I am going to have to make some bases. Thinking simple dovetails with Parker Hale rings - which I have. But there is probably a more elegant solution. So please if you have a rook rifle mounted with a scope, please can you take it out and take some photos for my inspiration.

This is a vitally important job that you have to do - much much more important than all the other domestic chores, or indeed removing Christmas tree etc.

Happy New year and many thanks.

It would be interesting to know what scope your thinking of using, a photo of it would be helpful.

 

[Heym SR20]

It would be interesting to know what scope your thinking of using, a photo of it would be helpful.

Really a choice of

A little straight 3/4” tubed 3x Pecar with a cross hair

Or a slightly bigger 1” straight tubed Nickel - Marburg 1-4x18 with a German no 1 reticle. Better optically than the above, but reticle a bit chunky for Hares and rabbits

Or a 3-9x36 Swaro - a much nicer scope but aesthetically too big and modern for a Rook rifle.

And no I am not adding a picatinny rail so I can mount digital optics.

I am thinking simple dovetails easiest to make, but a H&H style detachable mount would be so cool, but a lot of work.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Difficult choice for you with what you have, aesthetically the Pecar would be my choice but then would 3x be enough for your needs ?

If your rifle happened to be mine l would be very tempted to use a scope l have here an Oigee 4x with focus adjustment and turret elevation, the reticle is German No1 but it’s quite fine and the glass clarity is superb.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

What about apel swing offs?

 

[Heym SR20]

What about apel swing offs?

Have thought about them. Indeed have a set in my parts box. The bases need to be cut down, but still are quite chunky / high off the barrel.

 

[JeffreyL]

I wish you wouldn’t post pictures of these beautiful rifles, my envy levels go off the charts!!

 

[maximus otter]

Just a couple of photos with Parker Hale base mounts.
None of my other Rooks had a scope mounted on them.

View attachment 453691View attachment 453694

l would napalm an orphanage to own that outfit.

maximus otter

 

[Fosbery Holster]

l took it into Westley Richards to have it appraised and find out more of its provenance, (which they provided), unfortunately they made me such an offer to prize it from my hands that sadly l succumbed, l no longer own it.

 

[alberta boy]

l would napalm an orphanage to own that outfit.

maximus otter

I may have to use that phrase at some point lol .
AB

 

[Heym SR20]

Difficult choice for you with what you have, aesthetically the Pecar would be my choice but then would 3x be enough for your needs ?

If your rifle happened to be mine l would be very tempted to use a scope l have here an Oigee 4x with focus adjustment and turret elevation, the reticle is German No1 but it’s quite fine and the glass clarity is superb.

View attachment 453739

Can you buy any chance measure the angle of the dovetail on the bases. I am going to try and measure from the rings, but more accurate from a base.

 

[alberta boy]

l took it into Westley Richards to have it appraised and find out more of its provenance, (which they provided), unfortunately they made me such an offer to prize it from my hands that sadly l succumbed, l no longer own it.

I've always taken comfort in the old saying " You can't own everything at once , but you can own everything at least once ". You got to experience a beautiful and unique rifle for a while , that'll do for me .
AB

 

[Fosbery Holster]

It all depends on which Parker Hale rings you are thinking of using ?

The ADM1 rings shown on my Oigee have base mounts of 11.5mm top and 7mm at the lowest point, photo might be more informative.

Don’t forget not all Parker Hale rings use the same base mount.

If you need more information do ask.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

I've always taken comfort in the old saying " You can't own everything at once , but you can own everything at least once ". You got to experience a beautiful and unique rifle for a while , that'll do for me .
AB

I now think the rifle resides in the US.
It certainly was the best Rook rifle l had in my collection of Rooks.

 

[alberta boy]

I now think the rifle resides in the US.
It certainly was the best Rook rifle l had in my collection of Rooks.

I've owned a few myself , but none of them were that nice . Yours was a truly iconic little rifle , built to a standard that , for the most part , no longer exists . I purchased an action from an Australian Martini Cadet training rifle before I left Canada last fall . I'm planning to build a Rook inspired rifle on it when I get back . I will be asking you, and a few others here , for some thoughts on it's lay out and stock dimensions . Thanks in advance lol .
AB

 

[Fosbery Holster]

I've owned a few myself , but none of them were that nice . Yours was a truly iconic little rifle , built to a standard that , for the most part , no longer exists . I purchased an action from an Australian Martini Cadet training rifle before I left Canada last fall . I'm planning to build a Rook inspired rifle on it when I get back . I will be asking you, and a few others here , for some thoughts on it's lay out and stock dimensions . Thanks in advance lol .
AB

I do hope we are not derailing the OP thread.

The Westley rifle was built by them in house, whereas most Rook rifles were built by one of Birmingham’s major manufacturers and the retailers merely added their own names.

Westley’s didn’t build that many so to retrieve one of their own built rifles was a goal they wanted to score, they had one other at the time that was previously owned by Sir Johnny Scott and we put them side by side, it was a very close contest whose rifle was most beautiful.

I do have still a Martini actioned Rook with W R Pape Newcastle on the top rib, underneath the forend is the Elephant stamp which almost makes me believe they could have built it themselves, there again so easy to put their own stamps on anything !

 

[Donkey Basher]

@Heym SR20

Rifle number one, bought his one as it is, has PH bases & rings. Scope is a B. Nickel Marburg & in my opinion is a bit too big for the rifle. I’m looking for a suitable set of rings as I have an old Schmidt & Bender 7/8” tube scope.