[Vicasoto]

Evening 392 / 426 :

Thank you for the report and it clarified Mike's guess as 2333. Yes both a new Shibaura number as well as rifle issue number, sorry no matching rifle exists at this time.
Got data on 88 Shibaura 4x fixed scopes from No. 8375 to 10469 ( possible range 8000 to 10500 = 2500 scopes ). Earliest issue rifle number is 115 and high is for rifle 9861. Again there are no discernible ranges as scope production is in ascending order, but as individual scopes were sorted out by built in correction factor and so used to correct the rifle's own built in error during manufacture. So rifle issue numbers fall where they may.
For example the first ten scopes and issue numbers are as follows :
1) No. 8375 / for rifle 749, 2) 8618 / 172, 3) 8630 / 173, 4) 8650 - 3500. 5) 8665 / 158, 6) 8693 / 189 or 489, 7) 8702 / 3062, 8) 8709 / 166, 9) 8720 / 3590, 10) 8725 / 115 .
Right now we need to fill in the No. 8000 to 8374 gap and 10470 to 10500, that is why reporting the serial / issue numbers is so important and a help to check for a match to the known rifles out there.
Vicasoto

 

[Vicasoto]

Hi shahps50 :

Based on the reported scope serial number tables started in Military Rifles of Japan and continued by us to the present : 4x fixed scope production started at Tokyo 1st Arsenal ( 5500 to 8000 ), Tokyo Shibaura Denki ( 8000 to 10500 ), Enomoto Kogaku ( 10500 to 11000 ), EK / Fuji ( 11000 to 11500 ), Takatiho Seisakujo ( 11500 to 12500 ), Nippon Typewriter Company ( 12500 to 13500 ).
No hard facts exist when 4x fixed scope production began, at the same time seems likely, except for the EK which was bought out by Fuji Opticals in mid 1944 .
Lowest scope rifle issue numbers belong to : A) Tokyo 1st # 25, 63, 72 . B) Tokyo Shibaura # 115, 158, 166 . C) Enomoto Kogaku # 1403, 1409, 2479 . D) Fuji # none issued so far.
E) Takatiho # 1352, 1357, 1587 . F) Nippon Typewriter # 834, 2457, 2460 .
If by a 99 sniper scope hemi's report of this month is the newest reported scope 4x fixed. The latest 4x adjustable was in February. The newest rifles were two last month.
Vicasoto

 

[Vicasoto]

shahps50 :

Each scope manufacturer was given a contract for a specific number of scopes ( say 500 ) to be serial numbered from 1 to 500. When delivered a second contract may follow ( say 2000 scopes ) from 7500 to 9500 . In between there may be a number of ranges authorized to other manufacturers . From my previous thread answer you can see that the military authorized the production of 8000 4x fixed scopes and were divided among six manufacturers :
1) 2500 scopes to Tokyo 1st Arsenal serial numbers 5500 to 8000 .
2) 2500 scopes to Tokyo Shibaura Denki serial numbers 8000 to 10500 .
3) 500 scopes to Enomoto Kogaku serial numbers 10500 to 11000 .
4) 500 scopes to EK / Fuji serial numbers 11000 to 11500 .
5) 1000 scopes to Takatiho Seisakujo serial numbers 11500 to 12500 .
6) 1000 scopes to Nippon Typewriter Co. serial numbers 12500 to 13500 .
Obviously the maker logo and serial number is how each scope is identified, just like production items are so marked today for control - sale - warranty etc.
Vicasoto