Галилейский прицел - Забытое Оружие

Published on October 7, 2019
Duration: 7:33

This video explores the Galilean optical sight, an early WWI British attempt to improve rifle accuracy. It details the sight's design, its origin in competition shooting at Bisley, and its limited adoption by the British military due to practical drawbacks compared to telescopic sights. The video highlights the scarcity and value of surviving examples.

Quick Summary

Galilean optical sights were a WWI British rifle accessory providing 2.5x magnification, essentially a tube-less telescope. Adopted in 1915 to counter German snipers, they attached to SMLE rifles. Despite their intent, drawbacks like a small field of view and sensitivity to dirt led to their limited use and eventual replacement by telescopic sights, making surviving examples rare and valuable.

Chapters

  1. 00:03Introduction to Forgotten Weapons
  2. 00:10British SMLE with Optical Sights
  3. 00:17WWI British Sniping Program Origins
  4. 00:51Galilean Sights from Bisley Competition
  5. 01:04Galilean Sight Design Explained
  6. 01:13Magnification and Portability
  7. 01:28British Procurement and Field Use
  8. 01:41Examining a Martin/BSA Galilean Sight
  9. 01:49Front Sight Attachment
  10. 02:10Martin Markings and Contract Size
  11. 02:18Comparison of Galilean Sight Contracts
  12. 02:39Aiming Point and Lens
  13. 02:52Rear Sight Assembly
  14. 03:18BSA Model 9C Adjustable Rear Sight
  15. 03:33Folding Mechanisms
  16. 03:47Windage and Elevation Adjustments
  17. 04:16Origin in Rifle Competition
  18. 04:22Competition Legality Debates
  19. 04:30Military vs. Competition Technology
  20. 04:58Modern Parallels in Optics Adoption
  21. 05:12Shortcomings in Active Field Service
  22. 05:19Comparison to Telescopic Sights
  23. 05:27Small Field of View Issues
  24. 05:35Dirt and Lighting Sensitivity
  25. 05:50Difficulty of Use
  26. 06:00Testing the Galilean Sight
  27. 06:19Aiming Point Visibility Challenges
  28. 06:24Preference vs. Iron Sights
  29. 06:36Tendency to Be Discarded
  30. 06:42Obsolescence with Scope Availability
  31. 06:47Scarcity of Surviving Examples
  32. 06:50Reasons for Poor Survival Rate
  33. 07:07Collector Value and Difficulty Finding
  34. 07:13Gratitude to Collector
  35. 07:19Conclusion and Thanks

Frequently Asked Questions

What were Galilean optical sights used on British WWI rifles?

Galilean optical sights were a type of early WWI British rifle sight that provided about 2.5x magnification. They featured a small lens in the rear sight and a larger one at the front, essentially a telescope without a tube, and were used on SMLE rifles.

Why did the British military adopt Galilean sights during WWI?

The British military adopted Galilean sights in 1915 as a quick solution to improve rifle accuracy, prompted by the effectiveness of German snipers. They were a readily available alternative before telescopic scopes and mounts could be fully integrated.

What were the main drawbacks of Galilean rifle sights?

Galilean sights suffered from a very small field of view (around 5 feet at 100 yards), were highly susceptible to dirt and poor lighting, and were generally considered inferior to proper telescopic sights, making them difficult to use effectively in combat.

Are Galilean rifle sights rare and valuable today?

Yes, Galilean rifle sights are very rare today because they were often discarded after WWI and few survived. This scarcity makes them highly sought after by collectors, often commanding embarrassingly huge amounts of money.

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