Winchester A5 scope base pair for Ross Mk.III rifle viz Canadian sniper of WWI

Description

You are buying one pair of dovetail bases designed to replicate those used in WWI to mount the Winchester A5 and B4 scopes on Ross Mk.III rifles in Canadian service.
The Ross Mk.III was first issued with the Warner & Swasey M.1913 scope recalibrated for .303 Mk.VII ammo.  Due to supply delays from Warner & Swasey and the mechanical defects of the M.1913 scope and mountings revealed in service, the Canadian Corps later purchased considerable numbers of Winchester A5 scopes and fitted them to cut down Ross Mk.III rifles.  These became the principal sniper's rifle of the Canadian Corps until the end of WWI.
The Ross Mk.III was withdrawn from general service in 1916, but due to its exceptional accuracy and fine adjustment iron sights, continued to be supplied to and used by Canadian scouts and snipers right to the end of WWI, both with Winchester scopes and with the fine adjustment iron sights.  This is confirmed from period photographs and accounts.
Very few of those scoped rifles survived the decommissioning process at the end of WWI; a few examples only exist in museums.  These mounts have been labouriously researched and designed to replicate as closely as possible the typical configuration and placement of the mounting bases used in WWI.
Contemporary accounts indicate that these scopes were fitted at Canadian Corps workshops even down to the battalion level.
Period photos prove that unlike some recent replicas rifles seen online, the rear bases were mounted about 60/40 on the rifle barrel and the receiver ring extension, not on the receiver ring itself where the factory markings are placed.
These bases have been designed to permit zeroing at 2-300 yards, while still retaining the greatest possible range of vertical adjustment to allow use at longer ranges.
Because the Winchester scopes slide forward under recoil and are light in weight, the loads on the bases are limited compared to rigid scope mounts.
Research suggests these bases were originally screwed and soldered to the rifles with 6-48 slot head cap screws, which are readily obtainable from Brownells or other suppliers on eBay or elsewhere.  I suggest screws of 3/8" shank length for the rear base and 1/2" or 9/16" for the front base.
As for any scope mounting, some patience and skill is required and I recommend having a qualified gunsmith fit these bases, or the use of a suitable jig such as those made by the Forster Products Co. of Lanark, Ill.
A good deal of careful hand finishing is required to get these to the condition shown, which is necessarily reflected in the price!  The taper of the rifle barrels has been provided for in the design so as to keep the dovetails parallel to the axis of the bore.
A printed copy of detailed suggested instructions for mounting will be included with each pair of bases.
The A5 scope shown and factory brochure etc. are obviously NOT included.
Thanks for your interest and feel free to ask questions.